In the 1230s, a man called Sundiata Keita incorporated a series of smaller kingdoms into the Mali Empire. The empire was central to several key trading routes, and with the support of a well ...

Mansa Musa Ascends to the Throne Very little is known about Musa’s early life, though it is believed he was born in the late 13th century. Musa is believed to be the grandnephew of Mansa Sundiata.