074 - The Madrassas of Timbuktu and Mansa Musa

Some call him the richest person in human history. Whether that's true, Mansa Musa of Mali shook up the world with his gold-laden hajj through Cairo and his university in Timbuktu. That city at the edge of the Sahara might seem like the furthest place on earth, but it was a remarkable center of learning, home to as many as 700,000 manuscripts. Cody Michaels from the History Unwritten podcast comes by to talk about Musa, his gold, and his famous journey to Mecca, as well as how African history is so much more than what we're commonly taught.  Plus poulet yassa! Sources: Baxter, Joan. "Africa's 'greatest explorer'" in BBC News Bell, Nawal Morcos. "The Age of Mansa Musa of Mali: Problems in Succession and Chronology" in The International Journal of African Historical Studies Coleman de Graft-Johnson, John. "Mūsā I of Mali" in Encyclopaedia Britannica Hamidullah, Mohammed. "Echos of What Lies Behind the 'Ocean of Fogs'" in Muslim Historical Narratives Levtzion, N. "The Thirteenth- and Fourteenth-Century Kings of Mali" in The Journal of African History Mohamud, Naima. "Is Mansa Musa the richest man who ever lived?" in BBC Africa Sogoba, Mia. "Mansa Musa: the Rejected Ruler of the Mali Empire?" in Culture of West Africa Photograph by Francesco Bandarin

Om Podcasten

In this podcast, we'll visit 200 Wonders of the World, from the Pyramids to the Great Barrier Reef, to tell the story of our people, our civilization, and our planet. My name is Caroline Vahrenkamp, and I'm a travel junkie. The world is filled with amazing places that reflect the greatest achievements of human accomplishment. In these uncertain times, understanding our great shared history may help to bridge the divides between us. And if not, it will be a fun ride anyway! We'll discuss the history of each place and the story of the men and women who lived there. We'll cover travel notes, examine what else to see while you're in the area, and dig into the local cuisine. Expect a new episode every two weeks. And thanks for listening!