How did Mali make money?

Trade was the most important source of income for Mali. The empire sat on the edge of the Sahara Desert and controlled the trans-Saharan trade routes, which linked North Africa to sub-Saharan Africa. This made Mali a major trading hub and allowed it to take a cut of the profits from all of the goods passing through its borders.

Mali traded a variety of goods with other countries, including gold, salt, ivory, and slaves. Gold was the most valuable commodity, and Mali was one of the largest producers of gold in the world during the Middle Ages.

Mali also collected taxes from its traders and its citizens. The empire had a highly efficient tax system, which was based on a census of the population.

In addition to trade, Mali also had a number of other sources of income, such as agriculture, fishing, and mining. The Niger River, which runs through the middle of Mali, provided water for crops such as millet and rice. The river was also home to a variety of fish, which were an important source of food for the people of Mali. Mali also had a number of valuable mineral resources, such as gold, iron, and copper.