Final answer:
Sundiata Keita ruled the Mali Empire from 1230 to 1255, establishing Niani as the capital and expanding the empire to include major trading cities. Under his rule, Mali was both an Islamic and traditional African empire with a prosperous economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sundiata Keita's Rule over the Mali Empire
The founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita, ruled from approximately 1230 to 1255. He successfully unified the Mande people and established Mali as a significant and wealthy empire, larger and more successful than the Empire of Ghana before it. The Mali Empire under Sundiata Keita was technically an Islamic state, nevertheless, it incorporated both Islamic and traditional African religious practices. Choosing Niani as the capital, under Keita’s rule, Mali became an important trading center, incorporating cities like Gao, Jenne, and Walata. Sundiata Keita became the sole mansa, meaning ruler, and he was both the religious and secular leader of the Malinke people.
The empire he created was agriculturally productive and capitalized on the trade across West Africa, including valuable gold resources. Although Sundiata and his court were followers of Islam, they also engaged in pre-Islamic traditions that blended seamlessly with the empire's religious practices. His achievements laid a solid foundation for the empire to flourish, especially under his descendant, Mansa Musa, who further expanded the empire and left a lasting impression with his opulent pilgrimage to Mecca.