Editing History of Malawi (section)

==Maravi Empire==

[[File:Maravi Kingdom map c. 1650s.svg|thumb|Map of the Maravi Kingdom at its height, c. 1650]]
{{main|Maravi}}
The name Malawi is thought to derive from the word ''Maravi''. The people of the Maravi Empire were [[Iron working|iron workers]]. Maravi is thought to mean "Flames" and may have come from the sight of many kilns lighting up the night sky. A dynasty known as the Maravi Empire was founded by the [[Amaravi]] people in the late 15th century. The Amaravi, who eventually became known as the [[Chewa people|Chewa]] (a word possibly derived from a term meaning "foreigner"), migrated to Malawi from the region of the modern-day [[Republic of Congo]] to escape unrest and disease. The Chewa attacked the [[Akafula]], whom no longer exist.

Eventually encompassing most of modern Malawi, as well as parts of modern-day [[Mozambique]] and [[Zambia]], the Maravi Empire began on the southwestern shores of Lake Malawi. The head of the empire during its expansion was the Kalonga (also spelt [[Karonga]]). The Kalonga ruled from his headquarters in [[Mankhamba]]. Under the leadership of the Kalonga, sub-chiefs were appointed to occupy and subdue new areas. The empire began to decline during the early 18th century when fighting among the sub-chiefs and the burgeoning [[Atlantic slave trade|slave trade]] weakened the authority of the Maravi Empire.