Mali
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The Kingdom of Mali (A.D. 1235-1403) was located in West Africa and was mostly Muslim. The capital city of Timbuktu was a mecca for trade and education. Ibn Battuta, a Muslim traveler who toured the Islamic regions of the world around A.D. 1352, wrote of his admiration of Mali. It thrived under strong rulers and the very active gold-salt trade across the Sahara. Trade was based on leopard skins, slaves, pepper, ivory, bronze, brass and copper.
By A.D. 1500 both Islamic countries and Christian European countries were gaining influence in Africa.
Today, Mali exists as a democratic republic with the capital city of Bamako.