3.2.1

Mansa Musa

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Who was Mansa Musa?

Mansa Musa was the emperor of Mali from approximately 1312-1337. His reign helped the Empire of Mali gain recognition around the world.

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Mansa Musa's background

  • Mansa Musa was the great nephew of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita.
    • He was born around 1280 and was the 9th Emperor.
  • Mansa Musa is most known for his hajj, or religious journey to Mecca, in 1324. He was a devoted Muslim and brought much religious strength to the Empire during his reign.
  • Mansa Musa was incredibly ambitious. He conquered 24 cities during his rule.
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Many unknowns

  • There are very few accounts of Mansa Musa's life remaining today. Many were given by Griot, official storytellers in Africa at the time.
    • Historian al-Umari gleaned information on Mansa Musa from officials who had met the emperor during his hajj.
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Incidental rise to power

  • According to Mansa Musa, the emperor before him left on a journey to find the Atlantic Ocean. He took 200 ships filled with men and another 200 filled with gold, water, and supplies.
  • When only one ship returned, the emperor prepared 2000 ships to try and find those who were missing. He left Mansa Musa to look after the empire for him.
  • The emperor never returned and so, Mansa Musa became emperor.
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Mansa Musa's legacy

  • Mansa Musa is remembered for leaving Mali with wealth, strength, recognition and greater levels of religious and intellectual education.
  • He was well-known outside of Africa.
    • The Catalan Atlas, a map made by Majorcan mapmakers, placed Mali right at its centre even after Musa's death in the 1330s.
  • His son, Maghan, became the next Mansa.

Jump to other topics

1The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

1.1Anglo-Saxon England

1.2The Contest for the English Throne

1.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

1.4King John

1.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

1.6The Black Death

2Worldviews

3The Empire of Mali

4The Renaissance & Reformations, 1500-1598 AD

5The British Empire, 1583-1960 AD

6The Peasants' Revolt

7Religion in the Middle Ages

8Slavery, 1619-1833 AD

9The English Civil War, 1642-1660

10The Industrial Revolution, 1750-1840

11US Independence, 1775-1783

12The French Revolution, 1789-1815

13The British Empire, 1857–1930

14Suffrage

15World War 1, 1914-1918

16The Inter-War Years, 1919-1939

17World War 2, 1939-1945

18The Cold War, 1947-1962

19Civil Rights in the USA, 1954-1975

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