Mansa Musa's Copper Trade: The Hidden Pillar of Mali's Empire

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Mali Empire's copper trade, a crucial but often overlooked pillar of Mansa Musa's wealth. While gold gets the glory, copper from Takedda and other Saharan sources powered Mali's economy, was used for currency, and was even more valuable than gold in some regions. Lucas shares insights from Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta's account of Takedda's copper mines, the role of the farba in regulating trade, and how copper connected Mali to North Africa and Europe. They also touch on the environmental impact of mining and the decline of the copper trade after Mali's fall. A fascinating look at the unsung metal that helped build the richest empire of its time. #MansaMusa #MaliEmpire #CopperTrade #Takedda #IbnBattuta #WestAfrica #Sahel #MedievalTrade #SaharanCaravans #Farba #Currency #Mining #History #FexingoHistory #MedievalAfrica #TransSaharan #Copper #Gold Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo