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Mansa Musa: A Captivating Guide to the Emperor of the Islamic Mali Empire in West Africa and How He Developed Timbuktu into a Major Center for Trade
In the grand scheme of things, very little is known of Mansa Musa’s life. We know that he was one of the greatest emperors of the Mali Empire. And we know that he was actually one of the richest men of all time due to the enormous gold deposits in West Africa that were under his dominion, but large parts of Mansa Musa’s life remain a mystery.
We know, for example, that he later expanded the reach of the Mali Empire considerably, eventually incorporating the legendary Timbuktu into his realm. Such things certainly make for fascinating tales, but the truth is much of Mansa Musa’s early life is virtually unknown. This is largely due to the fact that Mansa Musa did not have a biography of his exploits written about him during the time in which he lived.
Rather than a written record, the narrative of his exploits that are remembered come down to us through the lore of the griot—Mali’s oral storytellers. The tales that these bards spin are indeed riveting, but they tend to focus on certain key events in Mansa Musa’s later life. The epic journey of Mansa’s hajj to Mecca is covered, and so are some other key parts of his personal history. But many other aspects still draw a blank.
Here in this text, however, we have really run the gamut when it comes to uncovering the life of Mansa Musa. Utilizing both the testimony of Arab chroniclers familiar with Mali and Mansa Musa, the oral stories of the griot, and archaeological evidence, we have put together a book that captures the essence of who Mansa Musa was and what he tried to accomplish. His story is like some great mosaic that has fractured over the centuries, but we have pieced it all together to present to you the best portrait possible of Mansa Musa and the life he lived.
In this book, you will learn about:
The backstory of the Mali Empire and its founders
The rise of Mansa Musa as the emperor
The transition of Mali from a pagan to a Muslim Kingdom
Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca
The incorporation of Timbuktu into the Mali Empire
Mansa Musa’s successors
Mansa Musa’s legacy
And much more!
We know, for example, that he later expanded the reach of the Mali Empire considerably, eventually incorporating the legendary Timbuktu into his realm. Such things certainly make for fascinating tales, but the truth is much of Mansa Musa’s early life is virtually unknown. This is largely due to the fact that Mansa Musa did not have a biography of his exploits written about him during the time in which he lived.
Rather than a written record, the narrative of his exploits that are remembered come down to us through the lore of the griot—Mali’s oral storytellers. The tales that these bards spin are indeed riveting, but they tend to focus on certain key events in Mansa Musa’s later life. The epic journey of Mansa’s hajj to Mecca is covered, and so are some other key parts of his personal history. But many other aspects still draw a blank.
Here in this text, however, we have really run the gamut when it comes to uncovering the life of Mansa Musa. Utilizing both the testimony of Arab chroniclers familiar with Mali and Mansa Musa, the oral stories of the griot, and archaeological evidence, we have put together a book that captures the essence of who Mansa Musa was and what he tried to accomplish. His story is like some great mosaic that has fractured over the centuries, but we have pieced it all together to present to you the best portrait possible of Mansa Musa and the life he lived.
In this book, you will learn about:
The backstory of the Mali Empire and its founders
The rise of Mansa Musa as the emperor
The transition of Mali from a pagan to a Muslim Kingdom
Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca
The incorporation of Timbuktu into the Mali Empire
Mansa Musa’s successors
Mansa Musa’s legacy
And much more!
98 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 22, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 24, 2021
There’s a first time for everything
I really enjoyed the chapter on Sune Jatta and Monsa Musa and Molly’s history since then. The only thing that bothers me and that I really disagree with is that people in Africa were slaves due to social reasons. I know from reading their history books besides captivating history that when one tribe bought against another the losing tried became slaves and they were treated as nicely as the author want you to believe. They were given The most horrible of task and they were the ones that were sold to the Arabic‘s and then eventually the Spanish food then sold them to Englishman and on and on. There were other things I found in this book that I also read differently somewhere else but it’s too much to say I do love captivating history and this is the first time I’ve given a CH book less than five stars. I am just tired of people rewriting history and telling untruths. Everyone wants to blame America and talks about the slavery we had here which was deplorable, but we did not get into the slave game until in the very end we only had slaves for about 150 years and those who say they were slaves before that has it read a real history book. It’s wrong to miss inform the reason they worship the law is because the middle eastern Arabic taught them to be Muslims.
