Thesaurus

Term: Mali

Description

Area was home to Paleolithic settlements; was traversed by caravans from 300 AD; S region was heart of great Mali Empire 12th-15th cen.; Moors invaded in 16th cen.; French controlled area from 1881; official language is French, though languages of Mande group are more widely spoken, including Bambara, Soninke, Malink$00e & Dogon (non-Mande Fulani, Songhai, Senufo & Minianka are also spoken).