The city of Timbuktu, located today in the nation of Mali, was at one time a significant intellectual and spiritual world capital, and a nexus for the spread of Islam throughout Africa. Many of the city's libraries and learning centers, including Sankore Madrasah, still stand today.
Fast Facts
- French spelling: Tombouctou
- Located on the inner delta of the Niger River
- Current Population: 54,453
- Languages: Arabic, Bambara, French, Songhai
- Founded 1080 AD when Tuareg nomads build a caravan rest stop around a well
- Major Saharan trade center for copper, gold, salt, slaves, and silver
Founding
Timbuktu was founded by the Tuareg Imashagan people in the 11th century. A semi-nomadic peoples, the Tuareg would travel around the desert during the rainy season to find grazing land for their livestock. During the dry season however they would return to the Niger River which would lead to sicknesses from mosquitoes and stagnant water. Eventually they settled a few miles away from the river where they dug a well which became the origin of the ancient city.
Resources
Wikipedia: Timbuktu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timbuktu
BBC: Country Profile: Mali http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13881370
Saudi Aramco World: http://archive.aramcoworld.com/issue/199506/the.islamic.legacy.of.timbuktu.htm
UNESCO: World Heritage Review http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/119
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