The Empire of Mali - Mansa Musa - Extra History - Part 3

Summary

In 1312, Mansa Musa, the wealthiest person in history, embarked on a grand pilgrimage to Mecca that showcased Mali's prosperity. His extravagant journey, which included a retinue of 60,000 and 600 camels laden with gold, not only solidified Mali's status as a powerful Islamic state but also led to a cultural and educational boom, particularly in Timbuktu. Despite his achievements, some local griots viewed him as a fool who squandered wealth and neglected traditional values, foreshadowing the empire's eventual decline.

Takeaways

• 🚢 In 1312, Abubakari II embarked on a voyage with a large fleet, leaving his vizier to manage the state.
• 👑 The vizier, later known as Mansa Musa, became king after Abubakari II's disappearance and was remembered as one of the richest people in history.
• 💰 Mansa Musa's wealth was so vast that it was incomparable to modern wealth standards, even outshining figures like Jeff Bezos.
• 🌍 Europe was in an economic crisis during Mansa Musa's reign, while Mali was rich in gold and silver, which were scarce in Europe.
• 🔍 Mansa Musa aimed to elevate Mali from an economic power to a globally recognized great state.
• ⚔️ He expanded the Mali Empire by conquering trade cities like Timbuktu and Gao, and used military campaigns to extend his influence.
• 🕌 As a devout Muslim, Mansa Musa used religion as a political tool to strengthen Mali's ties with other Muslim nations and improve administrative practices.
• 🌆 His Hajj to Mecca in 1324 was an extravagant display of wealth and power, designed to put Mali on the map and attract international attention.
• 🏛️ On his return from Hajj, Mansa Musa brought scholars and architects to Mali, leading to a cultural and educational boom, particularly in Timbuktu.
• 📚 Timbuktu became a center of Islamic learning and culture, with an influx of books and an advanced book-copying industry, thanks to Mansa Musa's patronage.
• 📉 Despite his achievements, Mansa Musa's excessive spending during his Hajj caused a temporary devaluation of gold, impacting the economy of the Middle East.
• 🏙️ Under Mansa Musa, Mali became a center for Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa, spreading its influence and culture to neighboring regions.
• 📉 Contrary to the Islamic accounts, local Mali griots tell a different story, portraying Mansa Musa as a king who wasted resources and neglected local traditions.

Q & A

Who was Abubakari II and what was his significance in the script?

Abubakari II was a great explorer king from Mali who embarked on a voyage west into the Atlantic. His significance lies in the fact that his departure led to the rise of Mansa Musa, who would become one of the wealthiest and most influential rulers in history.

What was the economic situation in Europe during Mansa Musa's reign?

During Mansa Musa's reign, Europe was experiencing an economic crisis due to a decline in gold and silver production, while Mali was abundant in these resources.

How did Mansa Musa consolidate his power and expand the Mali Empire?

Mansa Musa consolidated his power by further developing the administration and trade routes of the kingdom. He also initiated military campaigns to expand the empire eastward, with a focus on capturing the trade cities of Timbuktu and Gao.

Why was Mansa Musa's Hajj pilgrimage considered extravagant?

Mansa Musa's Hajj pilgrimage was considered extravagant due to the immense wealth and grandeur he displayed. He traveled with a large retinue, including 500 heralds, 12,000 servants, and 600 camels carrying 300 pounds of gold dust each.

What was the impact of Mansa Musa's generosity during his Hajj on the gold market?

Mansa Musa's generosity in giving away gold dust and spending excessively on his Hajj led to an influx of gold in the market, which in turn caused a significant devaluation of gold, a situation that took over a decade to recover.

How did Mansa Musa's pilgrimage contribute to the recognition of Mali on the global stage?

Mansa Musa's pilgrimage helped put Mali on the map by attracting worldwide attention through his extravagant display of wealth. His actions led to European cartographers featuring Mali on their maps, enhancing the empire's global recognition.

What was the purpose of Mansa Musa bringing Arab scholars, bureaucrats, and architects back to Mali after his Hajj?

Mansa Musa brought Arab scholars, bureaucrats, and architects to Mali to help transform it into an Islamic cultural and religious center. Their expertise was used to design and construct buildings, including mosques, libraries, universities, and the Great Djinguereber Mosque at Timbuktu.

How did Mansa Musa's rule impact the city of Timbuktu?

Under Mansa Musa's rule, Timbuktu experienced a boom in Islamic education and commerce. It became a leading city in the Islamic world, attracting scholars, artists, and artisans, and fostering an advanced book-copying industry.

