Final answer:
Ancient Mali was located in West Africa, around the Niger floodplain. Its territory spread from the Lower Senegal and Upper Niger rivers to the Niger bend and the Sahel. Mansa Musa, one of its rulers, greatly contributed to the cultural and educational prosperity of the empire.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ancient Mali's Geographic Location
The ancient empire of Mali is located in the region of West Africa. Historically, Mali's core lay in the Niger floodplain, with its capitals such as Niani near the Bure goldfields. Wealth brought by gold and agriculture was profound, and the empire extended from the Lower Senegal and Upper Niger rivers eastward to the bend of the Niger River and north to the Sahel. Control over trade routes such as the trans-Saharan routes facilitated the growth of Mali as a rich and diverse state. Its rulers, like Mansa Musa, were Muslims and invested massively in cities like Timbuktu, making them centers of Islamic learning and culture. The diversity of the empire was also reflected in its economy, with varying regions specializing in different agricultural products and livestock.