They claimed that the Malian King Mansa Musa was the wealthiest man in all the planet’s history. He was estimated to be worth $400 billion during his African reign. I recall reading about him in the course text and understood he gained his fame and fortune from the gold and ivory trade that had happened in Africa throughout the 14th century. I didn’t think much of it then but now that I know that he was the wealthiest man to be, I wanted to discover more.Mansa Musa is remembered the most by historians because of his Extravagant hajj, or pilgrimage he took to Mecca. Archaeologists have found that Mansa Musa had accumulated a gigantic group of individuals to take the journey with him. He took 100 camel-loads of gold, weighing 300 pounds each, 500 slaves, each carrying a 4 pound golden team; tens of thousands of his subjects, in addition to his senior wife, who also brought her 500 attendants.
While he was in Cairo and Mecca, he spent so much money he finally ran out. The journey took him and his servants over a year to finish. He had to have been such a strong king to be absent from his kingdom for such a long time. When he arrived in Egypt, he camped out the pyramids for three times prior to sending a present of 50,000 dinars into the Sultan of Egypt. Then he stayed in Cairo for about 3 weeks. Since he passed out so much cash, traders would indicate the price of the merchandise by 5 times. With no funds to support his travel back home, he had to borrow a huge amount at a ridiculously high rate of interest. It is said that Mansa Musa gave out so much cash that it depressed its worth in Egypt and called its value to fall.Mansa Musa brought back with him an Arabic library, spiritual Scholars, and many importantly the Muslim architect al-Saheli, who constructed the amazing mosques in Gao and Timbuktu and a royal palace. Best Mansa Musa also strengthened and encouraged education, commerce, and trade in Mali.
The apex of Mali was attained under Mansa Musa’s rule, where he had enlarged the empire from the Atlantic coast in the west to Songhai down the Niger bend to the east. He died in 1337 after he would stability and great government to Mali.After reading the story about the pilgrimage he took, I could Understand why he’s considered the wealthiest man of all time. To take over 32000 Pounds of gold with you and be able to devote it all is quite the feat. I Don’t think I would ever be able to do that. Mansa Musa was not only a very Rich guy but he was the best Malian king to rule.