Sunjata Keita
History: KS3, topic 4.1.4
Sunjata Keita
Sunjata Keita was a Mandinkan Prince. In around 1235, he was accepted as the Mansa (emperor) of the Malian Empire.
The Malian Empire
- The Malian Empire would be greater than the old Ghanaian Empire.
- It accepted all religions, trades and beliefs.
The expansion of Mali
- Under Sunjata and those that followed him, Mali expanded rapidly:
- West, to the Atlantic Ocean.
- South, deep into the forest.
- East, beyond the Niger River.
- North, to the salt and copper mines of the Sahara.
A common identity
- Mansa Sunjata had an empire of different cultures, beliefs and identities.
- He knew the people needed common identities to be successful.
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Cultural icons
- Many cultural inventions emerged.
- For example, a royal balafon (a ceremonial xylophone).
- Also, a four-stringed kora (a stringed instrument like a guitar).