Mansa Musa's African Gold in European Coins

How did Mansa Musa's gold end up in the coins of medieval Europe? This episode traces the journey of West African gold from the Mali Empire to the mints of Italy, France, and England. Lucas and Luna explore the trans-Saharan trade routes that funneled gold to North African ports like Tunis and Ceuta, where European merchants bought it for minting into florins, ducats, and even English nobles. They discuss the role of the Catalan Atlas, which depicted Mansa Musa holding a gold nugget, and how European rulers like Henry IV of England benefited from Mali's wealth. The episode also covers the competition between Genoese and Venetian traders for access to African gold, and the impact of the gold on European economies, including the inflation known as the 'price revolution.' The conversation ends with the irony that while Mansa Musa's name was known in Europe, the source of his wealth remained a mystery for centuries. #MansaMusa #MaliEmpire #GoldTrade #TransSaharanTrade #CatalanAtlas #MedievalEurope #VenetianGold #GenoeseTrade #Florin #Ducat #EnglishNoble #HenryIV #NigerRiver #Taghaza #Walata #Fez #Tunis #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo