← This is History: History’s Greatest Fails
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- [00:00]
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- [00:31]
Luke Peppra
Hi everyone. Just a reminder that after this episode, you can hear from me and Luke as we dive even deeper into the story over on this is history plus. To subscribe, just go to thisishistorypod.com or go to Apple Podcasts and click try free. Enjoy the episode the sun rises behind the mud brick houses of Timbuktu. The sky is a dusty orange. A strong wind disturbs the air. Sarah Mandian, hardened warrior, commander of the Mali army and in charge while Musa is away on pilgrimage, sits on horseback in front of his troops, surveying his surroundings. He is fully equipped for war with an iron helmet, chest plate and tassets. He wears a dark expression and and is also armed with a sword, a spear, a bow and a quiver full of arrows. He gazes across the savanna. It's lush and vibrant, the grass shimmying in the breeze. To Saran Mandian's right is the bank of the Niger River. He can just make out the water flickering in the morning light. In front of Saran Mandian, the scene is much less idyllic. Blocking the way between him and the town of Timbuktu is an ominous band of Tuareg warriors. Many of them are also on horseback. They're dressed head to toe in multicolored cloths of red, yellow and blue, which obscure even their faces except for their dark, piercing eyes. The Tuareg are an indigenous Saharan people. They live by raising goats, sheep and camels, by trading, but also by raiding merchants caravans that cross the Sahara. Although some Tuaregs see the Malians as valuable trade partners, others view them as brutal oppressors who've encroached on their traditional homelands. With Musa away, the Tuareg have grown bolder, thinking the empire weaker without him, they've launched several attacks. And here lies the beef. They've descended on towns in Mali's outskirts, terrorizing their populations, stealing goods and leaving homes in ruins. Saramandian's response has been severe and bloody. With a 100,000 strong Mali army, he has driven the outnumbered Tuareg east to their stronghold of Timbuktu. As a strategic location, Timbuktu is brilliant. Close to the Niger river, the land around it is fertile. The river is used to transport goods. Few traders pass through the Sahara and don't stop at Timbuktu. The Tuareg will defend it to the death. Saranmandian draws his sword and lifts it skyward. It's the signal the army has been waiting for. The archers draw their bows. When the general brings down his blade, the arrows fly, coursing through the heavens like a flock of birds. They strike some of the Tuareg who fall from their horses. The others, on horse or on foot, charge the Marleyans. Sabres gleaming in the sunlight, Saran Mandian roars the order to move forward. The Mali infantry lower their spears and march towards the charging Tuareg. Their iron tips pierce the Tuareg horse's shanks, causing them to rear up, throwing their riders to the ground. Out of nowhere, a Marley sword clunked into a Tuareg's skull or shoulder. But the Tuareg aren't down and out. They stab the Marleyan's bellies, which spurt blood and swipe at their necks, cleaving their heads from their torsos. Horses cries, soldiers shouts, and the clang of metal against metal dominate the soundscape. The bloody battle doesn't last long. The bigger and better trained Mali army soon overwhelms the Tuareg and storms Timbuktu. After months of pursuit and fighting, Saran Mandian has both finally put down the Tuareg rebellion and taken their precious town. General sends messengers to deliver news of the conquest to Musa. They'll have to make the same gruelling journey across the Sahara, but it'll be worth it because Musa will have very big plans for Timbuktu. I'm Luke Peppra, and this is history. Presents Empire of Gaul Episode 5 Journey's End.
