Mansa Musa's Golden Touch: The Economics of Mali's Wealth
The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo HistoryPlay episode
Show notes
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Mansa Musa's legendary pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 was not just a display of staggering wealth but a carefully orchestrated economic strategy that reshaped the entire Mediterranean world. They dive into the mechanics of Mali's gold monopoly, the role of the mitqal standard, and how Mansa Musa's spending spree in Cairo caused a gold inflation that took over a decade to correct. Along the way, they uncover the diplomatic calculations behind his lavish gifts, the often-overlooked role of his farari commanders in managing the empire's treasury, and the ways in which Mali's wealth was both a source of power and a vulnerability. Drawing on al-Umari's accounts and Ibn Khaldun's histories, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the economics behind the empire's golden age. #MaliEmpire #MansaMusa #SaharanTrade #Gold #Economics #AlUmari #IbnKhaldun #Mitqal #Farari #Timbuktu #Niani #Cairo #Hajj #1324 #GhanaEmpire #WestAfrica #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
