Question

did an african king arrive in the americas almost 200 years before columbus? its possible, but evidence is mixed. in 1324, the king of mali, mansa musa, made a hajj to mecca to fulfill his religious duties. on the way, he befriended an egyptian official, regaling him with tales of his royal predecessor: his brother, muhammad ibn qu. musa claimed that qu had believed the other side of the atlantic could be found and had sailed off in search of it with 2000 ships, leaving musa behind as king. the official to whom musa told his tale passed it on to egyptian historian al - umari, who recorded it. however, the fate of qus journey remains unresolved and a source of academic controversy today. some scholars state that analysis of columbuss journals reveals evidence of qus successful arrival in the americas, as columbuss notes state that the people of hispaniola claimed to have met and traded with black - skinned people. spanish explorer vasco núñez de balboa also claimed to have seen african people in the americas. however, columbus was known to exaggerate, and oral stories can change over time. without more evidence, the fate of muhammads ships may never be illuminated. why does the author introduce musas story before describing the evidence for qus success or failure? choose 1 answer: a to provide context necessary for understanding the importance of the evidence b to provide counterarguments that cast doubt on the evidence provided c to highlight the challenges faced by researchers trying to understand events hundreds of years in the past d to highlight the contradictions between musas statements and those of explorers in the americas

Explanation:

Musa's story sets the stage by introducing the context of Muhammad ibn Qu's supposed voyage. It gives background information that helps the reader understand the significance and context of the later - presented evidence regarding Qu's possible arrival in the Americas.

Answer:

A. to provide context necessary for understanding the importance of the evidence