The Mali Empire was a powerful medieval state in West Africa that developed from the small Manding kingdom of Kangaba. According to oral tradition, its founder Sundiata Keita defeated the king of the Sosso, Sumanguru, at the Battle of Kirina. The empire grew rich from its control of the trans-Saharan trade in gold and salt, with centres at Niani, Timbuktu and Djenne. Its most famous ruler, Mansa Musa, made a pilgrimage to Mecca in the fourteenth century that displayed the empire's wealth so lavishly that it affected the gold markets of Egypt. Timbuktu became a renowned centre of Islamic scholarship. The empire declined from the fifteenth century as the Songhai Empire rose, and it shrank to a small state.
Before and after
- from 1228 to 1229Sixth Crusade
- 1229Construction of Divriği Great Mosque and Hospital
- from 1230 to 1492Nasrid dynasty
- 1235Battle of Kirina
- from 1235 to 1670Mali Empire
- from 1236 to 1833Kingdom of Córdoba
- from 1236 to 1795Grand Duchy of Lithuania
- from 1238 to 1492Emirate of Granada
- 1239Construction of Alhambra
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- 691 CEConstruction of Dome of the Rock
- 8th centuryConstruction of Borobudur Temple
- 1066Construction of Tower of London
- from 1368 to 1644Ming dynasty
- from 1438 to 1533Inca Empire
- 1473Construction of Sistine Chapel
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 13th century.