- The Mali Empire was founded in the 12th century by Sundiata Keita and the Malinke people after the decline of the Ghana Empire due to the southward expansion of the Sahara desert and wars with the Almoravids. - The Mali Empire reached its peak in the 14th century under Mansa Musa's rule, controlling gold mines in the south and salt supplies in the north. Mansa Musa gained fame after making a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324, giving away so much gold along the way that he inadvertently crashed gold prices in Egypt. - After Mansa Musa's death, the Mali Empire began to decline as his successors lost