The Mali Empire was located in present-day northern Guinea and southern Mali. It had a population of 50 million people. Mansa Musa was the tenth meek of the Mali Empire. He came to power in 1312. During his reign the empire had significant growth both economically and socially. The strength of the Empire was due to the decentralization of state administration.
An aspect that favored the economic flourishing of the empire during the Mansa Musa government was the wealth of these territories in minerals and gold, since the demand for these metals was high at the time.
Religion generated many transformations since Mansa Musa boosted the Muslim faith and mosques, madrasas (schools) were built throughout the territory.
Mansa Musa also promoted the flourishing of knowledge in the city of Timbuktu. During his reign, the University of Sankore emerged (it still exists).
Mansa Musa was knowledgeable in Arabic and was described as a Muslim traditionalist. He became the first Muslim ruler in West Africa to make the nearly four thousand mile journey to Mecca. Preparing for the expedition took years and involved the work of artisans in numerous towns and cities across Mali. Upon his return from Mecca, Mansa Musa brought Arab scholars, government bureaucrats, and architects. Among those who returned with him was the architect Ishaq El Teudjin who introduced advanced building techniques to Mali. He designed numerous buildings for the Emperor including a new palace named Madagou, the mosque at Gao, the second largest city in Mali, and the still-standing great mosque at Timbuktu, the largest city in the empire. That mosque was named the Djinguereber. El Teudjin’s most famous design was the Emperor’s chamber at the Malian capital of Niani.
