New
New
Year 2

Mansa Musa of Mali

I can describe how Musa Keita became the mansa of Mali.

New
New
Year 2

Mansa Musa of Mali

I can describe how Musa Keita became the mansa of Mali.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Musa Keita was an important man living in the large and powerful empire of Mali.
  2. The mansa of Mali wanted to explore beyond the seas, and set off on a voyage into the Atlantic Ocean.
  3. He gave the instruction that if he did not return, Musa Keita should become the mansa.
  4. He never returned, and Musa became Mansa Musa, emperor of Mali.
  5. Mansa Musa used Mali's army to conquer lands rich with gold, making Mali even more powerful and wealthy.

Keywords

  • Empire - an empire is a group of places or countries ruled by one person

  • Mansa - all rulers of the Mali Empire were called mansas

  • Conquer - to conquer means to take control of another place

  • Wealthy - to be wealthy means having a lot of money

Common misconception

Pupils may think Musa Keita was meant to be mansa.

Musa Keita became mansa because the previous mansa did not return from his voyage and he chose Musa Keita to replace him.

Look at a modern map of West Africa to explore the extent of the Mali Empire.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Select the king and queen who had their marriage annulled.
King Henry of England
Correct answer: Queen Eleanor
Correct answer: King Louis of France
Queen Elizabeth
Q2.
When Eleanor married Prince Henry, he was…
not going to be a king of any country.
next in line to the throne of Germany.
Correct answer: next in line to the throne of England.
Q3.
Eleanor and Henry were very powerful together.
Correct answer: true
false
Q4.
Match the keyword to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:prisoner,kept in one place without freedom to leave

kept in one place without freedom to leave

Correct Answer:rebel, to go against a leader

to go against a leader

Q5.
Where was Eleanor kept as a prisoner?
The Tower of London
Canterbury Cathedral
Correct answer: Old Sarum
Q6.
Aquitaine was a large area of which modern day country?
Correct Answer: France

6 Questions

Q1.
How long ago was the Mali Kingdom created?
100 years
9000 years
Correct answer: 800 years
Q2.
What is a mansa?
a farmer of Mali
Correct answer: a ruler of Mali
a soldier of Mali
Q3.
The Mali Kingdom was famous for its
Correct Answer: gold, wealth
Q4.
Order these events starting with the earliest.
1 - Musa Keita was given an important instruction.
2 - When the previous mansa didn't return, Musa Keita became the new mansa.
3 - Musa Keita became known as Mansa Musa.
4 - Mansa Musa used his large army to conquer lands rich with gold and salt.
Q5.
What items made the Mali Empire very wealthy?
wood
Correct answer: gold
diamonds
Correct answer: salt
Q6.
Match these keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:empire,a group of places or countries ruled by one person

a group of places or countries ruled by one person

Correct Answer:mansa,name of the rulers of the Mali Empire

name of the rulers of the Mali Empire

Correct Answer:wealthy,having a lot of money or resources

having a lot of money or resources

Correct Answer:conquer,to take control of another place

to take control of another place

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