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Mansa Musa's Gold: The Cairo Inflation Myth Debunked
Everyone knows the story: Mansa Musa's lavish spending in Cairo during his 1324 hajj crashed the gold market for a decade. But is it true? This episode peels back the layers of myth and history, examining the original accounts of al-Umari and al-Maqrizi, the economics of medieval Cairo, and what modern scholars say about the real impact of the Mali emperor's visit. We explore the origins of the inflation story, the actual evidence from contemporary sources, and why this tale has persisted. Along the way, we learn about the gold trade of Bambuk and Bure, the role of the mamluk sultan…
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