The Legend of Timbuktu, Mali and Today By Matt Rosenberg Updated February 19, 2016. The word "Timbuktu" (or Timbuctoo or Tombouctou) is used in several languages to represent a far-away place but Timbuktu is an actual city in the African country of Mali . Where Is Timbuktu? Located near the edge the Niger River, Timbuktu is situated near the middle of Mali in Africa. Timbuktu has a population of approximately 30,000 and is a major Saharan Desert trading post. The Legend of Timbuktu Timbuktu was founded by nomads in the twelfth century and it rapidly became a major trading depot for the caravans of the Sahara Desert . During the fourteenth century, the legend of Timbuktu as a rich cultural center spread through the world. The beginning of the legend can be traced to 1324, when the Emperor of Mali made his pilgrimage to Mecca via Cairo. In Cairo, the merchants and traders were impressed by the amount of gold carried by the emperor, who claimed that the gold was from Timbuktu.

Furthermore, in 1354 the great Muslim explorer Ibn Batuta wrote of his visit to Timbuktu and told of the wealth and gold of the region. continue reading below our video Test Your General Science Knowledge Thus, Timbuktu became renown as an African El Dorado, a city made of gold. During the fifteenth century, Timbuktu grew in importance, but its homes were never made of gold. Timbuktu produced few of its own goods but served as the major trading center for salt trade across the desert region. The city also became a center of Islamic study and the home of a university and extensive library. The city's maximum population during the 1400s probably numbered somewhere between 50,000 to 100,000, with approximately one-quarter of the population composed of scholars and students. The Timbuktu Legend Grows The legend of Timbuktu's wealth refused to die and only grew. A 1526 visit to Timbuktu by a Muslim from Grenada, Leo Africanus, told of Timbuktu as a typical trading outpost. This only incited further interest in the city.

In 1618, a London company was formed to establish trade with Timbuktu. Unfortunately, the first trading expedition ended up with the massacre of all its members and a second expedition sailed up the Gambia River and thus never reached Timbuktu. In the 1700s and early 1800s, many explorers attempted to reach Timbuktu but none returned. Many unsuccessful and successful explorers were forced to drink camel urine, their own urine, or even blood to attempt to survive the barren Sahara Desert. Known wells would be dry or would not provide enough water upon an expedition's arrival. Mungo Park was a Scottish doctor who attempted a trip to Timbuktu in 1805. Unfortunately, his expedition team of dozens of Europeans and natives all died or abandoned the expedition along the way and Park was left to sail along the Niger River, never visiting Timbuktu, but merely shooting at people and other objects on the shore with his guns as his insanity increased along his voyage. His body was never found.

In 1824, the Geographical Society of Paris offered a reward of 7000 francs and a gold metal valued at 2,000 francs to the first European who could visit Timbuktu and return to tell their story of the mythical city. European Arrival in Timbuktu The first European acknowledged to have reached Timbuktu was Scottish explorer Gordon Laing. He left Tripoli in 1825 and traveled for a year and a month to reach Timbuktu. On the way, he was attacked by the ruling Tuareg nomads and was shot, cut by swords, and broke his arm. He recovered from the vicious attack and made his way to Timbuktu and arrived in August 1826. Laing was unimpressed with Timbuktu, which had, as Leo Africanus reported, become simply a salt trading outpost filled with mud-walled homes in the middle of a barren desert. Laing remained in Timbuktu for just over one month. Two days after leaving Timbuktu, he was murdered. French explorer Rene-Auguste Caillie had better luck than Laing.

He planned to make his trip to Timbuktu disguised as an Arab as part of a caravan, much to the chagrin of proper European explorers of the era. Caillie studied Arabic and the Islamic religion for several years. In April 1827, he left the coast of West Africa and reached Timbuktu a year later, even though he was ill for five months during the trip. Caillie was unimpressed with Timbuktu and remained there for two weeks. He then returned to Morocco and then home to France. Caillie published three volumes about his travels and was awarded the prize from the Geographical Society of Paris. German geographer Heinrich Barth left Tripoli with two other explorers in 1850 for a trek to Timbuktu but his companions both died. Barth reached Timbuktu in 1853 and did not return home until 1855 - he was feared dead by many. Barth gained fame through the publication of his five volumes of his experiences. As with previous explorers to Timbuktu, Barth found the city quite the anti-climax.

