Unpacking History in Year 7 - the wealth of Mansa Musa

At Braeburn Arusha International School, our Year 7 students are delving into the story of Mansa Musa, the wealthiest man of the 14th century in present-day Mali and arguably the richest man to have ever lived. Across six lessons, students are unpacking the layers of Mansa Musa's wealth, considering the influences of Northern Africa's geography, the cities along the pilgrimage route to Mecca, and the important connections with trading partners.

One of the lessons in this series poses the question, "Why is Timbuktu described as a Jewel?" This inquiry invites students to explore the evidence surrounding the historic city. Nestled within Timbuktu's landscape is the Djingereyber Mosque, a  symbol of education standing the test of time, holding its significance to this day in religious and cultural context

Students have really enjoyed trying to work out just how wealthy Mansa Musa was making comparisons to modern day billionaires. The photographs show the display the students have created and are on display in the History classroom. These display pieces focus on the gold so associated with Mansa Musa and his Malian Empire.

As a history department at Braeburn Arusha we continue to strive to create a global history curriculum with a particular focus on African history where possible, reflecting the diverse nature of the school body. Within the last year students have studied topics including The Mau Mau Uprisings, Indian independence and the Roman Empire. 

Article by Philip Croft