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By 800 Ghana had firmly controlled all of West Africa's Trade routes. Their Army kept the Trade Routes save so trade increased and their wealth did too. So many people traveled through Ghana's land that they forced everyone who passed through to pay a tax on the goods they were carrying.
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By the 1000's Ghana was rich and powerful but then they started having problems
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By the early 1200's the Empire collapsed. They had to go through lots of invasions and overgraxing as well as internal rebellion.
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Mali is located along the upper Niger river. The area had very fertile soil so the fertile soil helped Mali grow.
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Mali’s rise to power began under a ruler named Sundiata
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Mali’s most famous ruler was a Muslim named Mansa Musa
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In the 1300s Mansa Musa conquered the Songhai, adding their lands to his empire
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As the Songhai gained in wealth, they expanded their territory and built an empire.
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The Songhai leaders were Muslims.
