These scholars enhanced the university of
Timbuktu which was already widely known as a center of Islamic
studies. Now, besides exchanging material goods, West Africa and
the Arabs became involved in a steady exchange of scholars and
learning.
The success of Mali in bringing law and order to a large portion of
West Africa was responsible for its decline. Having experienced
the advantages of political organization, many localities sought
self-government. In fact, Mansa Musa had overextended the empire.
A skilled ruler like himself could manipulate it, but those who
followed were not adequate to the challenge. Movements for self-
government gradually eroded central authority until by 1500 Mali
had lost its importance as an empire. Although the period of its
power and prosperity was respectable by most world empire
standards, it was short-lived compared to the history of the
previous empire of Ghana. Again, a new empire was to emerge from
the ruins of the previous one.
The Songhay empire was based on the strength of the important
trading city of Gao. This city won its independence from Mali as
early as 1375, and, within a century, it had developed into an
empire.
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