<u><em>The empire of Mali endured from the early 13th century to the late 15th century. Once a state inside of the Ghanaian empire, Mali rose to power when Ghana collapsed due to invading forces and internal conflicts. When Mali began to wane in power, one of its trade centers, Songhai, established its independence and soon rose to power in its place, becoming the largest kingdom in medieval West Africa, according to Annenberg Learner. Songhai collapsed at the end of the 16th century when Moroccan invaders were drawn by the riches in gold and salt and conquered Timbuktu.</em></u>
