Account and explain for the greatness of the ancient Mali Empire

The
Mali Empire (1240-1645 CE) of West
Africa was founded by
Sundiata Keita (r. 1230-1255 CE) following his victory over the kingdom of Sosso (c. 1180-1235 CE). Sundiata’s centralised government, diplomacy and well-trained army permitted a massive military expansion which would pave the way for a flourishing of the Mali
Empire, making it the largest yet seen in Africa. The reign of
Mansa Musa I (1312-1337 CE) saw the empire reach new heights in terms of territory controlled, cultural fluorescence, and the staggering wealth brought through Mali’s control of regional
trade routes. Acting as a middle-trader between North Africa via the Sahara desert and the Niger River to the south, Mali exploited the traffic in
gold, salt,
copper, ivory, and slaves that crisscrossed West Africa. Muslim merchants were attracted to all this commercial activity, and they converted Mali rulers who in turn spread
Islam via such noted centres of learning as
Timbuktu. In contrast to
cities like Niani (the capital), Djenne, and Gao, most of the rural Mali population remained farmers who clung to their traditional animist beliefs. The Mali Empire collapsed in the 1460s CE following civil wars, the opening up of trade routes elsewhere, and the rise of the neighbouring
Songhai Empire, but it did continue to control a small part of the western empire into the 17th century CE.