Mali Empire

Muslim state in northwestern Africa during the 7th-15th centuries. Thriving on its trade in gold, it reached its peak in the 14th century under Mansa Musa (reigned 1312-37), when it occupied an area covering present-day Senegal, the Gambia, Mali, and southern Mauritania. Mali's territory was similar to (though larger than) that of the Ghana Empire (see Ghana, ancient), and gave way in turn to the Songhai Empire.