Discover the complex, rich legacy of fourteenth century African king Mansa Musa, who is said to have been one of the wealthiest individuals who has ever lived. Young historians will learn about trade routes between the Mediterranean and West African coasts, the increase of Mali's territory and cultural innovations, and the construction of one of the most important maps in medieval history.

Concepts

african culture, african history, medieval history, mali, west africa

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• At about two minutes into the video, the narrator discusses the type of sources used to illustrate our modern understanding of Mansa Musa's history. This would be an excellent opportunity to discuss primary and secondary source analysis in general, and what types of sources are reliable
• Have learners compare and contrast the type of progress and gains made by Mansa Musa in West Africa to that of European countries during the Middle Ages

Pros

• Excellent graphics and animations
• You can customize the discussion and assessment questions provided by TEDEd

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.6-8.7 RH.9-10.7 RH.11-12.7