History of Mali

Part of a series on the
History of Mali
Pre-Imperial Mali
Battle of Kirina Twelve Doors of Mali
Ghana Empire (c. 700 – c. 1200)
Soninke people Koumbi Saleh
Mali Empire (c. 1235–1670)
Musa I of Mali Mandinka people Kouroukan Fouga
Great Mosque of Djenné Sankore Madrasah
Gao Empire (9th century–1430)
Songhai Empire (1464–1591)
Sonni Ali Battle of Tondibi
After the Empires, 1591–1892
Saadi dynasty Pashalik of Timbuktu Bamana Empire Kaarta Kénédougou Kingdom Massina Empire Toucouleur Empire Wassoulou Empire
French colonization
French West Africa Mali Federation
After Independence
Republic of Mali Mali War
Related topics
Years in Mali History of West Africa History of Timbuktu
Mali portal
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Mali is located in Africa. The history of the territory of modern Mali may be divided into:

• Pre-Imperial Mali, before the 13th century
• The history of the eponymous Mali Empire and of the Songhai Empire during the 13th to 16th centuries

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.