The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo History
Mari Jata: The Lion Who Lost Mali's Empire artwork

Mari Jata: The Lion Who Lost Mali's Empire

The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo History
S1 E3905:58
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Show notes

Mari Jata, the grandson of Mansa Musa, inherited the Malian throne in 1360. He was the first ruler to receive the title 'Mansa' before his name, but his reign marked the beginning of Mali's decline. This episode explores his disastrous campaign against the Songhai city of Gao, which shattered Mali's prestige and lost control of the eastern Niger Bend. We also discuss the legal controversy over Mari Jata's appointment, bypassing Mansa Sulayman's son, and how the Tarikh al-Sudan records his defeat by Sonni Ali's predecessor, Sonni Suleiman. The episode reveals how one emperor's hubris undid a century of Keita consolidation, paving the way for Songhai independence. #MaliEmpire #MariJata #SonniAli #Songhai #TarikhAlSudan #MansaMusa #NigerBend #Gao #KeitaDynasty #WestAfrica #MedievalAfrica #Mande #FexingoHistory #History #AfricanHistory #EmpireDecline #FourteenthCentury #JeliTradition #SundiataKeita #Timbuktu Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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