Musa I was the tenth Mansa, which translates as "King of Kings" or "Emperor", of the wealthy Mali Empire. At the time of Mansa Musa's rise to the throne, the Malian Empire consisted of territory formerly belonging to the Ghana Empire and Melle (Mali) and immediate surrounding areas. Musa held many titles, such as Emir of Melle, Lord of the Mines of Wangara, and Conqueror of Ghanata, Futa-Jallon, and at least another dozen.

Mansa Musa's building program caused an intellectual and economic expansion that would continue into the later Middle Ages, by strengthening Mali's economic power and establishing it as an important intellectual centre, attracting students from far and wide. Mansa Musa is also credited with assisting the birth of Sudano-Sahelian architecture and the spread of Islam in western Africa. His military campaigns allowed Mali to become the most powerful military power on the continent, rivaled only by Morocco and Egypt. His most notable legacy was the hajj which not only caused an economic inflation in Mediterranean but may have indirectly supplied financial support for the Italian renaissance.... More • http://en.wikipedia. ... _I_of_Mali View • Books • Images • Videos • Search Related • Billionaires • Empires • Muslims • Royalty • Mali • Middle Ages • Renaissance • Rulers • All Events • 13th Century • 14th Century • Icons • People