13th and 14th centuries
Development of large trading empires in Africa, South of the Sahara
The Mali Empire, for example, reached its height under the reign of Kanku Musa between 1307 and 1332. At that time it extended over a vast area from the Atlantic Ocean to Niger. Timbuktu, Gao and Djenne were the economic and cultural centers of the empire. Prosperity stemmed from the trans-Saharan caravan trade in copper, salt, gold and fabrics. The Niger River was also an important trade route.