The Senegalese Terracotta Army: Ancient African Armies

The Atlantic Slave Trade: Empire Built on Human Suffering — Fexingo History · Oct 1, 2026 · 8m · transcript

We often imagine ancient military might through the lens of Rome or China, but in 13th-century West Africa, the Mali Empire fielded armies that rivaled any in the world. This episode explores the military machine of Sundiata Keita and his successors, focusing on the logistics, tactics, and social structure that made conquest possible. We look at the role of the cavalry, the strategic importance of the Niger River, and how oral historians like those from the Diarra family preserved these accounts for centuries. From the Battle of Kirina to the administrative reforms of Mansa Musa, we uncover a…