WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -By the end of Mansa Musa’s reign (early 14th century CE), the Sankoré Masjid had been converted into a fully staffed madrasa (Islamic school, or in this case, university) with the largest collections of books in Africa since the Library of Alexandria.

Detailed explanation-2: -He recruited scholars from the wider Muslim world to travel to Mali, such as the Andalusian poet Abu Ishaq al-Sahili, and helped establish Timbuktu as a center of Islamic learning. His reign is associated with numerous construction projects, including part of Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu.

Detailed explanation-3: -He used his money to create hundreds of libraries and spread knowledge throughout his empire. The picture above is of Mansa Musa holding a gold coin surrounded by pictures of mosques and libraries he paid for to be built. Today, Mansa Musa’s love to spread knowledge through libraries is used for political arguments.

Detailed explanation-4: -In 1324 Musa embarked on the hajj, the religious pilgrimage to Mecca that all Muslims are expected to make in their lifetime. It was also an opportunity to forge alliances and to advertise his wealth and power through lavish displays.

Detailed explanation-5: -Like two mansolu (rulers of Mali) before him, Mūsā I undertook the hajj as an act of devotion in line with Islamic tradition. Furthermore, his hajj in 1324 was in some ways an act of solidarity that showed his connection to other rulers and peoples throughout the Islamic world.