In 1324 the emperor of Mali, Mansa Musa, began a legendary pilgrimage to Mecca that stunned the medieval world. Traveling with tens of thousands of followers and caravans of camels loaded with gold, ... Mansa Musa, the 14th-century king of the Mali Empire, is often regarded as the richest person in history.

Understanding the Context

With an estimated fortune of $131bn (£99bn), he is the wealthiest man in modern history. Mansa ...