Mali's Mansa Musa: The Hajj That Shook Cairo
The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo HistoryPlay episode
Show notes
In 1324, Mansa Musa of Mali set out on the hajj to Mecca with a caravan so vast it reportedly included 60,000 carriers and 80 camels, each carrying 300 pounds of gold. But the pilgrimage was more than a display of wealth — it was a political statement, a diplomatic mission, and a religious journey that left a trail of gold through Cairo and Medina. This episode digs into the details of that journey, from the 12,000 slaves in silk brocade to the 500 slaves bearing gold staffs, and how Musa's spending spree in Cairo caused gold prices to crash for over a decade — an economic shockwave that al-Umari and Ibn Khaldun recorded for posterity. We also unpack the protocol breach that nearly derailed his meeting with the Mamluk Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad, and how the hajj reshaped Mali's place in the Islamic world. For those who've followed the Mali Empire through our previous conversations on its gold, salt, and scholars, this is the story of the journey that put Mali on the map — and the man who made it unforgettable. #MansaMusa #MaliEmpire #Hajj1324 #Cairo #MamlukSultanate #IbnBattuta #alUmari #IbnKhaldun #Gold #WestAfrica #MedievalHistory #Islam #Diplomacy #Trade #Sahara #Timbuktu #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