French Colonial Control of Timbuktu In the late 1800s, France took control of the Mali region and decided to take Timbuktu away from the control of the violent Tuareg who controlled trade in the area. The French military was sent to occupy Timbuktu in 1894. Under the command of Major Joseph Joffre (later a famous World War I general), Timbuktu was occupied and became the site of a French fort. Communication between Timbuktu and France was difficult, making Timbuktu an unhappy place for a soldier to be stationed. Nonetheless, the area around Timbuktu was well protected from the Tuareg so other nomad groups were able to live without fear of the hostile Tuareg. Modern Timbuktu Even after the invention of air travel, the Sahara was unyielding. The plane making an inaugural air flight from Algiers to Timbuktu in 1920 was lost. Eventually, a successful air strip was established; however, today, Timbuktu is still most commonly reached by camel, motor vehicle, or boat.

In 1960, Timbuktu became part of the independent country of Mali. The population of Timbuktu in a 1940 census was estimated at approximately 5,000 people; in 1976, the population was 19,000; in 1987 (the latest estimate available), 32,000 people resided in the city. In 1988, Timbuktu was designated a United Nations World Heritage Site and efforts are underway to preserve and protect the city and especially its centuries-old mosques. Where Is Timbuktu? | Wonderopolis Wonder of the Day #1064 Where Is Timbuktu? How many people call Timbuktu home? Why was Timbuktu named a United Nations World Heritage Site? Tags: Listen If you ever head out on a long trip to a distant , remote, or exotic location , you may likely hear the phrase “from here to Timbuktu" used more than once. This popular phrase has been used for hundreds of years. It paints Timbuktu as a mysterious and exotic location seemingly at the ends of the Earth.

In fact, because of this phrase, many people believe Timbuktu is an imaginary or mythical place. But is it? Not at all! Timbuktu is a very real city located in the West African country of Mali. It is an exotic location , though. Sitting about 12 miles north of the Niger River on the southern border of the Sahara Desert, Timbuktu is home to approximately 50,000 people. So how did the real city of Timbuktu come to be associated with exotic mystery to the point that it's become legendary? Hundreds of years ago, Timbuktu went from a seasonal settlement to a permanent city . By the early 13th century, it was part of the Mali Empire and an important part of the trade route that shipped salt, gold, ivory, and slaves. The home of an ancient Islamic university, Timbuktu was also known as a place for scholars in its Golden Age. Several important mosques were built, and Timbuktu became an important force in the spread of Islam in Africa. During this time, writers, including Leo Africanus and Shabeni, wrote magnificent tales of Timbuktu's wealth.

These stories fascinated Europeans, who began to send expeditions to explore the west coast of Africa. It is these old stories that likely gave rise to Timbuktu's reputation as a faraway, mysterious , and exotic locale. Today, however, Timbuktu resembles nothing of its former glory. It has become a desert town with sand for streets. Most of its residents live in poverty . In July 2012, it was overtaken by radical Islamist rebels, and many residents have fled the city for other areas. Wonder Words (17) Tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day is heavier than you might think! Try It Out Timbuktu has for centuries been home to mosques that were important in the spread of Islam throughout Africa hundreds of years ago. For this reason, Timbuktu was designated a United Nations World Heritage Site in 1988. Unfortunately, since radical Islamist rebels took over Timbuktu in July 2012, many of the city's shrines have been destroyed or damaged. In fact, potential visitors are advised to avoid Timbuktu at the present time. You can still visit Timbuktu virtually, though, and see the mosques that made the city famous.

