Why Did Mali Become A Site Of Cultural Exchange?

To begin with, trading was a major reason why Mali became a site of cultural exchange. When word spread about the abundance of gold in Mali, merchants traveled from afar through the Sahara Desert to trade for gold and other goods.“Trade between West Africa and the northern coast of the continent began during the Roman Empire. Between 1000 and 1450, Arab and Berber merchants traveled across the Sahara to trade for gold, often with salt, a product that West Africans needed” (UC Davis). Mali controlled the trade routes to Europe and the Middle East and along the Niger river. Mali had natural resources such as gold mines in the south and salt mines in the north. Mali was right between, so merchants from either side came to trade. Trading helped