Mansa Musa's Pilgrimage Reaches Cairo
Cairo, Egypt (representative pin at the Cairo Citadel)
What happened
In 1324 Mansa Musa, the ruler of the empire of Mali, set out from Mali on the hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, with a very large caravan carrying gold. On 19 July 1324, after camping for three days by the Pyramids, he crossed the Nile into Cairo. He left Cairo with the official caravan to Mecca on 18 October 1324.
Why it matters
The journey made Mali famous across North Africa, the Middle East and Europe. In 1375 a map made in Europe, the Catalan Atlas, showed Mansa Musa holding a piece of gold.
What came next
On the way back, Musa's group ran short of money and he borrowed from Cairo merchants. Back in Mali, mosques and schools were built, and Timbuktu's Sankore mosque became a famous place of learning.
Did you know?
Musa is said to have told a story that gold grew like a plant in his kingdom.
Timeline
- About 1312Musa becomes mansa (emperor) of Mali.
- 1324Musa sets out from Mali on his pilgrimage to Mecca.
- 19 July 1324Musa crosses the Nile into Cairo.
- 18 October 1324Musa leaves Cairo with the official caravan to Mecca.
- 1375The Catalan Atlas shows Mansa Musa holding gold.