Mansa Musa, Islam, and the Trade Empires of Africa

CrashCourse

In this energetic installment of Crash Course World History, John Green explores the rich history of Sub-Saharan Africa, debunking the common misconception that African history is undocumented or uncivilized. The video centers on the legendary figure of Mansa Musa, the King of Mali, whose pilgrimage to Mecca famously disrupted the economy of Alexandria with the sheer volume of gold he distributed. Through his story, the video illustrates the vast wealth, complex political structures, and deep connections West Africa had with the broader Islamic world. The narrative expands beyond West Africa to explore the Swahili civilization on the eastern coast. Green contrasts the centralized empires of the west (Ghana, Mali, Songhai) with the independent, trade-driven city-states of the east (like Zanzibar and Kilwa). Key themes include the spread of Islam via trade routes, the syncretism of Islamic and traditional African beliefs, and the reliability of oral versus written historical records. This video is an invaluable resource for World History classrooms as it challenges Eurocentric views of African history. It provides concrete examples of pre-colonial African sophistication in architecture, economics, and international trade. Teachers can use this video to discuss the mechanics of inflation, the impact of religion on state-building, and the critical importance of using diverse sources—including archaeology and oral tradition—to reconstruct the past.