As modern historians write, the fabulous riches of the ruler of Mali, Mansa Musa Keith I, became known in other countries of the world when this emperor performed the hajj to Mecca. However, relatively quickly, the size of the huge capital decreased significantly.
The civil strife and foreign conquerors are to blame
According to the online publication Celebrity Net Worth, which specializes in the publication of biographies of celebrities, the ruler of Mali Mansa ("mansa" and translates exactly as "ruler") Musa Keith I had a fortune equivalent to $ 400 billion. Musa has been at the head of the state since 1312, the then Malian Empire included the territories of such modern West African countries as Ghana, Timbuktu, Mali and many others. The empire possessed more than half of the world's salt and gold reserves.
Some mosques built during the reign of Mansa Musa are still standing today, after 700 years. It is reported that the multi-billion dollar fortune of this ruler, two generations after his reign (Mansa Musa ruled for 25 years), significantly decreased due to the civil war that swept the Empire and the invasions of foreign invaders.
How did you find out about his wealth
The English writer Abby Norman in her historical research reports that other countries learned about the colossal wealth of the ruler of Mali during the trip of this head of the Empire to Mecca - the Hajj was very costly for him. The caravan of Mansa Musa passed through Cairo, Medina, over 60 thousand people, dozens of animals took part in it. The Malians carried with them a lot of gold, which Musa and members of his entourage distributed to the poor on the streets, bought different things in exchange for bars of precious metal in the cities through which the caravan passed.
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As a result, the price of gold due to its abundance fell sharply and this inflationary process ended with Mansa Musa having a monopoly on setting the price of gold throughout the Mediterranean. This journey in 1375 was depicted on such a famous historical document as the Catalan Atlas - on the map they also painted Mansa Musa himself in a golden crown, sitting on a throne.
What else is Mansa Musa famous for
Abby Norman clarifies that the richest man in the world spent most of his money on building mosques. According to legend, he began the construction of another religious building every Friday. The most famous of them is the Jingereber Cathedral Mosque in Timbuktu, which has survived to this day.
The merit of Manse Musa, whom historians consider one of the most powerful rulers of his time, if not of all world history, also credits the creation of a wide network of educational institutions in his Empire, located on an area of more than 3 thousand kilometers.
… According to the calculations of historians and economists, only John Rockefeller with his capital of 336 billion dollars could come close to the 400 billion state of Mansa Musa after centuries.
Nikolay Syromyatnikov