The Reign of Mansa Musa The Richest Man in History

Mali's birth as an Empire

Jan 1, 1230

The Mali Empire, also knwn as the Manden Kurufaba, was established in 1230 AD by it's first Mansa (king of kings) Sundiata Keita (Konate). After Sundiata's victory in the battle of Karina, he established his capital in the city-state Niani. Sundiata, also referred to as Mari Djata, conquered vast territories expanding the Mali empire from the Upper Niger lands to areas deep into the Sahara.

Mansa Musa's Expected Timeline

Period: Jan 1, 1280 to Dec 31, 1337

Little is known about the beginning of life for Mansa Musa and his exact death. His timeline is presumed to be between 1280 and 1337.

Mansa Musa's Accession to the Throne.

Jan 1, 1312

It has come down through time that Mansa Musa came to power through a traditional Malian practice of the current Mansa appointing a deputy in his absence. It has been told, but not confirmed that Musa's predecessor Abubakari Keita II left him as deputy over Mali while he embarked on a journey to find the limits of the Atlantic Ocean. After an extensive amount of time had past without his return, Musa became Mansa over Mali.

The Infamous Pilgrimage

Dec 1, 1323

Around the time of December 1323, Mansa Musa and his train of severants and officials set off for their pilgrimage (hajj) to Meccah, the holy city now known as Saudi Arabia, a 3,000 + mile trip. It is written that it took several months for them to prepare for such a journey. Within his caravan is said to have had several animals such as horses, camels, and coats. Some animals used for burden like carrying gold and other precious material, and some used as food to accomodate all his followers.

Events During the Hajj

Jan 1, 1324

Along the way to Mecca Mansa Musa displayed great generosity, not only to the thousands of people who followed him, but also to the poor he encountered along the way during his year long journey. It is believed that whenever Musa would stop on a friday that he would raise a mosque in that area.

Mecca, Cairo and the Sultan al-Malik al- Nasir

Jul 1, 1324

During the pilgrimage Musa came to Cairo to visit the lands and rest. However, as it was learned by the Sultan that Musa had arrived, he insisted that the two would meet. Musa declined the invitation several times with the excuse that he had come for the hajj and nothing else, but to not show rudeness he accepted. Another issue arose when it came time to kiss the ground before the sultan. Musa was not familiar with this practice nor willing to. However, he complied to be polite.

Mansa Musa Runs out of Money

Jan 1, 1325

Due to the tremendous generosity of Musa, he actually ran out of money during his hajj . Not only had he ran out of money, but because he traded so much gold everywhere throughout Cairo, he had single handedly collapsed the economy. The only time recorded that one man controled the price of gold. To rectify the issue, Musa borrowed all that he needed for his return home at a high interest rate.

The Spread of Islam

Aug 1, 1326

It was very well known that Mansa Musa was a devout muslim. On his return back to Mali he brought back with him several Islamic scholars and architects from Cairo to erect mosque and madrasas in Timbuktu. Due to his hajj and the attention it brought to Mali's wealth, scholars believed that it attracted more muslim traders and scholars which contributed to the cultural and economic growth of Mali.

Timbuktu

Mar 1, 1327

Mansa Musa took Timbuktu from a ordinary city to the "wall street" of Africa. Timbuktu emerged as a large urban center for commerce and learning. The worlds second largest imperial court is also housed in Timbuktu. One of the architects Musa brought back to Mali with him was El Saheli who built the great mosques, one of which is the Djinguereber mosque in 1327 which still remains today.

The death of Mansa Musa

Jan 1, 1337

There is very little information on the cause of death, location ,and even age of Mansu Musa's death. Some records place his death soon after his return from his hajj in 1325, others feel it was during his son Mansa Maghan's rule which was from 1332-1336. More believe he was alive when Tlemcen was conquered in 1337.

Mansa Musa's wealth

Jan 1, 2015

It is strongly beleived that not only was Mansa Musa the wealthiest leader of all time, but the wealthiest man of all time. His wealth was estimated at 400 Billion dollars. Following behind him in 2nd is the Rothschild Family (350B) and then John Rockefeller (340B). To put it into better perspective, the richest man alive today is Bill Gates at 79.3 Billion dollars