The African King So Rich He Changed the World Economy

In the 14th century, one African king was so wealthy that his generosity reshaped the global economy. This documentary uncovers the true story of Mansa Musa, the emperor of the Mali Empire, a ruler whose gold destabilized markets across North Africa and the Mediterranean, altered trade routes, and forced the world to acknowledge Africa as the center of global commerce. At a time when Europe was struggling with gold shortages, Mali controlled the richest gold fields on Earth. When Mansa Musa embarked on his legendary pilgrimage to Mecca, his spending caused massive inflation in Cairo and beyond, an economic shock so severe it took over a decade to recover. But this story is not only about wealth. It is about power, knowledge, and forgotten history. From the rise of Timbuktu as a global center of learning to the role Africa played in shaping world trade, this film challenges everything you think you know about global history. This is the story of: • The richest man in recorded history • The African empire that controlled the world’s gold • How one journey changed global markets forever Watch until the end to discover why Africa was never on the sidelines of history, it was writing it. 👉 Subscribe to African History Hub for powerful documentaries on Africa’s untold past.