- [05:40]
Tyler Ferguson
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- [06:59]
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- [07:38]
Luke Peppra
On the other side of the continent, Musa and his entourage have come to the end of their stay in Cairo. Generally, it's been lovely, but not without its dramas. The ruthless Mamluk Egyptian Sultan Al Nazir Muhammad almost had Musa and his closest advisors executed because the Mali emperor refused to kiss the ground before him. Thanks to Faseki, Musa's best friend and advisor, who gave Musa the loophole of kissing the ground before Allah. Instead, their lives were saved. Then, while souvenir shopping in Cairo's markets, the Mali pilgrims spent so much gold that it flooded Egypt's economy, reducing its value and increasing drastically the prices of goods and services. Unable to afford basic necessities, Egyptians protested and rioted. Panicked, Cairo's officials begged for Musa's help and he agreed to borrow back all the gold spent. The economy was stabilized. For now at least. It was definitely time to leave. Musa ordered his people to pack up, said goodbye to a grateful Al Nazir and processed out of Cairo up towards Israel. It's a thousand miles from the Egyptian capital to Medina, and it'll take a couple of months to reach. But compared to much of the rest of Musa's journey, this last stretch should be a bit of a cakewalk. First, the pilgrims cross the last expanse of the Sahara Desert, also known as the Eastern or Arabian Desert. It lies between the Nile and the Red Sea, separating Egypt and modern Saudi Arabia, Africa and Asia. The Malians encounter many of the same hurdles they had when they'd crossed the rest of the Sahara. Extreme temperatures, wild animals, parasites and bandits. But there's definitely less to fear. For one thing, they've gotten used to the desert's dangers. They're also still in Mamluk territory, which means fewer bandits. And they're well rested and well supplied from their three month stay in Cairo. And most of all, they know how close they are to reaching Medina. They're pumped to get there and finish the pilgrimage of a lifetime. Of course, none is more excited than Musa, who leads this final leg of their journey. The cohort travel through what we now know as Israel, down into Saudi Arabia, almost without rest. As the pilgrims near the holy city, Musa's thoughts are of his mother. It's been about two years. Two years since she died by his hand. Two years since he begged a priest for advice on how to atone. Two years since the priest told him the only way was to go to the Prophet Muhammad's tomb in Medina and pray there for Allah's forgiveness. Musa is taking this one step further, having also decided to complete his first pilgrimage to Mecca and show off Mali's greatness by making it the most glorious pilgrimage ever undertaken. Hopefully his mother would have been proud. Thoughts also turn to his father and his own ill fated trip across the sea. Musa grits his teeth. He's not home safe yet and can't let his guard down. Then Musa sees a glint in the distance. Surrounded by mountains, it's the bright stone walls of Medina. Minarets peep out above them like flower stems sprouting from the soil. As they get closer, the pilgrims can make out the wooden dome of the Prophet's tomb. To the left and right of the city are trails of other pilgrims riding into Medina on horses and camels. They've come from across the Muslim world. Spain, Morocco, Yemen and the Swahili coast. The Malians have made it. Before he knows it, Musa is crying. His tears blur his vision and sting his eyelids before they stream down his cheeks. Fasekke, who rides beside the emperor, gives him a gentle smile. He knows how much this means to his master. Being so numerous, most of the Mali pilgrims have to stay outside Medina and they set up camp near its walls. As per his status, Musa stays in a stone house inside the city, overlooking the courtyards of the Prophet's mosque. Not too shabby, the mosque is filled with thousands of people. Mali pilgrims make their way to the Prophet's tomb through the dense gathering. It's tough going and a few become become irritated. They've Journeyed so far for so long, they're travel worn, dirty and in pain. They finally got to their destination and can literally see their goal. But there's one more obstacle that prevents them from reaching it. A crowd of Muslims. As pious as they are, the closer the Malians get to the tomb, the more passionate they become about entering it. They push more forcefully, grumble and tell people to move out their way. Someone pushes too hard into some pilgrims from Turkey. Soon the air is full of insults and angry hand gestures. Both sides completely lose their cool and draw their swords. Alerted, Medina's guards force their way through a cacophony of condemnations, grunts and wails erupts as everyone sleeps, starts to fight. It's pandemonium. Musa will have hell to pay for not keeping his people in line. The penalty? He'll be kicked out of the holy city and prevented from ever returning. This puts his current quest at risk and means he'll never be able to rid himself of his deep remorse for having killed his mother. If he fails, and especially now, having actually reached Medina, he'll regret it for the rest of his life. I was never really a runner. The way I see running is a gift, especially when you have stage four cancer. I'm Anne. I'm running the Boston