I really enjoyed the chapter on Sune Jatta and Monsa Musa and Molly’s history since then. The only thing that bothers me and that I really disagree with is that people in Africa were slaves due to social reasons. I know from reading their history books besides captivating history that when one tribe bought against another the losing tried became slaves and they were treated as nicely as the author want you to believe. They were given The most horrible of task and they were the ones that were sold to the Arabic‘s and then eventually the Spanish food then sold them to Englishman and on and on. There were other things I found in this book that I also read differently somewhere else but it’s too much to say I do love captivating history and this is the first time I’ve given a CH book less than five stars. I am just tired of people rewriting history and telling untruths. Everyone wants to blame America and talks about the slavery we had here which was deplorable, but we did not get into the slave game until in the very end we only had slaves for about 150 years and those who say they were slaves before that has it read a real history book. It’s wrong to miss inform the reason they worship the law is because the middle eastern Arabic taught them to be Muslims.
April 10, 2021
In the Middle Ages, there was an emperor who was more wealthy than the greatest billionaire today. Mansa Musa was a little-known emperor of Mali; in the Middle Ages, his empire covered modern-day Ghana, Timbuktu, and Mali in West Africa. Musa's empire sat upon the largest gold reserve at the time. He used it wisely because he turned two towns (Gao and Timbuktu) into handsome cities and extensive seats of learning and education.
Much of what is known about Mali is from his nine thousand-mile trip to perform hajj because he was a devout Muslim. He traveled from west Africa, across to Egypt, and down Saudi Arabia to Mecca. He carried and distributed so much gold, that he destroyed the gold market in Egypt for 10 years. Mansa Musa's trip was fascinating. He was a good steward of the wealth of his country. It is unfortunate that he is not known more widely. This is a great story of a wonderful man and his legacy.
Much of what is known about Mali is from his nine thousand-mile trip to perform hajj because he was a devout Muslim. He traveled from west Africa, across to Egypt, and down Saudi Arabia to Mecca. He carried and distributed so much gold, that he destroyed the gold market in Egypt for 10 years. Mansa Musa's trip was fascinating. He was a good steward of the wealth of his country. It is unfortunate that he is not known more widely. This is a great story of a wonderful man and his legacy.
July 11, 2021
A good introduction to a person that many people in Europe and the West have probably never heard of. He had a fascinating life and it is too bad not more is known about his early life.
One thing that may be controversial about this book is the statement of the type of slavery by Arabs and West Africans (the slaves they themselves kept). It describes slavery as being different than what was practiced in the U.S. and the Caribbean. Instead, slaves were, at times, treated as family members and some even rose to the highest places of power in society. I have read other books about slavery in Arab countries from this time period that have made the same point. However, I think it does gloss over that not all slaves were treated that way and that they were still no redress if someone was treating them badly because they were slaves. They were without the rights that free people had.
One thing that may be controversial about this book is the statement of the type of slavery by Arabs and West Africans (the slaves they themselves kept). It describes slavery as being different than what was practiced in the U.S. and the Caribbean. Instead, slaves were, at times, treated as family members and some even rose to the highest places of power in society. I have read other books about slavery in Arab countries from this time period that have made the same point. However, I think it does gloss over that not all slaves were treated that way and that they were still no redress if someone was treating them badly because they were slaves. They were without the rights that free people had.
May 10, 2021
Succinct Story of Mali History
Most of this was new information to me and I found it very interesting. I had heard of Ibn Battuta’s extensive travels, but not Mansa Musa. The fact that Musa was the same as Moses and his support of Islam showed how religion affected these early African kingdoms.
Most of this was new information to me and I found it very interesting. I had heard of Ibn Battuta’s extensive travels, but not Mansa Musa. The fact that Musa was the same as Moses and his support of Islam showed how religion affected these early African kingdoms.
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October 5, 2023Such interesting history but I don’t like this format that they aren’t transparent about what is known and what is fictional.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews