Mansa Musa and Medieval Mali Flashcards
What year was Mansa Musa born?
1280
In what year did Mansa Musa become Emperor?
1312
When did Mansa Musa pilgrimage to Mecca?
1324
When did Mansa Musa die?
1330s - we don’t know the exact date.
When was the end of the Malian Empire?
1600
When did Sundiata Keita found the Mali Empire?
1230
What was the Mali empire?
Mali was founded in the 1230s by a man named Sundiata Keita who united smaller African kingdoms. Mali became larger and increasingly powerful, coming to stretch from modern day Mali through Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, northern Ghana and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
The land of the Mali empire was rich in which 3 resources?
Gold mines
Copper mines
Large supplies of salt
Why did the Mali empire become famous?
Because of Mansa Musa, one of its emperors. He was the richest man to Earth to ever live.
Why was Mansa Musa considered a controversial figure?
His use and ownership of slaves.
What era did Mansa Musa rule in?
Ancient
Modern
Medieval
Medieval
What religion was the Mali Empire?
Muslim
At its peak, the Mali empire owned almost …… of the world’s gold.
Half.
The territories of the empire …. in size under Mansa Musa.
Tripled.
Who was Mansa Musa?
Mansa Musa, Sundiata Keita’s great-nephew, ruled the Mali Empire from 1312-1337. He was the ninth Mansa of Mali.
Who did Mansa Musa succeed?
He succeeded Mansa Abubakar II who never came home after voyaging across the Atlantic Ocean.
Why did people go on pilgrimage (such as Hajj)?
To be forgiven of sins, to be cured of a disease or disability or to receive good fortune.
What is Hajj?
The Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It is one of the five pillars of Islam. All Muslims are expected to make the journey at least once in their lifetime, if they can.
Why was Mansa Masa’s pilgrimage to Mecca significant?
Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage brought him to the attention of the world as he paved the way to Mecca with gold. It was unlike anything anybody had ever seen before. His made him famous across the Middle East and Europe.
What does the Hajj reveal about the Mali empire?
That it was wealthy:
100 camel-loads of gold, each camel carrying 300 pounds
Mansa Musa built a mosque every Friday of his journey.
‘Mansa Musa only went on hajj to show off his personal wealth and increase his fame beyond West Africa’. Do you agree or disagree?
Historians have argued Mansa Musa went on hajj for political rather than religious reasons, such as to increase his fame or to raise the profile of the Mali Empire.
How many men did Mansa Musa take on his journey?
60,000
What was the long-term effect of Mansa Musa’s visit to Mecca?
He caused gold prices to crash.
Where did Mansa Musa stop on his way to Mecca?
Egypt.
