The first empire in the region was under Sundyata Keita whose influence, although at its height during the 13th to 15th centuries, is still obvious today. The best years of the first empire were under Mansa Moussa, from 1312 to 1337. He dominated the gold and salt trade, and the cities of Djenné and Timbuktu became important trading centres for the whole of West Africa.

By the 15th century, the first empire was ending. It was followed by the Songhay empire, created by Askia Mohammed on the edge of the Sahara and the Niger River in northern Mali. At its height the second empire saw Timbuktu with a population of around 100,000 people. This empire ended shortly after a Moroccan invasion in 1590.