Geography of the Mali Empire
History: KS3, topic 4.1.1
Geography of the Empire of Mali
The Empire of Mali was a West African Islamic Empire that existed from the 13th century to the 16th century.
Key facts about the Mali Empire
- The empire had lots of different natural environments including the Sahara desert, mountain ranges, and rivers.
- The Empire sat just south of the Sahara.
Desert and forest
- The Empire of Mali was close to the Sahara desert.
- This meant that it could expand its trade networks and increase its wealth by keeping in contact with all the traders travelling between North Africa, Europe, and Asia.
- Mali was also located right in the middle of existing trade routes.
- The Empire of Mali had access to raw materials such as wood and food thanks to the forests located near its coasts.
Rivers and mountains
- Many rivers ran across Mali. The River Niger was the most important river for the empire, because:
- This river acted as a fast and direct mode of transport for traders.
- This river provided water for agricultural (farming) and domestic (household) use.
- Rivers and mountains also helped defend against invasions. Invading armies would have had a more difficult time travelling around or across them.
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Where was the Empire of Mali located?