Check out the United Nations World Heritage Site webpage for Timbuktu online. You can read about the mosques and also see pictures of them in their former glory. Authors helped give rise to Timbuktu's mystique by writing stories about the city's prosperity. Think about an exotic place you'd like to visit and write a story or a poem about why you want to go. What is special about the location? How would you get there? What would you expect to find? What would you do there? Share your stories with us on our Facebook page . Timbuktu, Mali - Facts, Location, Information, Map Timbuktu, Mali Timbuktu, Mali PDF Timbuktu was once a fabled city of gold that conjures up mysterious images and arouses curiosity. Neither it’s an expression for an outlandish place nor a destination existing only in hyperbole. Timbuktu sits near the big bend of the Niger River on the cusp of Sahara in Mali – a lost treasure of West Africa. Once a fabled city of gold and an intellectual capital is now a town of mud-brick mosques and sandy streets where camels meet the canoes.

With otherworldly calm and post-apocalyptic-Marrakesh vibe, it conjures up mysterious images and arouses curiosity. Even its spelling (Timbuktu and Tombouctou) adds to the allure that’s being invaded one grain at a time. Places to Visit in Timbuktu Sankore University – Founded in the 15th century, it is one of the oldest universities in the world. Comprising three structures of Sidi Yahya Mosque, Djinguereber Mosque, and Sankoré Madrasah, the site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The mosques, rendered in mud, are made entirely of organic materials such as fiber, straw, and wood. Djinguereber Mosque has three inner courts, two limestone minarets, and 25 rows of pillars. Heinrich Barth’s House – Barth was a German explorer remembered for his visits through the Sahara and northern and western Africa. This tiny museum contains significant reproductions of his drawings, manuscripts, and extracts of writings. Ahmed Baba Institute – Established in 1973, it is named after a local scholar Ahmad Baba al-Massufi.

This center, covering an area of 4,600 sq. meters, holds approximately 20,000 manuscripts from the 14th to 16th centuries – when the trading town was flourishing. Visitors can attend seminars about subjects such as Arabic calligraphy and writing in African history. Bandiagara Escarpment – Located south of the city in the Dogon region, these sandstone cliffs stretch for about 95 miles. This chain is marked by Mali’s highest peak – Hombori Tondo – at 1,115 meters. Guided trekking, hiking, and camping tours are popular in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Great Mosque of Djenné – Built in Sudano-Sahelian architecture, this mosque is the largest mud building in the world. It lies in Djenné, a city in the Niger delta, that is renowned for its characteristic adobe architecture, ornately decorated doorways, and slanted mosque. Things to Do in Timbuktu Grande Marche – This covered market is a beehive of activities.

Not as lively as the souks of northern Africa, but keep your eyes open in this clamorous Monday market for the leather goods, spices, clothes, and souvenirs like necklaces or knives. Relax yourself with a drink in one of the restaurants at the rooftop, mingle with locals to get an overview of town, and plan your next destination. Boat Rides – Take a ferry or a boat trip, slower but more comfortable, to discover the distant towns along the banks of Niger River. Pinasses (traditional wooden boats) from Mopti to Korioumé (nearest port from the town) operate in the river when it is navigable for three months during the rainy season. Camping and Camel Rides – If boat rides are not your cup of tea, hop on the back of a ‘ship of the desert’ to explore the landscape of Sahel region. Check out the oasis of Araouane, salt mines of Taoudenni, and get a taste of nomadic Tuareg lifestyle while going on overnight camping tours offered by local operators. And if you’re looking to really venture out in the Sahara, take a week-long tour that takes you all the way to Morocco.

Accommodations On your way to Timbuktu, one comes to terms with not expecting luxury suites. Hotel la Colombe and Hotel Azalai offer decent accommodations and amenities. For budget travelers, Hotel Campement Bouctou and Sahara Passion are good options. Restaurants There are a number of bars, cafes, and restaurants around the main street and the Grand Marche. Le Souvenir, a rooftop restaurant, serves dishes ranging from mutton kebab to sweet potato fries. Poulet d’Or Restaurant and Amanar Restaurant serve authentic African cuisine. Pattiserie Asko, stands opposite a post office, serves rice or couscous with sauce, beer, and soft drinks. Timbuktu Map Location The town is located 12 miles north of the Niger River on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert in central Mali. Best Time to Visit From November to February, when the weather is relatively cooler, is the ideal time to visit Timbuktu. Avoid extensive traveling during the rainy season (July-September) as the roads are often impassable. How to Reach? By Air – You can fly into Timbuktu Airport (TOM) from Mopti or Bamako (the capital of Mali).

