In 1312 CE Mansa Musa took the throne as sultan of Mali. Then, in 1324CE Mansa created a hajj, or pilgrimage that he would take to Islam’s holy city, Mecca. His hajj consisted of a caravan of 60,000 people, plenty of camels and pounds of gold. In the beginning of the renaissance, Mansa Musa and his hajj went on the journey to Mecca because the Qur’an obligates the creation of the hajj, Musa wanted to expand the wealth of his empire through trade and he also wanted to strengthen ties to other muslim nations. Mansa Musa and his hajj went to Mecca because it is a requirement of the Islamic religion stated in the Qur’an. “Make the pilgrimage [hajj] and visit the Sacred House for His sake. If you cannot, send such offerings as you can afford and …show more content…
Document 2 states that black slaves went up north to trade in Tunis in arab markets and salt was an essential trade product that was needed for taste, nutrition, dehydration and food preservation. Mansa Musa sent his slaves to arab markets in order to spread his wealth and show other muslim countries his vast amounts of gold. The merchants also expanded the trade networks of the empire that became a central point of trade in Western Africa. Mansa wanted to spread the word of his wealth in benefit of the expansion of his empire.“Through this place pass the merchants who travelt to the land of Mali.” (document 6) Many merchants and traders from other places would come to Mali for the abundance of gold. It was known all around that Mansa Musa was the richest and most noble king. Since Mansa Musa’s reputation was so perfect and people heard wonders of his empires, they were all atracted to his wealth and gold mines. By the end of the hajj in 1326CE, Mali became a great center of trade. Many merchants would go to Mali for the gold and the generosity of the sultan. Mansa would do anything to strengthen ties with other muslim nations in order to trade and collect