Mali's Copper Trade: The Red Gold of the Sahel
The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo HistoryPlay episode
Show notes
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna dig into a lesser-known pillar of the Mali Empire's economy: copper. While gold and salt get the glory, copper from Takedda and other Saharan mines was a vital commodity, traded across West Africa and beyond. They explore how copper was mined, processed, and valued, its role in currency and ritual, and the networks that connected Mali to North Africa and the Mediterranean. Drawing on Ibn Battuta's Rihla, they look at Takedda's bustling copper market, the work of the farari, and the broader trade in mitqals and cowries. They also touch on the environmental and human costs of mining, and how copper's legacy persists in the region today. A thoughtful look at a material that built empires, one ingot at a time. #MaliEmpire #CopperTrade #Takedda #IbnBattuta #WestAfrica #Sahel #Gold #Salt #TradeRoutes #MansaMusa #Mande #SaharanTrade #AfricanHistory #MedievalHistory #13thCentury #14thCentury #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
