Year 7 - History
Mansa Musa's pilgrimage
Medieval West Africa: why was medieval Mali so successful?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the success of medieval Mali, with a focus on the second-order concept of causation. They build knowledge of the West African landscape and the role it played in Mali's rise. They will also learn about the rise of Islam in the region and Mansa Musa's pilgrimage.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the consequences of Mansa Musa's pilgrimage.
Key Notes
- Mansa Musa was a 14th century ruler of Mali and the wealthiest man who has ever lived.
- Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim and undertook the Hajj to Mecca.
- Mansa Musa's wealth destabilised the economy of Egypt during his Hajj.
- There were positive and negative consequences of Mansa Musa's pilgrimage.
Vocabulary To Learn
- pilgrimage: a pilgrimage is a holy journey
- Hajj: the Hajj is the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the Five Pillars of Islam
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- It is impossible for large numbers of people to cross the Sahara Desert.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Mansa Musa was a 14th century ruler of Mali and the wealthiest man who has ever lived. Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim and undertook the Hajj to Mecca.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'pilgrimage'
a pilgrimage is a holy journey.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: It is impossible for large numbers of people to cross the Sahara Desert. Correction: Although extremely dangerous, the Sahara Desert has been crossed many times by large groups of people. Large amounts of provisions are needed though, which is why it is not a common occurrance.
More Lessons In This Unit
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