Bamako Senou International Airport is the international gateway to the country. It is served by African, Middle Eastern, and European airlines. By Road – Popular modes of transportation are bus, shared cars, camel, or cart. Since most roads in the urban areas of Mali are not paved, so prefer flying or traveling by boat. Getting around the town is easier, as all the mosques located in the old town can be reached on foot in a few minutes. Facts about Timbuktu It is the capital of Timbuktu Region of Mali. The city was first settled in 11th century by the Tuareg Imashagan (Tuareg people). It is located about 628 miles (1,011 km) from Bamako and 250 miles (403 km) from Mopti. René Caillié, a French explorer, was one of the first Europeans to enter the city. Timbuktuheritage.org - History of Timbuktu - A Multicultural African Legacy timbuktuheritage.org History of Timbuktu - A Multicultural African Legacy Most people think of Timbuktu as the remotest place on earth.

Others even think of Timbuktu as being a legend or place which existed only in people’s imagination. Timbuktu is located in the present day Republic of Mali at the edge of the Sahara desert. Timbuktu was founded by the Tuareg Imashagan or Kel Tamasheq in the 11th century. The Kel Tamasheq roamed the desert during the rainy season in search of grazing lands for their herds and camels. During the dry season, however, they camped a few miles from the Niger river in search of water and grass for their live stock. Whenever the desert becomes green, the Turareg will leave their heavy goods with an old Tamasheq women called Tin Abutut who shortly thereafter became a warehouse or a depot for commercial goods transiting from the desert. The city of Timbuktu has taken its name from this famous black lady. The historic town of Timbuktu is located at the precise point where the Niger flows northward into the southern edge of the Sahara desert. As a result of its unique geographical position, Timbuktu has been a natural meeting point of Songhai, Wangara, Fulani, Tuareg and Arabs.

According to the inhabitants of Timbuktu, gold came from the south, the salt from the north and Divine knowledge from Timbuktu. Timbuktu is also the cross-road where the camel met the canoe. It is to this privilege position that the city owes much of its historical dynamism. From the 11th century and onward, Timbuktu became an important port where goods from West Africa and North Africa were traded. Goods coming the Mediterranean shores and salt were traded in Timbuktu for gold. The prosperity of the city attracted African and Arabs who were both scholars and merchants. This unique combination of scholarship and business were the cornerstones that made Timbuktu a city of wealth and truth and therefore a booming desert port. Salt, books and gold were the main commodities that were traded in Timbuktu. Salt was extracted from the mines of Tegaza and Taoudenit in the north, gold from the immense gold mines of the Boure and Banbuk and books were the refined work of black and Arabs scholars. Timbuktu flourished as a result of its strategic position.

It is here in Timbuktu that African merchants from Djenne traded with the Kel Tamasheq nomads and the Arabs from the north. The Kel Tamasheq and the Jenne Merchants were the first settlers of Timbuktu. The Adobe structure of the houses in Timbuktu was the product of African and Arabs architecture. Trade and knowledge were at their height. The capture and destruction of the empire of Ghana by the king of Sosso cause a mass exodus of scholars from Walata to Timbuktu. By the 12th century, Timbuktu became a celebrated center of Islamic learning and a commercial establishment. Timbuktu had a university with three main renown departments and 180 Quranic schools. These are the department of Sankore, the department of Jingaray Ber and the department of Sidi Yahya. This was the golden age of Africa. Books were not only written in Timbuktu, but they were also imported and copied there. There was an advanced local book copying industry in the city. The universities and private libraries contained unparalleled scholarly works.

The famous scholar of Timbuktu Ahmad Baba who was among those deported to Morocco said that his library of 1600 books had been plundered, and his library, according to him, was one of the smaller in the city. Timbuktu was a veritable melting pot and hub of knowledge and commerce. The city welcomed everyone. On April 20th 1628, the French explorer Rene Caille reached the legendary city of Timbuktu. Rene Caille used to say about Timbuktu: “ When I enter this mysterious city, I was overwhelmed by an incredible feeling of satisfaction, I had never felt such a feeling before in my life and my joy was extreme.” The German explorer Henry Barth had a similar experience. Today, the city is still welcoming visitors from faraway lands. The travelers have said that Timbuktu is the Rome of the Sudan, the Athena of Africa and the Mecca of the Sahara. To sum it up, Timbuktu was the city of Divine light, the city of knowledge, the city of trade an the city of hospitality.

