Terrifying plague kills millions Chinese oust Mongol rulers Ottomans carve out a new empire The sternpost rudder, a new device for steering ships, is adopted Violence in Japan threatens stability Tatar leader Timur controls much of Asia African emperor's travels bring glory to Mali

7. African emperor's travels bring glory to Mali In 1324, Mansa Musa, ruler of the Mali Empire, dazzled the world with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of gold on his pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city of Islam. Mansa Musa also journeyed to Cairo. His travels bolstered regional trade relations and encouraged architects and other learned people to come to Mali. These efforts have helped make Mali the political and cultural leader of West Africa. Cairo is buzzing over the arrival of Mansa Musa. Click here to see what the excitement is all about. View from Today