Mali emerged against the back-drop of a declining of Ghana under the dynamic leadership of Sundiata of the Keita clan. But the region he took over had a past rich in trade and powerful rulers. The ancient city of Ghana had been fabled for its wealth in gold. Between whiles, it was a vital crossroads in the north-south trade.
Recent excavations reveal high levels of craftsmanship in pottery, iron-work and jewellery making.
This suggests the people of Jenne imported iron ore, stone grinders and beads. Djeli Mamadou Kouyate, edited by D. T. Niane. He took Timbuktu from the Tuareg, transforming it into a substantial city, a focus for trade and scholarship. A significant portion of the wealth of the Empire derived from the Bure goldfields. The first capital, Niani, was built close to this mining area.