Mansa Musa developed cities like Timbuktu and Gao into important cultural centers. He also brought architects from the Middle East and across Africa to design new buildings for his cities. Mansa Musa turned the kingdom of Mali into a sophisticated center of learning in the Islamic world. The generous king then continued on his way to Mecca. Unknown to Mansa Musa, his lavish spending had done severe damage to the economy of Egypt. This massive influx of gold significantly devalued the metal and caused prices of goods to inflate.