Key learning points

1. When Mansa Musa returned from the Hajj he spent time in one of the cities that his generals had conquered.
2. This city was Timbuktu, and Mansa Musa ordered great mosques to be built there to spread Islam.
3. Under Mansa Musa's rule, Timbuktu became very important for trade, with desert caravans linking it to North Africa.
4. It also became a place of learning and education with one of the mosques made into a place for teaching.
5. Scholars travelled from all over the Islamic world to learn about history, Islam and law.

Common misconception

Keywords

• Mosque - a mosque is a Muslim place of worship

• Islam - Islam is the religion of Muslims

• Caravan - a caravan is group of people travelling together on camels, usually to sell things

• Scholar - a scholar is a person who studies a particular subject