Mansa Musa's Pilgrimage to Mecca

Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca was in 1350.

Mansa Musa's caravan stopped in Cairo, Egypt, on the way back from Mecca.

Mansa Musa was the king of Egypt during the 14th century.

Mansa Musa gave away gold freely on his pilgrimage to Mecca.

Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca was mainly to inform the European countries about the success of Mali.

The gold Mansa Musa spent in Cairo caused a gold shortage in the city.

Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca lasted about two years.

Mansa Musa took the army with him on his pilgrimage to Mecca.

Mansa Musa traveled 10,000 km by camel to Mecca.

The Mali residents were unimpressed with Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca.

Mansa Musa did not repay the loans he borrowed for his journey home.

Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca weakened the loyalty of his people towards him.

Mansa Musa's Pilgrimage to Mecca

In 1324, Mansa Musa, the king of Mali, embarked on a pilgrimage to Mecca, a holy city in Islam, as required by Muslim law.
He traveled with a large entourage, including guards and attendants, and 80 camels carrying luxury goods and bags of gold nuggets.
During his journey, Mansa Musa gave away gold freely and funded the construction of mosques in every town he stopped in.

Stopover in Cairo, Egypt

Mansa Musa's caravan stopped in Cairo, where merchants took advantage of his wealth by increasing prices.
Despite giving away large amounts of gold, Mansa Musa was unconcerned and continued to spend lavishly.
His excessive spending led to an oversupply of gold in Cairo, causing its value to depreciate.

Journey to Mecca and Return

The pilgrimage lasted about a year, covering a distance of approximately 5,000 km by camel.
To reduce the risk of a coup, Mansa Musa took powerful officials with him and left the army in charge of the kingdom during his absence.
After the pilgrimage, Mansa Musa had to borrow money for his return journey, but he repaid his loans generously.

Impact on the People of Mali

The people of Mali were impressed by Mansa Musa's willingness to undertake the long and perilous journey to Mecca, demonstrating his devotion to Islam.
His pilgrimage strengthened their loyalty to him, further solidifying his position as king.

Learn about Mansa Musa's historic pilgrimage to Mecca, the holy city of Islam, and its significance in the 14th century. Discover the Kingdom of Mali and the city of Timbuktu during this period.