ABSTRACT
In 1324, Emperor Mansa Musa of Mali made the pilgrimage to Mecca that is expected of all good Muslims. His caravan left from the east coast and crossed 3,500 miles of Central Africa. Emperor Musa's pilgrimage created quite a stir because of its remarkable size and wealth, and he is still listed as the wealthiest person in history. The majority of the wealth in the kingdom came from its position as a center of trade, and from taxing the cross-Sahara trade that ended at Timbuktu. Likewise, gold was common in Mali—so much so that gold dust was a standard currency. Politeness is a poor virtue, if it is actuated only by a fear of offending good taste, whereas it should be the outward manifestation of a sympathetic regard for the feelings of others. It also implies a due regard for the fitness of things, therefore due respect to social positions.
