Answer:
It facilitated commercial growth by expanding the number of people participating in the trade networks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Mali Empire flourished in the 13th and 15th century. Timbuktu became the city and centre of trade in the Mali Empire. Mali became the centre of trade and control the routes of western Africa with North Africa. Trans-Sahara trade one of the oldest trading networks in Africa. Mali rise as gold became the core of the trans-Saharan trade. Expansion of urban centres and towns happened as people saw the beginning of the trading classes call the Wangara.