History of Mali |
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Ghana Empire (c. 700 – c. 1200) |
Gao Empire (9th century–1430) |
Pre-Imperial Mali |
Mali Empire (c. 1235–1670) |
Songhai Empire (1464–1591) |
Post-Imperial, 1591–1892 |
French colonization |
After Independence |
Related topics |
Mali portal |
Mali is located in Africa. The history of the territory of modern Mali may be divided into:
The borders of Mali are those of French Sudan, drawn in 1891. They are artificial, and unite parts of the larger Sudan region with parts of the Sahara. As a consequence, Mali is a multiethnic country, with a majority of its population consisting of Mandé peoples.
Mali's history is dominated by its role in trans-Saharan trade, connecting West Africa and the Maghreb. The Malian city Timbuktu is exemplary of this: situated on the southern fringe of the Sahara and close to the Niger River, it has played an important role in the trans-Saharan trade from the 13th century on, with the establishment of the Mali Empire. Had no power in the West Africa After this the Songhai empire started growing.