Mansa Musa was a famous ruler of the Mali Empire, and supposedly one of the wealthiest rulers of all time. He was one of Africa's wealthiest, most powerful, and most influential individuals during the medieval period. As described in an Atlas from 1375, "This king is the richest and noblest of all these lands due to the abundance of gold that is extracted from his lands." Sure, Mansa Musa was another wealthy noble who existed within the annals of history, but who was he really?

Born in 1280 CE (AD), Musa - which is the Arabic form of what you may traditionally know as "Moses" - was believed to be a part of the Keita dynasty, which had ruled the Mali Empire for several generations. According to legend, the founder of the Keita dynasty was a prince named Sundiata Keita, who overthrew the ruling king of the Sosso Empire and established the Mali Empire in the 13th century. Musa was said to be a descendant of Sundiata Keita and his son, Uli I. Musa was likely educated in the Islamic faith and culture, as Islam had spread west to Africa by the time of his birth. Despite the lack of details concerning his childhood, Musa's later accomplishments suggest that he likely received a good education and was trained to be a strong and capable leader. In 1312, Musa inherited the throne from his predecessor, becoming the Mansa (or King, Tsar, Sultan) of the Mali Empire.

In episode 27 of History Out of the Box, Cam, and Jen discuss the fascinating rise to power and immense wealth that many individuals in history claim Mansa Musa possessed. Mansa Musa was a towering figure who left an indelible mark on the history of West Africa, and his wealth had no comparison with some claiming he was richer than any king at the time. We truly enjoyed learning about him, and we think you will as well!

History Out of The Box strives to connect our listeners with the echoes of our collective past, discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly associated with famous historical figures.