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The Kingdom of '''Mali''' (A.D. 1235-1403) was located in West Africa and was mostly Muslim. The capital city of Timbuktu was a mecca for trade and education. Ibn Battuta, a Muslim traveler who toured the Islamic regions of the world around A.D. 1352, wrote of his admiration of Mali.  It thrived under strong rulers and the very active gold-salt trade across the Sahara.  Trade was based on leopard skins, slaves, pepper, ivory, bronze, brass and copper.   

The Kingdom of '''Mali''' (A.D. 1235-1403) was located in West [[Africa]] and was mostly [[Muslim]]. The capital city of [[Timbuktu]] was a center of trade and education. [[Ibn Battuta]], a Muslim traveler who toured the Islamic regions of the world around 1352, wrote of his admiration of Mali.  It thrived under strong rulers and the very active [[gold]]-[[salt]] trade across the [[Sahara]].  Trade was based on leopard skins, slaves, pepper, ivory, bronze, brass and copper.   

Today, Mali exists as a democratic republic with the capital city of Bamako.

The modern state of Mali - known as [[French Sudan]] until the country gained independence from [[France]] in 1960 - took its name from the former Kingdom. The capital city is Bamako.

[[Category:African Countries]]

[[Category:African Countries]]