A glimpse into the life of Mansa Musa, the richest human of all time
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Loading... - Stephen Amponsah
- 30 Aug 2022
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The 1375 Catalan Atlas is one of the most significant maps in the Western mediaeval world. Centuries of exploration, theft and colonisation were built on its depiction of the world across the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
In its corner, an African ruler is shown sitting cross-legged on his throne, adorned with a robe and pointed crown. In one hand he grips a sceptre; in the other he holds a golden orb up to the sky.
The caption (once translated) reads: “This black ruler is named Musse Melly (Musa of Mali), lord of Guinea. This king is the richest and noblest ruler of this whole region because of the abundance of gold that is found in his lands.”
It is the earliest surviving map to depict Mansa Musa, the ruler of Mali between 1312 and 1337. His empire encompassed modern-day Mali, Senegal, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania and the Gambia.
Its wealth was built on gold. Its legacy was enshrined in an ambitious building scheme, centred on Timbuktu after Musa annexed it as part of a campaign where he conquered his neighbours. Read More...