What was the local perspective on Mansa Musa's rule according to the griots?

The griots, who were local storytellers and keepers of Mali's oral history, had a different view of Mansa Musa. They portrayed him as a foolish king who squandered the empire's wealth and was overly enamored with Islamic culture at the expense of traditional customs.

What were the long-term consequences of Mansa Musa's rule on the Mali Empire?

The long-term consequences of Mansa Musa's rule included the empire's eventual decline, which began shortly after his death. His extravagant spending and focus on Islamic culture may have contributed to the weakening of the empire's traditional foundations.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 Mansa Musa's Ascension and Extravagant Pilgrimage

In 1312, as Abubakari II's fleet vanished into the Atlantic, a vizier named Musa Keita prepared to rule in his stead. When the king failed to return, Musa Keita ascended to the throne and became known as Mansa Musa. His reign marked a significant era in history, as he was considered the richest person to have ever lived, with wealth so vast it dwarfed modern billionaires like Jeff Bezos. During his reign, Mansa Musa focused on strengthening Mali's administration and expanding its trade routes. He also aimed to elevate Mali's status from an economic power to a globally recognized state. To achieve this, he embarked on a grand pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324, which was as much a religious journey as it was a public relations stunt. His pilgrimage was an opulent display of wealth, with a retinue of 60,000 people, 500 heralds, and 12,000 servants, along with a baggage train of 600 camels carrying 300 pounds of gold dust each. His generosity was so extreme that he inadvertently caused a financial crisis in the Middle East by flooding the market with gold, which took over a decade to recover.

05:05

🏛️ Mansa Musa's Cultural and Architectural Legacy

Mansa Musa's pilgrimage was not solely a display of wealth; it was also a strategic move to attract talent and elevate Mali's cultural and religious status. Upon his return from Mecca, he brought with him Arab scholars, bureaucrats, and architects to transform Mali into a center of Islamic culture and learning. His armies had conquered Timbuktu and Gao in his absence, and these cities became the focus of his architectural and educational ambitions. In Timbuktu, he commissioned the construction of a new palace, mosques, libraries, universities, and the Great Djinguereber Mosque, which stands to this day. This influx of knowledge and talent led to a boom in Islamic education and commerce, making Timbuktu a leading city in the Islamic world. Mali's unique position as a bridge between the Sahara and the Niger River made it a hub for intellectual and cultural exchange. Books were both written and imported, and an advanced book-copying industry thrived there. Despite the Islamic accounts praising Mansa Musa's wealth and influence, local griots told a different story of a king who squandered the empire's wealth and neglected his people's traditions. After his death, the Mali Empire began to decline.

Keywords

💡Abubakari II

Abubakari II was a great explorer king of the Mali Empire who embarked on a voyage west into the Atlantic. His departure is a significant event in the video's narrative, symbolizing the beginning of a new era. The script mentions that he left a vizier to manage the state in his absence, indicating the magnitude of his探险 and the trust placed in his regent.

💡Regent

A regent is a person appointed to govern a state on behalf of a monarch who is absent or unable to rule. In the video, the vizier becomes regent for Abubakari II and later takes the throne as Musa Keita, known as Mansa Musa. This term is crucial for understanding the transition of power in the Mali Empire and the continuity of governance.

💡Mansa Musa

Mansa Musa, also known as Musa Keita, is portrayed as one of the wealthiest people in history. His wealth and the manner in which he acquired and displayed it are central to the video's theme of economic power and influence. The script describes his extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca, which was a display of his immense wealth and a strategic move to elevate Mali's status.

💡Hajj

Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in a lifetime by every adult Muslim who is physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey. Mansa Musa's Hajj is a pivotal event in the video, highlighting his religious devotion and the political and economic impact of his pilgrimage.

💡Economic Crisis

The term 'economic crisis' refers to a situation where economic indicators such as GDP, inflation, and employment show a significant decline. In the video, Europe's economic crisis is contrasted with Mali's wealth in gold and silver, illustrating the disparity in economic fortunes and the strategic advantage Mali held.

💡Trade Routes

Trade routes are the paths taken for the transportation of goods from one place to another. The video discusses Mansa Musa's efforts to develop the Empire's trade routes, which were essential for expanding economic influence and integrating Mali into global commerce, particularly with the Islamic world.

