Mansa Musa's Hajj: DBQ

Mansa Musa’s Hajj:
A Personal Journal

​ In 1324 CE, a caravan of as many as 60,000 people left Niani, the old capital of Mali in West Africa. They were heading to the Muslim holy city of Mecca, nearly 4,000 miles away. The leader of this journey was the ruler of Mali, Mansa Musa. The epic hajj, or pilgrimage, would spread the African king’s name far and wide.
This Mini-Q asks you to envision yourself as part of Mansa Musa’s magnificent caravan and to record your experiences at different points on the journey.

Overview

Multiple Choice

In the sentence, "The epic hajj, or pilgrimage, would spread the African king’s name far and wide." What is the meaning of the word "haji"?

• celebration
• festival
• journey

Multiple Choice

The leader of this journey of 60,000 people was the ruler of Mali. What was his name?

• Ali Baba

• Mansa Musa

• Genghis Khan

In this Mini-Q, you will examine several documents and then write six journal entries in the voice of a person who went on Mansa Musa’s hajj (pilgrimage).
First, choose the type of traveler you wish to be from the sketches provided later. Give your traveler a name from the list provided. This will be your persona.
Then fill out the profile of your persona using the biographical information and your knowledge of history, critical thinking skills—and creativity. Write in the first person.

​

Hook Exercise: Developing a Persona

Mansa Musa and the other officials brought many griots on the hajj to serve as oral historians.

A griot’s job was very hard and took a long time to learn well.

Griots had to serve as the living memory for an individual, village, or clan.

They combined history, music, poetry, dance, and drama to capture these memories and then entertain their audiences.

Griot (“gree-oh”)

To govern more efficiently, Mansa Musa divided his empire into provinces.

Over each province, he appointed a governor called a “ferba.” He typically chose relatives or other people he trusted for this position.

Ferbas oversaw the day-to-day running of the government. They had to rule according to strict instructions given them by Mansa Musa.

Many ferbas went on the hajj. Perhaps this was a way to keep them from plotting rebellion during the king’s long absence.

Ferba

Types of Travelers on Mansa Musa’s Hajj

Multiple Choice

Mansa Musa placed a governor over each province to help him rule. They were known as ______?

• Ferba

• Griot

• Captain

• Basja

Multiple Choice

What was the role/job of a griot?

• A griot is a merchant who trades goods.
• The role of a griot is to be a storyteller, historian, and musician who preserves oral traditions and cultural heritage.
• A griot is a farmer who cultivates crops.
• A griot is a political leader who makes laws.

According to tradition, Mansa Musa kept an army of 100,000 soldiers in his empire.

Some of these rode on horseback or camels. Because Mansa Musa carried so much gold on the hajj, part of his army went along to protect the caravan.

In addition, the size of a ruler’s army demonstrated his status. A king as wealthy and powerful as Mansa Musa would never travel without a large armed escort.

Soldier

Scholars went on the hajj to offer advice and record observations of the journey.

Many scholars were educated in Niani, the capital of Mali, where Mansa Musa had established a mosque and school. Scholars could read and write.

They were fluent in both Arabic and various African languages. Scholars gave advice that helped Mansa Musa and his officials in difficult situations.

The written observations of scholars became important records once the caravan returned to Mali.

Muslim Scholar

Types of Travelers on Mansa Musa’s Hajj

Multiple Select

Which of the following reasons did Mansa Musa bring along a large number of soldiers on the haji?

(select all that apply)

• To recruit new soldiers
• To establish trade routes
• To show his power and status

• To protect the gold he was carrying

For his pilgrimage, Mansa Musa also brought doctors and other people with specific skills.

Because of the dangers everyone faced on such a long journey, especially the risk of illness and injury, doctors likely played key roles every step of the way.

By tending to the sick and injured, they also helped to ensure that the pilgrimage made steady progress to the holy city of Mecca.

Doctor

Types of Travelers on Mansa Musa’s Hajj

Hook Exercise: Developing a Persona

In this Mini-Q, you will examine several documents and then write six journal entries in the voice of a person who went on Mansa Musa’s hajj (pilgrimage).

First, choose the type of traveler you wish to be from the sketches on the handout provided. Give your traveler a name from the list. This will be your persona.

Then fill out the profile of your persona using the biographical information and your knowledge of history, critical thinking skills—and creativity. Write in the first person.

Reason for going on the hajj: I am Mansa Musa’s personal griot. I did not choose to go on the hajj; the king commanded it. However, as a griot, I will have the opportunity to travel, see new places, and record stories about the hajj. I know that once I return home, my stories will be used to teach the people of Mali about their ruler’s epic journey. 

Other personal information: I am very skilled at storytelling and have practiced my art for many years. I earned this position as Mansa Musa’s griot because of my talent, both with words and with dance. I am a bit nervous about the journey. It will be long and difficult and quite different from my comfortable life at the palace in Niani.

Name: Kunburu 

Age at the time of the hajj: about 30 

Occupation: griot 

Place of birth: Niani, Mali Empire 

Marital status/spouse’s name (if married): not married 

Children (if any): none

Sample:

Complete the Hook Exercise:

Developing a Persona (on the handout)