How a West African kingdom became the continent's largest empire
Discover the rise of the Mali Empire, a centralized powerhouse that dominated West African trade. This video explores how strategic control of regional trade routes and legendary leadership forged one of history's wealthiest kingdoms.
Founded in 1240 by Sundiata Keita, the Mali Empire established a centralized government and a disciplined military. Its prosperity was rooted in its role as a middleman, managing trade between the Niger River to the south and North Africa.
The empire reached its peak of territorial expansion and immense wealth during the early fourteenth century under the reign of Mansa Musa I. By controlling vital regional trade routes, Mali became the wealthiest kingdom in West Africa and the largest empire Africa had seen up to that period.
Source: The Rise and Fall of the Mali Empire
