In four centuries, Mali expanded its territory, influence, ... There is evidence that the Mali Empire originated with Sundiata, or the Lion King, as he is known. A few years after claiming the capital ...

Sundiata Kieta founded the Ancient Mali Empire. His territory included present-day Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal.

Mansa Musa ruled the Mali Empire during a period that has since become known as a 'golden age'. ... he invaded other regions and doubled the size of his territory, growing his already vast empire.

But under Musa’s rule, the empire’s territory, influence and wealth increased even more. Eventually, under his rule, the Mali Empire enveloped present-day Mali, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Niger ...

Mali became an independent nation in 1960, with Modibo Keïta as its first president, who ran a one-party Socialist government. At its height during the 1920s and 1930s, France’s global empire ...