Grade 4 · Cluster 4 · Module 1 (low stamina) · Tap any underlined word to see a picture
A long time ago in West Africa, there was a strong and successful called Mali. One of its most well- known rulers was Mansa Musa. He became in the early 1300s and is often remembered as one of the richest people in history. Mali became wealthy because it controlled important . Traders traveled
across the hot Sahara carrying and , which were very valuable.
Mansa Musa made smart choices that helped his kingdom grow. He made sure traders could move safely, which brought more people and into Mali. As a result, like Timbuktu became busy and important places. Timbuktu was also known for , where people studied subjects like math, science, and .
One of the most famous parts of Mansa Musa’s life was his trip to Mecca, called a . During this journey, he gave away large amounts of gold to people in need. His actions made many people notice how wealthy Mali was.
Because of the choices he made, Mali became known as a powerful and important kingdom. People still talk about Mansa Musa today when they learn about African history and how trade and education helped kingdoms grow.