Sahara and Timbuktu
Timbuktu was and still is located in Mali, Africa. It served its importance in 1300-1600 BCE. through scholars, trade, and architectural achievements. The importance of scholars, wealth, trade and architectural achievements, along with the influential people made Timbuktu one of the most important cities in the post-classical world.
One of the scholars at this time was Al-Rahman, who was an Arab scholar who visited Timbuktu. He found that scholars of Timbuktu were more knowledgeable in Islamic teachings than himself. Because of his visit, Timbuktu gained a reputation throughout Islamic and Christian worlds as a city of wealth (Fritze). That was their impression of Timbuktu and they gained respect towards the city. Islamic people who traveled to this city spread the wealth of Timbuktu and inspired Arabs to visit the city.
Mansa Musa was the first emperor of Mali in 1300 and was also a very influential person in Timbuktu. He attracted merchants and scholars from Northern Africa to Timbuktu. He also contributed to the prominence of Timbuktu becoming the center of Muslim education (Fritze). Mansa Musa was great help to Timbuktu’s wealth and popularity. He was one of the only emperors who helped change Timbuktu as a city and was the greatest emperor of Mali.
Trade has a huge impact on this city. Timbuktu had many goods that were imported, exported and traded in and out of its city. These goods were gold, slaves and ivory (Fritze). The slaves were from Arab traders who captured and brought them in Mediterranean countries to trade (Kaba). Kola nuts were valuable trade goods and were in high demand (Fritze). Cowrie shells were important and used for many things, such as, money, salt, cloth, copper, books, dates, figs and metalwork. Cowrie shells were also valuable within trading purposes (Kaba). They used cowrie shells to attract people to each other because it was a sign of wealth and beauty to one another.
Timbuktu developed a well-deserved reputation of immense
One of the scholars at this time was Al-Rahman, who was an Arab scholar who visited Timbuktu. He found that scholars of Timbuktu were more knowledgeable in Islamic teachings than himself. Because of his visit, Timbuktu gained a reputation throughout Islamic and Christian worlds as a city of wealth (Fritze). That was their impression of Timbuktu and they gained respect towards the city. Islamic people who traveled to this city spread the wealth of Timbuktu and inspired Arabs to visit the city.
Mansa Musa was the first emperor of Mali in 1300 and was also a very influential person in Timbuktu. He attracted merchants and scholars from Northern Africa to Timbuktu. He also contributed to the prominence of Timbuktu becoming the center of Muslim education (Fritze). Mansa Musa was great help to Timbuktu’s wealth and popularity. He was one of the only emperors who helped change Timbuktu as a city and was the greatest emperor of Mali.
Trade has a huge impact on this city. Timbuktu had many goods that were imported, exported and traded in and out of its city. These goods were gold, slaves and ivory (Fritze). The slaves were from Arab traders who captured and brought them in Mediterranean countries to trade (Kaba). Kola nuts were valuable trade goods and were in high demand (Fritze). Cowrie shells were important and used for many things, such as, money, salt, cloth, copper, books, dates, figs and metalwork. Cowrie shells were also valuable within trading purposes (Kaba). They used cowrie shells to attract people to each other because it was a sign of wealth and beauty to one another.
Timbuktu developed a well-deserved reputation of immense