23/40 Mansa Musa took a number of Arabic scholars and skilled artisans back to West Africa with him. These scholars enhanced the university of Timbuktu which was already widely known as a center of Islamic studies. Now, besides exchanging material goods, West Africa and the Arabs became involved in a steady exchange of scholars and learning. Having experienced the advantages of political organization, many localities sought self-government. In fact, Mansa Musa had overextended the empire. |