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• In the 1230s, a man called Sundiata Keita incorporated a series of smaller kingdoms into the Mali Empire.
• The empire was central to several key trading routes, and with the support of a well-trained army, Mali became a strong and powerful empire.
• Under the leadership of Mansa Musa, 1312 - 1337, Mali became famous for its trade in gold and the kingdom became incredibly prosperous.
• Some historians remember Mansa Musa as the ‘wealthiest man who has ever lived’.

In the 1230s, Sundiata Keita united a series of smaller kingdoms and incorporated them into the Mali Empire. Leaders of the Mali Empire were called Mansas. Sundiata Keita became the first Mansa of Mali and ruled until his death in 1255. Storytellers called griots still share the story of his reign through a poem called The Epic of Sundiata.

From 1240 onwards, the empire expanded to include regions that were rich in gold, and the empire grew to be famous for its wealth. By the 1300s, the Mali Empire covered over 12,000 km and became the centre for trade, controlling the important cities of Timbuktu and Gao.

The empire became one of the largest in the world, stretching through what is now known as Mali, Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania and the Gambia. Regions were ruled over by local leaders who pledged allegiance to the Mansa.

Mansa Musa ruled the Mali Empire during a period that has since become known as a 'golden age'. His predecessor, whose identity is debated, had a keen interest in exploration and set off on a voyage into the Atlantic Ocean. He chose Musa Keita to be his deputy, and he gave orders that if he did not return within a reasonable amount of time Musa Keita should take the throne. In 1312, when Musa's predecessor didn't return from his voyage, Musa Keita became the new Mansa and was called Mansa Musa.

Mansa Musa built many schools, universities and libraries, in cities like Gao and Timbuktu. Using his large army, he invaded other regions and doubled the size of his territory, growing his already vast empire. It is estimated that Mali came to control half of the world's supply of salt and gold at this time. Some historians have even described Mansa Musa as 'the wealthiest man who has ever lived'.

Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim. One of the five pillars of Islam states that Muslims should embark on a pilgrimage known as Hajj, to the holy city of Mecca.

Between 1324 – 1325, Mansa Musa embarked on his pilgrimage to Mecca. On his journey Mansa Musa brought with him a large group of people, some of whom were enslaved. He also brought dozens of camels each carrying around 136 kg of gold, which he gave away on his travels. As a result of Mansa Musa’s spending and donations, the value of gold decreased and it took 12 years for Egypt’s economy to recover.

Mansa Musa’s journey made him famous throughout the Muslim world, which stretched from southern Spain to the Middle East. It attracted scholars and visitors to Mali. People came from Ethiopia, Andalusia (southern Spain), Arabia and Turkey.

It is unknown exactly when Mansa Musa died, but it is estimated to be around 1337. In the centuries after his death, the power of the Mali Empire began to decline. Mali was challenged by the Songhai Empire to the north and suffered raids by the Portuguese and the Tuareg nomads. The Malian Mansas increasingly used violence to maintain control and many local rulers began to switch their allegiance to the Songhai Empire’s leaders, who were called Sonnis.

By the late 1400s, the Songhai Sonnis had seized control of Djenné and Timbuktu. For nearly 200 years, the Songhai Empire was the most powerful empire in the region, until 1591, when the expanding Moroccan empire seized it. The last Mansa died in 1610.