The Mali Empire's Copper Currency: A Forgotten Economy
The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo HistoryPlay episode
Show notes
While Mansa Musa's gold dominates popular memory, the Mali Empire's economy ran on copper. This episode explores the copper currency that powered daily trade across West Africa, from the Taghaza salt mines to the markets of Timbuktu. Lucas and Luna trace the source of the copper — the Takedda mines in what is now Niger — and how it was minted into standardized bars and rings used for transactions large and small. They discuss the role of copper in the silent barter trade, the valuation system that tied copper to gold and salt, and how the empire's control of copper routes underpinned its commercial dominance. The episode also touches on the archaeological evidence from sites like Takedda and the writings of Ibn Battuta, who described copper's use in currency. A forgotten but essential pillar of Mali's wealth. #MaliEmpire #CopperCurrency #Takedda #IbnBattuta #WestAfricanTrade #SilentBarter #MansaMusa #Taghaza #Timbuktu #SahelEconomy #TradeRoutes #AfricanHistory #MedievalAfrica #Numismatics #Archaeology #GoldSaltTrade #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