💡Timbuktu

Timbuktu is a historical city in West Africa that became a significant trading center and an intellectual hub under Mansa Musa's rule. The video mentions the military campaign to capture Timbuktu and Gao, emphasizing the strategic importance of these cities in expanding the empire and enhancing trade.

💡Islamic Cultural Center

The concept of an 'Islamic cultural center' refers to a place where Islamic culture, learning, and religious practices are concentrated and flourish. Mansa Musa's ambition to make Mali an Islamic cultural center is a key aspect of the video, reflecting his religious devotion and the cultural transformation he sought to achieve.

💡Scholars

Scholars in the context of the video refer to the learned individuals in various fields, such as theology, law, and architecture, whom Mansa Musa brought back from his Hajj. Their presence in Mali contributed to the development of education, architecture, and the spread of Islamic knowledge, as seen in the construction of libraries, universities, and mosques.

💡Griots

Griots are West African historians, storytellers, and musicians who preserve oral traditions. The video contrasts the Islamic accounts of Mansa Musa's wealth and prestige with the local griots' perspective, which offers a more critical view of his reign, suggesting the complexity of historical narratives and the different ways his rule was perceived.

💡Collapse

The term 'collapse' in the video refers to the decline and eventual fall of the Mali Empire after Mansa Musa's death. It suggests that despite his efforts to secure Mali's prosperity and power, the empire faced challenges that led to its eventual downfall, illustrating the fragility of empires and the importance of sustainable governance.

Highlights

Abubakari II's fleet sails west into the Atlantic, with the vizier left to manage the state.

The vizier, later known as Mansa Musa, becomes king after Abubakari II fails to return.

Mansa Musa is often remembered as the richest person in history.

Mansa Musa's wealth was so vast, it's incomparable to modern standards.

Europe was in an economic crisis during Mansa Musa's reign, while Mali was rich in gold and silver.

Mansa Musa aimed to consolidate administration and develop trade routes to strengthen Mali.

Mansa Musa launched a military campaign to capture trade cities like Timbuktu and Gao.

Mansa Musa's Hajj was a calculated move to attract global attention and assert Mali's power.

His pilgrimage was a lavish display, with a retinue of 60,000 people and 500 heralds carrying gold staffs.

Mansa Musa's Hajj procession was so grand it took over a day for it to pass by.

He gave away so much gold that he caused a financial crisis in the Middle East.

Mansa Musa's Hajj was not just for show; he brought back Arab scholars, bureaucrats, and architects to Mali.

Mansa Musa's influence helped make Timbuktu a leading city in the Islamic world.

Timbuktu became a hub of intellectual and cultural exchange due to Mansa Musa's policies.

Mansa Musa's leadership sparked a boom in Islamic education in Mali.

Local storytellers, the griots, had a different view of Mansa Musa, seeing him as a fool who wasted resources.

The Mali Empire began to collapse shortly after Mansa Musa's death.

Transcripts

It's 1312.

As Abubakari II's great fleet sails west into the Atlantic,

one man watches them Disappear into the sunset.

This vizier will serve as regent for the great explorer king

managing the state while his master sails the ocean that encircles the earth

and when the great king fails to return,

this regent will take the throne the next year under the name Musa Keita.

History will remember him as Mansa Musa.

(music)

Mansa Musa is often remembered for being the richest person in history

And he was. By a wide margin.

In fact, his wealth was so inconceivably vast

that there is no accurate way of comparing it to modern standards.

Jeff Bezos has like a fraction of the wealth Mansa Musa possessed.

Europe at the time was not doing so great.

The whole region was reeling from an economic crisis driven by plummeting gold and silver production.

Meanwhile, Mali was drowning in the stuff.

But Mansa Musa wanted Mali to be more than an economic superpower.

He wanted it to be a great state recognized the world over.

He spent the early years of his reign further consolidating the administration of the kingdom

and developing the Empire's trade routes.

He greenlit a military campaign to expand the empire east

with an eye toward capturing the trade cities of Timbuktu and Gao.

Then he turned his attention toward international matters,

which also meant religion.

Musa was a devout Muslim.

In fact, probably more devout than his predecessors.

But he was not above using religion as a political tool.

Islam had made inroads with royalty in Sub-Saharan Africa

specifically because it gave them access to things that made the state more efficient,

like Arabic writing, religious law and Middle Eastern administrative practices,

and of course, Mali's lucrative trans-Saharan trade was only possible

because it was a Muslim nation like its trade partners.

But despite economic might and religious prestige,

Mali was something of a second class power

treated as lesser than the kingdoms of its trade partners in North Africa.

