Mansa Musa and Timbuktu
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how Timbuktu developed under Mansa Musa's rule.
Key learning points
- When Mansa Musa returned from the Hajj he spent time in one of the cities that his generals had conquered.
- This city was Timbuktu, and Mansa Musa ordered great mosques to be built there to spread Islam.
- Under Mansa Musa's rule, Timbuktu became very important for trade, with desert caravans linking it to North Africa.
- It also became a place of learning and education with one of the mosques made into a place for teaching.
- Scholars travelled from all over the Islamic world to learn about history, Islam and law.
Keywords
Mosque - a mosque is a Muslim place of worship
Islam - Islam is the religion of Muslims
Caravan - a caravan is group of people travelling together on camels, usually to sell things
Scholar - a scholar is a person who studies a particular subject
Common misconception
Pupils may confuse the term caravan.
Explain to pupils that a group of camels is called a caravan.
Teacher tip
With the possible confusion of the term caravan, you could explore group names for other animals such as herd or pod.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Mansa Musa ruled the Mali Empire 700 years ago.
Q2.Mansa Musa travelled to Mecca on a .
Q3.Mansa Musa's Hajj made him famous.
Q4.How many miles was Mansa Musa's pilgrimage?
Q5.What was created that showed Mansa Musa's wealth?
Q6.What travelled with Mansa Musa on his pilgrimage?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Mansa Musa improved cities across the Mali Empire.
Q2.What was Timbuktu important for?
Q3.How did traders travel to Timbuktu?
Q4.Mansa Musa built mosques to spread
Q5.What is a scholar?
Q6.What did scholars come to Timbuktu to study?
To help you plan your 2 history lesson on: Mansa Musa and Timbuktu, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 2 history lesson on: Mansa Musa and Timbuktu, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 history lessons from the Ruling and religion unit, dive into the full primary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.