The booming economy of Timbuktu attracted the attention of the Emperor of Mali, Mansa Mussa also known as Kan Kan Mussa. He captured the city in 1325. As a Muslim, Mansa Mussa was impressed with the Islamic legacy of Timbuktu. On his return from Mecca, Mans Mussa brought with him an Egyptian architect by the name of Abu Es Haq Es Saheli. The architect was paid 200 kg of gold to built Jingaray Ber or the Friday prayers Mosque. Mansa Musa also built a royal palace or Madugu in Timbuktu. In addition, the Emperor invited Arabs scholars to Timbuktu. To his great surprise, the Emperor realized that these scholars were unqualified to engage in debates with the black scholars of Timbuktu. Abd Arahman Atimmi, for example, who though of himself as being an Arab scholar realized that he had such an inferior academic knowledge compared to Timbuktu’s scholars that he decided to migrate to Marrakech to complete his prerequisites so he can sit in the classes as a student. Mansa Mussa pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 had made Mali known worldwide.

The Emperor took with him 12 tones of pure gold and a large caravan of 60,000 men on horses and camels. He had so much gold with him that when he stopped in Egypt, the Egyptian currency lost its value and as result the name of Mali and Timbuktu appeared on the 14th century world map. His brother Abu Bakar the II decided to find a way by the Atlantic ocean to go to Mecca. Abu Bakar and his maritime expedition left the shores of Senegal and sailed in the Atlantic Ocean. They encountered so much difficulties and challenges that they came back to Senegal. Abu Bakar reorganized his expedition, took enough provisions and a huge army with him. This expedition has never been seen again. Today, there is a strong historical evidence pointing to the possibility that this Malian prince was the first one to discover America. In Brazil for instance, their is a presence of the mandinka language, traditions and customs. In 1339, The Mossi king invaded Timbuktu. The Mossi caused a lot of corruption, killing and destruction in the city. The Mandika dynasty, however, succeeded in repulsing the invaders.

Timbuktu remained under the protection of the descendants of Mansa Musa until 1434 when the Tuareg under the leadership of Akil Akamalwal invaded and captured the city. Akil was very pious. He respected the Ulemas or scholars. Akil reappointed Mohammad Naddi, a Sanhaja Tuareg as the governor of the city. When Mohammad Naddi died, Akil appointed his oldest son Umar to take his place. The Tuareg, later on, however, spread so much injustice, corruption and tyranny, that Umar ibn Mohammad Naddi, the new governor of Timbuktu sought the help of Soni Ali Ber, ruler of the Songhai Empire with his base in Gao. In 1469, Soni Ali conquered the city of Timbuktu. Akil fled the city. Soni Ali put to death so many scholars that most them fled to Walata which is the actual Republic of Mauritania. This is the reason why many of the manuscripts of Timbuktu are found in Mauritania today.

One of the generals of Soni Ali who is a devout Muslim by the name of Askia Mohammad could not tolerate the tragic treatment Soni inflicted on the Ulemas or scholars of Timbuktu. The Prince of the Songhai Askia Mohammad overthrew Soni Ali in 1493. Askia Mohammad recomforted the scholars, financially rehabilitated them and stood by them. In fact for all Islamic legal rulings on how to run the state, Askia Mohammad turned to these scholars. There are manuscripts in Timbuktu today where the answers to the questions of Askia are recorded. Under the Askia dynasty, Timbuktu prospered both intellectually and trade wise until 1591 when the Moroccan army under the leadership of Pasha Mahmud ibn Zarqun sacked the city of Timbuktu. The Moroccan army plundered the wealth of the city, burned the libraries, put to death many scholars who resisted them and deported many to Fez and Marrakech including the eminent scholar of Timbuktu Ahmed Baba Es Sudane, meaning Ahmed Baba the black as he is preferred to be called.

