Passion or Profession: King of the Mali empire

Period: 1312–1337

Mansa Musa brought the Mali Empire to its greatest height, expanding its borders and consolidating its strength. Musa was a devout Muslim who built huge mosques throughout the empire and made such an extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca that Mali gained a place on world maps and in history books. He also helped make the Mali city of Timbuktu one of the world’s major cultural and educational centers.