Streets of Djenne, Mali

1.10 – Not With a Bang…

(Source: Wikimedia Comons. Photo of the streets of Djenne. The failed 1599 siege of the city was the catalyst for Mali’s disintegration sometime that year or over the next few years)

In which Mali leaves the world stage.

Following a devastating series of raids and attacks on the Malian heartland, it seemed all was lost for the once-great Mali Empire. Their new rival, the state of Songhai – centered on the Niger city of Gao – was on the rise. 

But, as it turned out, Songhai may have brought the empire to its knees, but it would not deal the deathblow to the Malian state. No, the Empire would go out with, not a bang, but with a whimper.