Timbuktu: Ancient center of Islamic Africa

Salt comes from the north, gold from the south, and silver from the country of the white men, but the word of God and the treasures of wisdom are only to be found in Timbuktu.

—old West African proverb

Timbuktu: at the center of trade

The beginning Founded eleventh century by Tuareg nomads

The middle Major trading center of Mali and Songhai

Had university, 25,000 scholars, 100+ Qur’an schools

The end Sacked by Morocco in 1591

Sea routes took over trade

Tuareg nomads

West African mosques

Wattle huts

Timbuktu today

fin