New
New
Year 7

Mansa Musa's pilgrimage

I can describe the consequences of Mansa Musa's pilgrimage.

New
New
Year 7

Mansa Musa's pilgrimage

I can describe the consequences of Mansa Musa's pilgrimage.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Mansa Musa was a 14th century ruler of Mali and the wealthiest man who has ever lived.
  2. Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim and undertook the Hajj to Mecca.
  3. Mansa Musa's wealth destabilised the economy of Egypt during his Hajj.
  4. There were positive and negative consequences of Mansa Musa's pilgrimage.

Common misconception

It is impossible for large numbers of people to cross the Sahara Desert.

Although extremely dangerous, the Sahara Desert has been crossed many times by large groups of people. Large amounts of provisions are needed though, which is why it is not a common occurrance.

Keywords

  • Pilgrimage - a pilgrimage is a holy journey

  • Hajj - the Hajj is the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the Five Pillars of Islam

Show a video of Muslims circling the Ka'ba to give students an idea of how popular this pilgrimage is.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
In what city was the Islamic religion founded in 610 CE?
Correct Answer: Mecca, mecca
Q2.
Which of the below were the nomadic tribes who converted to Islam once it had spread to North Africa in 665 CE?
the Tuareg
the Maasai
Correct answer: the Berbers
the Bedouins
Q3.
Order these events, starting with the earliest.
1 - Islam founded by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
2 - Islam spreads to North Africa
3 - Islam spreads to parts of China
4 - Ghana Empire displays evidence of strong Islamic connections
Q4.
What is one of the characteristics that Islam most values?
wealth
power
Correct answer: knowledge
fame
Q5.
What was a griot?
a merchant-adventurer
a artisan-craftsperson
Correct answer: a poet-historian
Q6.
What became prized possessions following the spread of Islam in the Mali Empire?
Correct answer: books and manuscripts
jewellery and gems
money and coins
swords and shields

6 Questions

Q1.
Which keyword means a holy journey?
Correct Answer: pilgrimage, a pilgrimage, Pilgrimage, A pilgrimage
Q2.
Which keyword is the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca?
Correct Answer: Hajj, The Hajj
Q3.
Over how many kings did Mansa Musa have control over in the Mali Empire?
2
Correct answer: 24
248
Q4.
Why was Mansa Musa was eager to perform the Hajj? Select all of the correct answers.
Correct answer: He was a Muslim and performing the Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Correct answer: He wanted to show off the wealth and power of the Mali Empire to the world.
Correct answer: He believed it would open up new trade opportunities.
The journey across the Sahara was impossible and he wanted to show his strength.
Q5.
In which country did Mansa Musa give away so much gold as gifts and overpaid for so many items with gold dust that he (accidentally) collapsed the economy?
Correct answer: Egypt
Cairo
Mali
Q6.
What were the consequences of Mansa Musa's Hajj? Select all of the statements that are correct.
Correct answer: Abu al-Sahili returned with him and designed the Djinguereber Mosque.
Correct answer: He increased the legitimacy of the empire as an Islamic nation.
Correct answer: Timbuktu turned into one of the most important centres of Islamic learning.

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