The Mali Empire

The Mali Empire was a great kingdom in West Africa. It started about 800 years ago. Mali became famous for being very rich in gold. The empire had big cities and many learned people. One of its cities, Timbuktu, was a famous place for books and schools.

Mansa Musa

The most famous king of Mali was Mansa Musa. Some people think he was the richest person in history. He ruled over 700 years ago. Mansa Musa went on a long trip to Mecca and brought so much gold that he gave it away along the way. He built schools, libraries, and mosques in his empire.

Timbuktu

Timbuktu was a famous city in the Mali Empire. It was a busy center for trade with camels carrying goods across the desert. People came from far away to buy salt, gold, and cloth. Timbuktu also had great libraries and universities. Scholars studied math, science, and religion there.

Fun Facts

• Mali may have had half of all the gold in the world at one time.
• The University of Timbuktu had over 25,000 students.
• The Mali Empire lasted for about 400 years.

Did You Know?

When Mansa Musa passed through Egypt, he gave away so much gold that the price of gold went down for many years.