Mansa Musa’s Grand Adventure!
4.3.1 Africa to 1500: Analyzing the influence of Islam on African culture and the blending of traditional African beliefs with new ideas from Islam
How did a guy from West Africa get exposed to Islam and decide
to travel all the way to Mecca?
to travel all the way to Mecca?
MUSLIMS TRAVEL TO MECCA
“Before the 19th century, pilgrimage from Africa was principally associated with routes across the Sahara. Islam first came to West Africa by means of the Saharan routes through the commencement of trade with the Islamic world and it was by way of these routes that the first pilgrims made their way to Mecca on the Hajj. During the Mamluk era (1250-1517), the main gathering point for pilgrims from West Africa was Timbuktu, the great medieval city of learning.”-BritishMuseum.org
Read this short summary of the Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage, notice what Mansa did with his wealth on his trip and what he received in return once he arrived back home in Mali.
Here is a Modern-Day Map of Masa’s Excellent Adventure
Reaction Assignment
“Mansa Musa and the Hajj (1324) is one of the most documented stories of Ancient Mali. The Hajj is the term for the obligatory trip to Mecca and the other holy sites of Islam that the devout Muslim should make at least once in a lifetime. Mansa Musa made his Hajj that of an emperor.
On the many mile journey from West Africa to Arabia, Mansa Musa paid his way (and that of an estimated 1000 person entourage) in African gold. Even his slaves carried solid gold staffs and wore golden sandals. He spent so freely in Egypt alone that he shattered the price of gold in the Egyptian market, causing its value to decline steeply (al Umari).
Another unintended consequence with eventually dire results was that Europe once again “discovered” African civilization in all its sophistication…and its wealth. One famous European map of the times shows an African monarch of Mali enthroned while holding a huge gold nugget in his hand. Mali controlled large gold deposits in places like Wangara and this, along with vast wealth derived from trade and manufacture, made Mali fabulously rich. Mansa Musa of Mali poured enormous wealth into the construction of Mosques and Universities at places such a Gao, Djenne, and fabled Timbuktu. Modeled on the oldest university still known to function (Al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco, North Africa), African universities offered students courses in the most sophisticated mathematics and medicine of the time. And, foreign languages were taught alongside astronomy. “-AfricansBeforeAmerica
“Mansa Mūsā was accompanied by an impressive caravan consisting of 60,000 men including a personal retinue of 12,000 slaves, all clad in brocade and Persian silk. The Mansa Musa himself rode on horseback and was directly preceded by 500 slaves, each carrying a gold-adorned staff. In addition, Mansa Mūsā had a baggage train of 80 camels, each carrying 300 pounds of gold.”-Britanica
“As Mansa Musa wandered about, accompanied by his many guards and performers, he gave out presents. Some people were handed luxury goods. Others were given a small nugget of gold. The elders of every town received special gifts. Mansa Musa put Mali on the map. After his trip to Mecca, there was almost no one in the African world who did not know the great king, Mansa Musa.”- Muslim King of Mali
Choose a city that interests you that Mansa Musa visited on his famous journey (see list for cities that Mansa stopped at). Follow the links provided or find your own credible site to learn about life in 1324 in the location you picked.
On the many mile journey from West Africa to Arabia, Mansa Musa paid his way (and that of an estimated 1000 person entourage) in African gold. Even his slaves carried solid gold staffs and wore golden sandals. He spent so freely in Egypt alone that he shattered the price of gold in the Egyptian market, causing its value to decline steeply (al Umari).
Another unintended consequence with eventually dire results was that Europe once again “discovered” African civilization in all its sophistication…and its wealth. One famous European map of the times shows an African monarch of Mali enthroned while holding a huge gold nugget in his hand. Mali controlled large gold deposits in places like Wangara and this, along with vast wealth derived from trade and manufacture, made Mali fabulously rich. Mansa Musa of Mali poured enormous wealth into the construction of Mosques and Universities at places such a Gao, Djenne, and fabled Timbuktu. Modeled on the oldest university still known to function (Al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco, North Africa), African universities offered students courses in the most sophisticated mathematics and medicine of the time. And, foreign languages were taught alongside astronomy. “-AfricansBeforeAmerica
“Mansa Mūsā was accompanied by an impressive caravan consisting of 60,000 men including a personal retinue of 12,000 slaves, all clad in brocade and Persian silk. The Mansa Musa himself rode on horseback and was directly preceded by 500 slaves, each carrying a gold-adorned staff. In addition, Mansa Mūsā had a baggage train of 80 camels, each carrying 300 pounds of gold.”-Britanica
“As Mansa Musa wandered about, accompanied by his many guards and performers, he gave out presents. Some people were handed luxury goods. Others were given a small nugget of gold. The elders of every town received special gifts. Mansa Musa put Mali on the map. After his trip to Mecca, there was almost no one in the African world who did not know the great king, Mansa Musa.”- Muslim King of Mali
Choose a city that interests you that Mansa Musa visited on his famous journey (see list for cities that Mansa stopped at). Follow the links provided or find your own credible site to learn about life in 1324 in the location you picked.
- What would your reaction have been to Mansa Musa’s caravan if you lived in the city during Musa’s visit?
- Would you have joined him in Mali if he offered you a job that paid better?
- How old was your city when Mansa Musa stopped by to visit?
- How many people lived there and how important was your city to the region?
- How does your city compare to how the city looks today?
Cities that Mansa Musa Stopped at
Rubric
- 100pts possible
- 50pts-grammar/spelling (use spell check and remember to proof read twice, even ask a friend or parent to review and critique before submission)
- 50pts-All questions are answered with at least 3 sentences, providing reasoning behind opinions and statements made.