<P> The Mali Empire ( Manding : Nyeni or Niani ; also historically referred to as the Manden Kurufaba , sometimes shortened to Manden ) was an empire in West Africa from c. 1230 to 1670 . The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers , especially Musa Keita . The Manding languages were spoken in the empire . It was the largest empire in West Africa and profoundly influenced the culture of West Africa through the spread of its language , laws and customs . Much of the recorded information about the Mali Empire comes from 14th century North African Arab historian Ibn Khaldun , 14th century Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta and 16th century Moroccan traveller Leo Africanus . The other major source of information is Mandinka oral tradition , through storytellers known as griots . </P>
<P> The Mali Empire ( Manding : Nyeni or Niani ; also historically referred to as the Manden Kurufaba , sometimes shortened to Manden ) was an empire in West Africa from c. 1230 to 1670 . The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers , especially Musa Keita . The Manding languages were spoken in the empire . It was the largest empire in West Africa and profoundly influenced the culture of West Africa through the spread of its language , laws and customs . Much of the recorded information about the Mali Empire comes from 14th century North African Arab historian Ibn Khaldun , 14th century Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta and 16th century Moroccan traveller Leo Africanus . The other major source of information is Mandinka oral tradition , through storytellers known as griots . </P>
who was the first ruler of the mali empire
who was the first ruler of the mali empire
Sundiata Keita
Sundiata Keita