The Great Flood of 1340: When the Niger Swallowed Niani
The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo HistoryPlay episode
Show notes
In 1340, a catastrophic flood of the Niger River swept through the capital of the Mali Empire, Niani. This episode explores the ecological and political fallout of that disaster, drawing on oral traditions preserved by the jeliw and references in the Tarikh al-Sudan. Lucas and Luna discuss how the flood reshaped the city's layout, tested Mansa Sulayman's leadership, and may have accelerated the empire's gradual decline. They also examine the role of the bunda (dyke) system in the Inland Niger Delta, the relocation of trade routes, and the resilience of Mande engineering. It's a story of nature's power over even the richest of empires. #MaliEmpire #NigerFlood1340 #MansaSulayman #Niani #jeliw #TarikhAlSudan #InlandNigerDelta #bunda #Mande #WestAfrica #MedievalHistory #ClimateHistory #Sankore #Sahel #Archaeology #OralTradition #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
