The Empire of Mansa Musa كتاب · المقتنيات

We may know a lot about the powerful rulers of Europe, but the world is much vaster, filled with wonders that strain credulity.

Let's take the Mali Empire in faraway Africa. Its rise to power began, as is often the case, with an act of defiance. People say the Mali leader Sundiata Keita rose against the rival Sosso Empire and, after its conquest, he called himself a 'mansa', meaning 'king' in his language.

After several other mansas, the time has come for the greatest – Mansa Musa. It is said he acquired exceptional wealth, mainly from taxes on salt and gold trade in the region. He conquered twenty-four cities during his reign, but what made him most famous was perhaps his pilgrimage to Mecca. It is said he took sixty thousand people with him and handed out so much gold during his travels that it became as commonplace as bronze. Whether these tales are true, exaggerated, or completely made up, I cannot tell. May you, dear reader, judge for yourself.