Mansa Musa was the ruler of the Mali Empire from 1312 to 1337 and is often considered one of the wealthiest people in world history. Under his leadership, Mali became one of the most powerful and prosperous empires in West Africa. Mansa Musa controlled important trade routes for gold and salt, which helped Mali grow rich and influential.
In 1324, he made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca that amazed people across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. His caravan traveled with thousands of people, and he gave away so much gold that it changed local economies. This journey showed the world that West Africa was a center of wealth, learning, and culture.
Mansa Musa also helped make Timbuktu an important place for education by supporting schools, libraries, and the study of Islam. His rule helped spread knowledge, trade, and cultural exchange throughout the region.
New Jersey Student Learning Standards:
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6.2.8.CivicsPI.4.a – Analyze the role of religion, trade, and cultural interactions in the shaping of world civilizations.
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6.2.8.EconGE.4.a – Explain how geography influenced the development of civilizations and trade networks.
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6.2.8.HistoryCC.4.a – Determine how geography and natural resources influenced the rise and expansion of Mali and other African empires.
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6.2.8.HistoryCC.4.b – Explain how political structures, leadership, and economic decisions shaped early African civilizations.
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6.2.8.HistoryUP.4.a – Explain how diverse groups and individuals contributed to the development of world history (including oral historians such as griots).
Curriculum
- 3 Sections
- 3 Lessons
- Lifetime
- Stage 11
- Stage 21
- Stage 31
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