Marathon. Presented by bank of America. I run for Dana Farber Cancer Institute to give people like me a chance to thrive in life, even with cancer. Join bank of America in helping Anne's cause. Give if you can, @b of a.com supportan what would you like the power to do? References to charitable organizations is not an endorsement by bank of America Corporation Copyright 2025. As chaos unfolds in the Prophet's mosque, Musa is relaxing. He hasn't been roughing it like many of his subjects, but it's been a long journey for him too. He rests on his bed for a few hours, then, on a whim, decides to take in from his window Medina's scenery and reflect on his journey and how he'll feel when he visits the Prophet's grave later that evening. He strolls towards the window, stretching with his eyes closed, and leans on the ledge. When he opens his eyes fully and scans the courtyards below, his jaw drops. What on earth? As in all times of crisis, he shouts for Forseke. Forseke bounds into the room, and Musa only has to point out the window for Forseke to clock what's happening. Forseke rushes downstairs, picks up a couple of Mali soldiers on the way, and strides into the courtyard. His bellows to stop fighting, eventually reach the Malians. They let go of the Turks whose robes they've grabbed and sheathe their swords. The Turks, confused, get a few hits in. But the Malians fear Faseke more than take it. Overall, nobody is seriously hurt. Fasekke sighs in relief. A skilled orator, he barters with the Turks, who feel their pride is wounded. Perhaps some of Musa's famed gold changes hands. The sulking Mali pilgrims are sent back to their camp with reproachful words. They are lucky to escape a beating, Vaseki thinks to himself. When darkness descends on the holy city, a different energy envelops the mosque. The morning had been hot, frantic and distressing. But it's cool now, and there's a solemnity that affects the pilgrims. From the courtyards come the sounds of people chanting and reciting passages from the Quran. Around them, candles are lit. It is through this somber gathering that Musa, dressed in a simple white robe, walks towards the tomb. To his side is Faseki. They lead a procession of followers. They pass through the tomb's stone entrance and towards the Prophet's grave. The tomb's inside are softly lit by candles and glass lamps resting in niches. The pilgrim shadows undulate against the stone columns, as well as the walls decorated with tiles of marble and gold. There's the distinctive hum of murmured prayers. It's impossible, actually to see the Prophet's grave. Along with two of his most faithful companions, the first two Sunni caliphs, in other words, Muslim leaders Abu Bakr and Uma, the Prophet is buried behind a high wooden wall. On reaching this wall, the Malians see other pilgrims engaged in various forms of devotional practice, not only praying to or greeting the Prophet, but touching the wall and putting through its gaps letters of their hopes and wants. Musa stops for a moment to take in the sacred surroundings. He's mostly let it sit sink in that he's at his journey's end, the culmination of years of anxiety, struggle and effort. But being here before the Prophet's grave is incomparably special. Trembling with anticipation and breathing heavily, he takes the last few steps to the wall surrounding the grave, places a hand on it and asks forgiveness for having killed his mother. Immediately, he feels calm. The huge weight of guilt and worry evaporates. He steadies his breathing and wipes away his tears. He grasps for Seki's arm and forsake, gently pats his hand. He's done it. Musa is ecstatic that he's achieved his main objective. But this is not the end of his story. He still has to make the 5,000 mile journey home. But he also doesn't want to go back empty handed. Musa is an entrepreneur and sees opportunity at every corner. And as luck would have it, the messengers have just brought the news that his trusted commander, Sarin Mandian, has taken Timbuktu. Musa feels good about his ability to surround himself with talented people. Putting his trust in the right sort, he muses. Isn't it the cream of the Muslim world who come to Medina? In his midst are some of the best academics, experts and professionals, from poets and astronomers to lawyers and architects. What if, he thinks to himself, he recruits these experts and uses them to develop Mali's architecture, laws, healthcare and education system. With this in mind, the conquest of Timbuktu doesn't feel like a coincidence. It must be part of the puzzle. Though he is not sure in what way just yet, Musa spares no expense as he sets about the extravagant recruitment. Faseke charges officials with finding and persuading high ranking scholars to join Musa on his trip back to Mali. The experts aren't exactly hard to convince. The project sounds exciting and the payment is too much to turn down. By the end of their few weeks stay in Medina, Musa's team has recruited hundreds of professionals of various kinds. They've also bought books on a range of subjects from botany to mathematics. One of their most impressive recruits is an Andalusian poet and architect called Al Sahili, whose plans to expand Musa's palace fill the emperor with glee. It's time for Musa to solidify his legacy once and for all with a spectacular institution that will put Timbuktu on the map for centuries to come. That's next time on this is History presents Empire of Gold.