Why Was Mali Considered A Site Of Cultural Exchange Essay

One reason that Mali was a site of cultural exchange was because of its strategic placement. The Empire of Mali’s location was great for trade, especially the Trans-Saharan-Trade. Located along the upper Niger river around the southern Sahara, the gold and salt trade thrived. The Niger river was an important factor of the trade, because the gold would flow up to where Mali was, thus making it easy to control the trade. Eventually, the word that Mali had riches of gold spread, attracting several different voyagers and merchants to trade with the Malians. There were several people of different ethnicities and cultures that traveled to Mali in hopes of trade. Tribes such as the Berbers (nomads) and merchants such as the Venetians traded with the empire. “Desire for gold caused merchants to make the difficult journey from the Maghrib and the rest of North Africa across the Sahara Desert to the region of savannah and forest called West …show more content…
The Malians were very tolerant when it came to different cultures. They appreciated other people’s cultures and religions so much, that even the mansas of Mali, which was native to a shamanistic religion, converted to Islam. It was brought by Arab traders and Muslim scholars, who stumbled upon Mali during their travels. All of the rulers of Mali followed the Islamic beliefs, with the exception of Sundiata, who practiced both. Several mosques were built in Mali, such as the Sankore Mosque, and the Great Mosque of Djenne. These mosques were a place where people were taught religion, astronomy, logic, and history. “The university was known and respected throughout the Muslim world“(History Blueprint). This piece of evidence proves that the empire was not just well known to the people of Mali, but to all Muslims who heard and knew about this amazing place. This tolerance and willingness to accept helped Mali grow as a site of cultural