1-MINUTE HOT TOPIC

Was the richest person in history an African just before colonial slavery?

Medieval < History
Share :
Email
Print

Was the richest person in history an African just before colonial slavery?

Yes. Emperor Mansa Musa was the richest man in history, and yes, he was black. Born in 1280 CE, Mansa Musa was the king of the Mali Empire in West Africa. He was known for his extraordinary wealth, primarily due to the abundant gold and salt resources within his empire. In 1324, the renowned pilgrimage to Mecca by the 44-year-old devout Muslim caused quite a stir. Mansa Musa distributed so much gold that it destabilized local economies along his route. Prior to the European lead transatlantic slave trade, Africa had many centuries of up and down wealth and prosperity. Just like the rest of the world. For a deeper exploration, take the 6-minute deep dive: Africa Before the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Share this on...

Comments

Join the Conversation! Currently logged out.

Done. Congrats!

Just 4 minutes a week.

A new session drops Wednesday at 3PM!

Weekly Wisdom Builder 
4 minutes of leisurely exploration.
October 30, 2024 Edition
Quote of the Week
Time Left: 

Email Notification
Subscribe to our Weekly Wisdom BuilderIt’s Free! No ads! No catches! One email each Thursday.

Exactly what the world needs RIGHT NOW!
Wisdom at the crossroads of knowledge.

Wisdom emerges from the consistent exploration of the intersections of philosophy, science, critical thinking, and history.

NEW BOOK! NOW AVAILABLE!!

30 Philosophers: A New Look at Timeless Ideas

by Michael Alan Prestwood
THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT!
Pure inspiration from cover to cover!
divider-red-swirls1.png
Scroll to Top