The Mali and Songhai imperial period was an era of successive West African empires along the middle Niger River, beginning with the rise of the Mali Empire under Sundiata Keita and continuing through the Songhai Empire's own imperial zenith, during which the region's rulers, most famously Mansa Musa, built vast trading states linking the Sahara's gold and salt routes to the forest zone and became renowned for their wealth and Islamic scholarship.
Facts
End Year1591 marks the Songhai Empire's collapse at the Battle of Tondibi, the imperial period's own end; the earlier Mali Empire persisted in reduced form for a further two decades. Geographic ScopeWest Africa along the western Sahel, from the middle Niger River south to the forest zone. 2 Cross-Tradition Connections
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Mali Empire
WikipediaLead sectionQuote, Lead section
The Mali Empire was an empire in West Africa from c. 1235 to 1610. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita (c. 1214 - c. 1255) and became renowned for the wealth of its monarchs, especially Mansa Musa (Musa Keita). At its peak, Mali was the largest empire in West Africa, widely influencing the culture of the region through the spread of its language, laws, and customs.
1. Wikipedia: Mali Empire
WikipediaBackground sectionQuote, Background section
The conquest of Sosso in c. 1235 marked the emergence of Mali as a major power, with the Kouroukan Fouga as its constitution.
2. Wikipedia: Songhai Empire
WikipediaLead sectionQuote, Lead section
The Songhai Empire was a state located in the western part of the Sahel during the 15th and 16th centuries.
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