This is Mansa Musa. Even when adjusted for inflation, he is still...
GeniusThinking@GeniusGTX
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Jul 17, 2024
~3 min read
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This is Mansa Musa.
Even when adjusted for inflation, he is still billions richer than Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Bill Gates combined.
Yet most have never heard of him.
Here's the forgotten story of the richest person in human history (that you should know):
Even when adjusted for inflation, he is still billions richer than Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Bill Gates combined.
Yet most have never heard of him.
Here's the forgotten story of the richest person in human history (that you should know):
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Historians estimate Mansa Musa's fortune at around $400 billion in today's dollars.
That's more than the GDPs of countries like Norway and Ireland combined.
With near-limitless wealth, he could do anything he desired at any time.
Here's what he did...
That's more than the GDPs of countries like Norway and Ireland combined.
With near-limitless wealth, he could do anything he desired at any time.
Here's what he did...
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Mansa Musa ruled the Mali Empire in the 1300s.
At its peak, the empire:
• Spanned 500,000 sq miles
• Included 5% of world population
• Rose rapidly during Africa's golden age of trade
The key to its wealth? Vast supplies of gold & salt.
At its peak, the empire:
• Spanned 500,000 sq miles
• Included 5% of world population
• Rose rapidly during Africa's golden age of trade
The key to its wealth? Vast supplies of gold & salt.
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In 1324, Mansa Musa embarked on an epic 2700 miles pilgrimage to Mecca.
His entourage included:
• 100 elephants
• 60,000 men & women
• 80 camels carrying 21,000kg of gold
• 12,000 slaves each carrying 2kg of gold
It was an entire movable city stretching beyond the horizon.
His entourage included:
• 100 elephants
• 60,000 men & women
• 80 camels carrying 21,000kg of gold
• 12,000 slaves each carrying 2kg of gold
It was an entire movable city stretching beyond the horizon.
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The Mali Empire's wealth came from its vast gold and salt supplies.
Half of all gold in Europe, Africa, and Asia at the time came from just 3 Mali goldmines.
Salt was also incredibly valuable, worth its weight in gold in parts of Africa where it was scarce.
Half of all gold in Europe, Africa, and Asia at the time came from just 3 Mali goldmines.
Salt was also incredibly valuable, worth its weight in gold in parts of Africa where it was scarce.
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Mansa Musa gave away so much gold during his pilgrimage that he crashed its price in major cities like Cairo, Medina, and Mecca.
His extraordinary generosity caused a decade-long gold recession.
He also built a new mosque every Friday during his 2-year journey.
His extraordinary generosity caused a decade-long gold recession.
He also built a new mosque every Friday during his 2-year journey.
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Mansa Musa's pilgrimage put the Mali Empire on the map - literally.
He appeared on the 1375 Catalan Atlas, one of the most important 14th-century world maps, holding a golden coin.
His wealth and power attracted thousands of supporters, thinkers, and artists to Mali.
He appeared on the 1375 Catalan Atlas, one of the most important 14th-century world maps, holding a golden coin.
His wealth and power attracted thousands of supporters, thinkers, and artists to Mali.
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On his way back from Mecca, Mansa Musa annexed the city of Timbuktu.
He transformed it into a global center of trade, culture, and learning.
Mansa Musa paid 200kg of gold to build the Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu, which still stands today.
He transformed it into a global center of trade, culture, and learning.
Mansa Musa paid 200kg of gold to build the Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu, which still stands today.
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Timbuktu's university, Sankore Madrasah, had an enrollment of 25,000 students from around the world.
Its library held over 1 million books - more than the Great Library of Alexandria at its peak.
Yet Europeans wouldn't rediscover Timbuktu until the 1830s.
Its library held over 1 million books - more than the Great Library of Alexandria at its peak.
Yet Europeans wouldn't rediscover Timbuktu until the 1830s.
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Mansa Musa used his vast fortune to:
• Strengthen Mali's vibrant cultural scene
• Establish world-class centers of learning
• Expand Islam's reach through Western Africa
• Uplift countless lives through his generosity
He showed the power of wealth to transform society.
• Strengthen Mali's vibrant cultural scene
• Establish world-class centers of learning
• Expand Islam's reach through Western Africa
• Uplift countless lives through his generosity
He showed the power of wealth to transform society.
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Mansa Musa's reign lasted 25 years until his death in 1337 at the age of 57.
Tales of his wealth and influence spread far beyond Africa, inspiring awe in the Middle East and Europe.
Yet in the West, his legacy has been largely overlooked in favor of industrialists like Rockefeller and Carnegie.
Tales of his wealth and influence spread far beyond Africa, inspiring awe in the Middle East and Europe.
Yet in the West, his legacy has been largely overlooked in favor of industrialists like Rockefeller and Carnegie.
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Despite his status as the richest person in history, Mansa Musa is barely remembered outside of Africa.
His story highlights the Eurocentric bias in history education.
Imagine how different the world would be if more knew of Mansa Musa's wisdom, generosity, and visionary leadership.
His story highlights the Eurocentric bias in history education.
Imagine how different the world would be if more knew of Mansa Musa's wisdom, generosity, and visionary leadership.
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The story of Mansa Musa is one of unimaginable wealth, Islamic faith, scholarship, cultural patronage, and generosity.
As the richest man in history, he demonstrated the transformative power of trade and wealth in the hands of a visionary leader.
His legacy deserves far greater recognition.
As the richest man in history, he demonstrated the transformative power of trade and wealth in the hands of a visionary leader.
His legacy deserves far greater recognition.
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References and sources:
This is a great documentary on the topic: youtube.com/watch?v=89s1_w…
Thank you to Thoughty2 on YouTube for majority of the clips in this thread: youtube.com/watch?v=1v32Op…
Here're more resources to keep on reading:
nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/m…
history.com/news/who-was-t…
This is a great documentary on the topic: youtube.com/watch?v=89s1_w…
Thank you to Thoughty2 on YouTube for majority of the clips in this thread: youtube.com/watch?v=1v32Op…
Here're more resources to keep on reading:
nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/m…
history.com/news/who-was-t…
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That's a wrap!
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That's all for today.
Stay extraordinary.
If you enjoyed this thread, share it with your friends by tagging them below or sending this as a DM to them.
That's all for today.
Stay extraordinary.
