Unit: West African Civilizations
Lesson Title:
The Height and Fall of the Empire of Mali
(See textbook pages 139 -140)
Timbuktu represented the height (the best or
most prosperous days) of the Mali Empire.
How did the location of Timbuktu help it
become so important?
In class reading activity
Read and review “Timbuktu” on page 139.
Answer these questions:
1. How did traders travel to Timbuktu?
2. What goods were traded in Timbuktu (name at
least 7 things)?
3. What did Mansa Musa and later rulers build
there?
How does the location of Timbuktu explain why it
became such an important city in the Empire of
Mali?
Right Side Notebook Activity
Create an advertisement to promote travel to
Timbuktu. In the ad, explain where Timbuktu is,
and highlight interesting things to do and see.
In class reading activity #2
Read “The Fall of Mali” on page 140.
Answer these questions:
1. What actually happened to Timbuktu?
2. List two reasons the Mali Empire declined.
3. What is one similarity between the fall of the
Mali Empire and the fall of the Western Roman
Empire?