What is Mali Empire?
{{no sources|date=March 2024}} [[File:MALI empire map.PNG|thumb|300px|The Mali Empire at its largest]] The Mali was a [[West Africa]]n country from [[1235]] to [[1645]]. The [[Mandinka people]] lived there they still are in some parts of Africa today. It is also called the '''Manding Empire''' or '''Manden Kurufa'''. [[Sundiata Keita]] started the empire and the empire became famous because its rulers were very rich, especially [[Mansa Musa|Mansa Musa I]]. The Mali Empire had many important cultural effects on West Africa, spreading language, laws and customs along the [[Niger River]]. This was because of the spread of Islam by verbal wording. For such a prolific empire, there are few written accounts of its greatness. Most of the written accounts that do exist came from Arab scholars who traveled through the region. Instead of written accounts, most of the stories from the locals were passed down through oral histories, songs and poems. Until this day, ‘griots’ still tell stories of the [[ancient history]] in the area. Architects in the Mali Empire combined styles of the Sahel region and [[Middle East]] together, particularly after Emperor Musa's pilgrimage to [[Mecca]]. There were several royal palaces built during the time, many of which are still standing. Mud bricks, log beams and plaster helped these palaces to remain standing. The most famous work of architecture from the time period is the Great Mosque of Djenné, now a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]. The mosque was rebuilt in 1907 and can still be visited in Djenné. However, if you aren't a Muslim, you can't go inside. The Mali Empire had one of the richest leaders in history. The richest and most famous of all the leaders of the Mali Empire was Mansa Musa. It is thought by some that Mansa Musa could have been the wealthiest person in history. According to stories, he took 60,000 people on a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 along with camels loaded down with gold. Islam was very important to the Mali Empire. Most of the kings of the Mali Empire eventually