If you could would you be the richest person in history, then give all your riches to needy? This is exactly what Mansa Musa did on his Hajj(pilgrimage) to Mecca. Mansa Musa was one of the great influential leaders of Mali. Mansa Musa lead Mali to become a site of cultural exchange. However trade, religion, and ideas and knowledge are also effects that lead Mali to become a site of cultural exchange.
The great empire of Mali was located in west Africa. Mali was a large empire that reigned from 1235-1600 AD. Mali contributed to the ever growing trade routes throughout Africa. Famously Mali traded their abundant amount of salt for gold. Through the gold and salt trade Mali became rich of gold. Mali was part of trade systems with other cities and empires they traded knowledge, ideas, as well as physical items and goods. Mali had many great leaders including Mansa Musa.
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He ruled from 1280 to 1337. In 1324 Mansa Musa took his famous Hajj. The Hajj,is one of the 5 pillars of Islam, and requires a pilgrimage to Mecca. Mansa Musa took 60,000 people carrying supplies and bags. He also brought 500 gold slaves each holding a gold staff and 80-100 camels each carrying 300 pounds of gold dust. While walking through towns, Mansa Musa would hand out gold to all the people he saw. This made Mali extremely popular because by handing out the gold he was showing the wealth and strength of Mali. You may be wondering how Mansa Musa got all that gold, from trade, specifically gold and salt