Mansa Musa and Medieval Mali

Question 1

What year was Mansa Musa born?

Answer 1

1280

Question 2

In what year did Mansa Musa become Emperor?

Answer 2

1312

Question 3

When did Mansa Musa pilgrimage to Mecca?

Answer 3

1324

Question 4

When did Mansa Musa die?

Answer 4

1330s - we don’t know the exact date.

Question 5

When was the end of the Malian Empire?

Answer 5

1600

Question 6

When did Sundiata Keita found the Mali Empire?

Answer 6

1230

Question 7

What was the Mali empire?

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

The land of the Mali empire was rich in which 3 resources?

Answer 8

Gold mines
Copper mines
Large supplies of salt

Question 9

Why did the Mali empire become famous?

Answer 9

Because of Mansa Musa, one of its emperors. He was the richest man to Earth to ever live.

Question 10

Why was Mansa Musa considered a controversial figure?

Answer 10

His use and ownership of slaves.

Question 11

What era did Mansa Musa rule in?
Ancient
Modern
Medieval

Answer 11

Medieval

Question 12

What religion was the Mali Empire?

Answer 12

Muslim

Question 13

At its peak, the Mali empire owned almost …… of the world’s gold.

Answer 13

Half.

Question 14

The territories of the empire …. in size under Mansa Musa.

Answer 14

Tripled.

Question 15

Who was Mansa Musa?

Answer 15

Mansa Musa, Sundiata Keita’s great-nephew, ruled the Mali Empire from 1312-1337. He was the ninth Mansa of Mali.

Question 16

Who did Mansa Musa succeed?

Answer 16

He succeeded Mansa Abubakar II who never came home after voyaging across the Atlantic Ocean.

Question 17

Why did people go on pilgrimage (such as Hajj)?

Answer 17

To be forgiven of sins, to be cured of a disease or disability or to receive good fortune.

Question 18

What is Hajj?

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

Why was Mansa Masa’s pilgrimage to Mecca significant?

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

What does the Hajj reveal about the Mali empire?

Answer 20

That it was wealthy:
100 camel-loads of gold, each camel carrying 300 pounds

Mansa Musa built a mosque every Friday of his journey.

Question 21

‘Mansa Musa only went on hajj to show off his personal wealth and increase his fame beyond West Africa’. Do you agree or disagree?

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

How many men did Mansa Musa take on his journey?

Answer 22

60,000

Question 23

What was the long-term effect of Mansa Musa’s visit to Mecca?

Answer 23

He caused gold prices to crash.

Question 24

Where did Mansa Musa stop on his way to Mecca?

Answer 24

Egypt.

Question 25

How long did Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage take?

Answer 25

A year.