You should make a broad outline of the international system(s) in your chosen region by applying Buzan and Little’s framework.
So: Ringmar’s book provides the empirical material, Buzan and Little’s book provides the theoretical framework. i have africa group so from the bottom of page 133 to 136 in History of International Relations book (africa )
Apply buzan & little’s toolkit to the information given in ringmar’s history west africa, i.e. the mali empire and related civilizations in your case
Its from the bottom of page 133 to the bottom of page
The songhai empire belongs to your section too •• Buzan, Barry & Little, Richard. 2000.
International Systems in World History: Remaking the Study of International Relations. Oxford: Oxford University Press. •• Ringmar, Erik.
History of International Relations: A Non-European Perspective. 2019.
