USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -An abundance of gold dust and salt deposits helped to expand the empire’s commercial assets. Mali included the city of Timbuktu, which became known as an important center of knowledge.

Detailed explanation-2: -The great wealth of Mali came from gold and salt mines. The capital city of the empire was Niani. Other important cities included Timbuktu, Gao, Djenne, and Walata. The Mali Empire controlled important trade routes across the Sahara Desert to Europe and the Middle East.

Detailed explanation-3: -The trade in gold helped Mali stay very wealthy. The main item they would import was salt which they would use it for many things. Since salt was abundant in the North of Mali, but scarce in the South, they would have to import it. Salt was mainly used to preserve foods, like meat, but also corpses, etc.

Detailed explanation-4: -The people of ancient Mali used natural resources. Salt from the mines was used to preserve food and for health. They would trade Salt for gold using the Niger River. Because of Mali’s location along these trade routes, they became a very rich and powerful empire.

Detailed explanation-5: -Overview. Gold dominates Mali’s natural resource sector, and Mali is at least the fourth largest gold producer in Africa, with some reports placing it third. Gold is by far Mali’s most important export, comprising more than 80 percent of total exports in 2021. The price of gold fluctuates with the world market price.