Mali Empire (Of Lions and Falcons)

The Mali Empire (Manding: Nyeni; English: Niani), also historically referred to as the Manden Kurufaba is a Malinke/Bambara/Mandinka/Dyula empire in West Africa.

Territories
The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita (circa 1230) and is renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa. Its territory spans in greater part of the western Sahel, covering the land between the Sahara Desert, grassland, savanna and coastal forests. In late 14th century it had extended to the Azawagh and partially controlled of the Niger Delta.

Economical importance
Economically the Mali empire is the main source of gold, copper, salt and slaves of Maghreb and Egypt. Gold is a key source of its trade and wealth. Being at the southwest end of the trans saharan trade routes gives it a pivot position in trade, political and cultural contacts. Its control of Oualata and Audaghost gave it later an advantage during its imminent collapse in the 14th century. Its trade and later military assistance of the Almohad Caliphate enable it to survive this dire situation successfully.

Development, crisis and expansion
As to all Sahel states it was limited from expanding south, to the Gulf of Guinea, into the forest zone of the Ashanti and Yoruba as mounted warriors were all but useless in the forests and the horses and camels could not survive the heat and diseases of the region. However use of gunpowder and the development of new warfare techniques at the end of the 14th century enabled the Mali empire to conquer or vassalize these territories. Although Hausa resistance kept a check to further advancement to the south and east and Youba from fully controlling the Niger delta.

The Mali Empire is the largest in West Africa and profoundly influenced the culture of the region of the western Sahel through the spread of its language, laws, Islam and customs along lands adjacent to the Niger River, as well as other areas consisting of numerous vassal kingdoms and provinces. However in the 14th century it started to break up when its western coast vassals formed the Jolof Empire and to the east the Songhay regained their independence.

The Mansa
Mansa (Mandinka for meaning "sultan" (king) or "emperor") has vast powers that included the right to dispense justice and to monopolize trade, particularly in gold. Mansa Sundiata was the first to assume the title of mansa (emperor), which as passed down through the Keita dynasty with few interruptions well into the 15th century.

The Gbara (Great Assembly) is the deliberative body of the Mali Empire. It was first formed in 1235 on the orders of Sundiata in the Mandinka constitution known as the Kouroukan Fouga.

Territorial administration
The Mali Empire as decentralized nature of administration. Nevertheless, the mansa manages to keep tax money and nominal control over the area without agitating his subjects into revolt. The empire is divided in provinces (tributary kingdoms) and states.