Mali

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/mali

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the capital of Mali?Bamako, also the largest city
2. What language do people speak in Mali?13 official languages; Bambara is the most widely spoken
3. What is the major natural resources?Gold (Africa's 3rd largest producer), salt
4. What is the historical empires?Ghana Empire, Mali Empire, Songhai Empire
5. What is Mali and where is it located?Mali is a country in West Africa. It is the eighth-largest country on the continent, with deserts in the north and savanna in the south.
6. Why are the Niger and Senegal rivers important in Mali?The rivers bring water for farming and help people travel and trade. They also support cities like the capital, Bamako.

Landlocked: A country entirely enclosed by land, lacking direct access to the sea, which impacts trade and transportation.
Trans-Saharan Trade: Ancient and medieval trade routes that crossed the Sahara Desert, connecting West Africa with North Africa and the Mediterranean.
Sudanian Savanna: A tropical grassland ecosystem found in West Africa, characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons and supporting diverse flora and fauna.
Mali Empire: A powerful West African empire that flourished from the 13th to the 16th century, renowned for its wealth, trade, and cultural achievements.