Mansa Musa ascends the throne of Mali

1312

The new mansa inherited from Abu Bakr II an empire stretching from the Atlantic to Gao, enriched by Bure gold fields whose output dominated West African commerce. A devout Muslim and shrewd administrator, Musa would make Mali famous from Andalusia to Persia, and would empty Egypt's markets of gold during a single generous pilgrimage that astonished the Islamic world.