And that is something Mansa Musa could not abide.

It was time Mali took its rightful place among the Muslim kingdoms.

So, 17 years into his rule in 1324,

Mansa Musa set off on the most extravagant Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, in the history of humanity.

It was a trip calculated to attract the world's attention and put Mali on the map.

Two other mansas had made the Hajj before but that was during a more chaotic time

when the resources and ambitions of rulers were diverted to surviving war and famine.

Musa's pilgrimage would be part religious journey, part publicity stunt.

It was a statements to the Islamic world that the Mali Empire was thriving, devout and powerful.

It was said that his glittering procession put even the Sun to shame.

Wealth beyond dreams.

Riches beyond imagination.

Camels for days. Literally.

Some accounts claim it took over a day for his opulent Caravan to pass.

One account claims his retinue included over 60,000 people

at its head were 500 heralds carrying gold staffs

and a personal retinue of 12,000 servants dressed in silk and carrying gold bars.

A baggage train of 600 camels followed each one carrying 300 pounds of gold dust.

Musa brought along his wife and her 500 servants.

And that was just the showy part.

They took a baggage train with enough pack animals to carry provisions for the entire crew.

At every step of the way, the well-dressed, generous and pious group made a favorable impression.

Too favorable impression, in fact.

To fulfill his religious duty to share his wealth for the poor,

Musa gave handfuls of gold dust to beggars and passers-by.

Some accounts claimed he built a mosque every Friday,

and he spent months in the Cairo bazaars buying souvenirs at absurdly inflated prices.

In fact, the emperor spent and gave away so much gold in Cairo, Medina and Mecca

that he flooded the market crashing the metals value.

Although Musa attempted to rectify this by quote:

"borrowing gold from money lenders in Cairo" at an astronomical Interest,

the value of gold still took over a decade to recover in the Middle East.

Just think about that for a second.

Mansa Musa was so rich that he caused a financial crisis

by buying too many souvenirs on his religious roadtrip.

But he had come all this way to make an impression and boy oh boy, did he achieve that.

Centuries later, residents of Cairo were still telling stories of his pilgrimage train

and their reports filtered to Europe through the traders of Venice.

By 1375, European cartographers were producing world maps that featured Mali

represented by Mansa Musa inspecting a gold nugget.

But this gratuitous display wasn't just to show off.

It was also to attract talent.

On his return trip from Mecca,

Mansa Musa brought Arab scholars, bureaucrats and architects with him

in hopes of building Mali into an Islamic cultural and religious center.

On his way back home, Mansa Musa took a different route.

Through Timbuktu and Gow, which his armies had invaded and conquered while he had been away.

And, let's just stop to think about that too

Mansa Musa was so powerful that he could traipse off on a sweet pilgrimage party

leaving the kingdom in the hands of his son with armies in the field for over a year

and not get deposed.

Historically speaking, that is pretty incredible.

So, on his way back, he stopped at these new trading centers

not just to bask in his new conquests, but to assess his new assets.

Now, in addition to his Saharan trade centers in the west,

he had two in the east that also sat on the Niger River.

It was a good position for trade. But he wanted more.

Timbuktu in particular would become a project of his

and there he would put all of those new architects and scholars to work.

Together they designed numerous buildings for the emperor

including a new palace, mosques, libraries, universities

and the Great Djinguereber Mosque at Timbuktu, which still stands today.

This resulted in a boom of Islamic education in Mali

and the influx of trained minds, artists and artisans brought increased commerce,

and made Timbuktu a leading City the Islamic world

And this was at a time when the most advanced nations in the world were Muslim from Spain to central India.

Mali became the center for Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa missionizing its neighbors.

It was said that while gold came from the south and salt from the north,

knowledge came from Timbuktu.

Because of its unique location near the Sahara Desert and on the Niger River,

it was a melting pot and a hub of Intellectual and cultural exchange.

Books were not only written in Timbuktu, but also imported from all over.

There was an advanced book-copying industry there.

And at a time when books were luxury goods, that were difficult and expensive to produce.

And all of this was sparked by Mansa Musa's leadership in growing his empire.

But while the Islamic accounts tell of Mansa Musa's great wealth and prestige,

there was another perspective.

local storytellers, the griots, who kept the oral history of Mali

spoke of a different king:

a foolish one who wasted the imperial treasury and coveted Islamic things

abandoning the traditions of his people.

So, perhaps, it's no accident

that shortly after his death, the Mali Empire began it's slow collapse.

(music)