Mansa Musa (1312 – 1337)

Mansa Musa’s Importance in African History Doubled the size of the Mali Kingdom Doubled the size of the Mali Kingdom Established a very effective way to govern  Established a very effective way to govern  –a strong central government and provinces overseen by appointed governors Timbuktu’s Sankore Mosque grew to have about 20,000 students. Timbuktu’s Sankore Mosque grew to have about 20,000 students.

Mansa Musa’s Strong Central Government Mansa Musa was one of the greatest leaders in the history of Africa. Mansa Musa was one of the greatest leaders in the history of Africa. His system of government was so successful that writer Ibn Batuta, found “complete and general safety in the land of Mali even 12 years after Musa’s death.” His system of government was so successful that writer Ibn Batuta, found “complete and general safety in the land of Mali even 12 years after Musa’s death.”

Musa’s Pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca) Thousands of servants and soldiers went with him. Thousands of servants and soldiers went with him. They took along hundreds of camels carrying gold. They took along hundreds of camels carrying gold. On the way to and from Makkah, they spent so much gold that they caused the value of gold to fall in Africa, Arabia, and all around the Mediterranean Ocean. On the way to and from Makkah, they spent so much gold that they caused the value of gold to fall in Africa, Arabia, and all around the Mediterranean Ocean.

Mali’s decline Mansa Musa was the last powerful ruler of Mali. Mansa Musa was the last powerful ruler of Mali. In 1359 (22 years after Musa’s death) the kingdom was divided by civil war In 1359 (22 years after Musa’s death) the kingdom was divided by civil war The nearby Kingdom of Songhai was growing more powerful. The nearby Kingdom of Songhai was growing more powerful. In 1464, the Songhai leader Sunni Ali captured Timbuktu. In 1464, the Songhai leader Sunni Ali captured Timbuktu.