Mali Empire at Its Zenith

Timeline

1. 1331–1335Niani · MaliIn the late reign of Mansa Musa, the Mali Empire controlled most of West Africa's gold sources and the trade routes from the Sahara to the Sahel; Timbuktu and Gao became hubs of Islamic scholarship and long-distance trade, and the empire's wealth and prestige reached a 14th-century peak.
2. 1333–1337Timbuktu · MaliAcademic institutions such as the Sankore Mosque in Timbuktu attracted scholars from North and West Africa; salt, cloth, slaves, and gold circulated along the Sahara trade routes, and Mali maintained control over its vassals through tariffs and suzerainty.
3. 1337–1340Gao · MaliAfter Mansa Musa's death, successors such as Mansa Maghan took the throne; the empire's territory was maintained for a short period, but central authority gradually weakened, laying the groundwork for later fragmentation.