The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo History
Mali Empire's Mansa Uli: The Forgotten Golden King artwork

Mali Empire's Mansa Uli: The Forgotten Golden King

The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo History
S3 E14107:56
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While Mansa Musa gets all the attention, his less famous predecessor Mansa Uli (or Wali) was arguably the architect of Mali's golden age. This episode explores Uli's reign from 1255 to 1270, his consolidation of empire after Sundiata's death, his successful hajj with spectacular generosity, and his military campaigns that expanded Mali's borders to the Atlantic and deep into the Sahara. We discuss his diplomatic outreach to the Mamluk sultan Baibars, his building of the Djinguereber mosque's earliest core, and why he was remembered as a just ruler in oral traditions. Discover the king who made Mali rich before Musa made it famous. #MansaUli #MaliEmpire #WestAfrica #SundiataKeita #Djinguereber #Mamluk #Baibars #Hajj #Timbuktu #Niani #Mandinka #Sahel #MedievalAfrica #History #IslamicHistory #GoldTrade #Empire #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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