The scholars of Timbuktu were righteous, devout and were not afraid of anything accept Allah, the Most High. It was in this context that when Pasha Mahmud tried to deceive the scholars by having them sign a treacherous treaty, the black eminent scholar and fearless professor of Sidi Yahya University, Mohammad Bagayogo objected and told the Pasha: “ I would rather have you cut my hand up to the shoulder than to bear a false testimony.” A lot of manuscripts left the city of Timbuktu under the Moroccan invasion to find their way to Fez and Marrakech. In 1893, with the colonization of West Africa by France, Timbuktu was brought under the French rule until in 1960 when Mali became independent. Many of the manuscripts of Timbuktu are in the museums and universities of France. What country is Timbuktu in? Timbuktu is in Mali, West Africa. It is a town and is often referred as Timbuctoo and Timbuktoo. It is located 15 km (9.3 mi) north of the River Niger on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert.

Timbuktu Timbuktu Asked Jun 14, 2003, 08:36 AM ï¿½ 1 Answer In what modern African country is the site of ancient Timbuktu located? Starman iancode Posts: 5, Reputation: 2 New Member Aug 6, 2003, 04:24 AM Timbuktu Hoping the below will help you. Best Regards ;) Timbuktu, also spelled TOMBOUCTOU, is a city in the West African nation of Mali. It is historically important as a post on the trans-Saharan caravan route. It is located on the southern edge of the Sahara, about 8 mi (13 km) north of the Niger River. Timbuktu was a centre for the expansion of Islam, an intellectual and spiritual capital at the end of the Mandingo Askia dynasty (1493-1591) and home to a prestigious Koranic university. Three great mosques built at that time, using traditional techniques, still remain. Timbuktu was founded about AD 1100 as a seasonal camp by Tuareg nomads.

After it was incorporated within the Mali Empire, probably in the late 13th century, the Mali sultan, Mansa Musam, built a tower for the Great Mosque (Djingereyber) and a royal residence, the Madugu (the former has since been rebuilt many times, and of the latter no trace now remains). Shortly after this the city was annexed by the Mossi kingdom of Yatenga, but when the North African traveller Ibn Battutah visited in 1353, he found it again governed by Mali. In the 14th century Timbuktu became an important focal point of the gold-salt trade. With the influx of North African merchants came the settlement of Muslim scholars. It made little difference that the Tuareg regained control of the city in 1433; they ruled from the desert, and, though they plundered periodically, trade and learning continued to flourish. In 1468 Timbuktu was conquered by Sonni 'Ali, the Songhai ruler.

He was generally ill-disposed to the city's Muslim scholars, but his successor--the first ruler of the new Askia dynasty, Muhammad I Askia of Songhai (reigned 1493-1528)--reversed the policy and used the scholarly elite as legal and moral counsellors. During the Askia period (1493-1591) Timbuktu was at the height of its commercial and intellectual development. Merchants from Wadan, Tuwat, Ghudamis (Ghadames), Augila, and the cities of Morocco gathered there to buy gold and slaves in exchange for the Saharan salt of Taghaza and for North African cloth and horses. The city's scholars, many of whom had studied in Mecca or Egypt, attracted students from a wide area. The city declined after it was captured by Morocco in 1591. Two years later the city's scholars were arrested on suspicion of disaffection; some were killed during a struggle, others were exiled to Morocco.

The small Moroccan garrisons could not protect the Niger Bend, and Timbuktu was repeatedly attacked and conquered by the Bambara, Fulani, and Tuareg until 1893, when the French captured the city. The French partly restored the city from the desolate condition in which they found it, but no railway or tarmac road ever reached it. In 1960 it became part of the newly independent Republic of Mali. Timbuktu is now an administrative centre of Mali. Small salt caravans from Taoudenni still arrive in winter, but there is no gold to offer in exchange, and trans-Saharan commerce no longer exists. Although there is air service, the city remains most easily accessible by camel and boat. Islamic learning survives among a handful of aging scholars, and a Lyc e Franco-Arabe teaches Arabic to the younger generation. Helpful (1) Reply We'd like to understand what you find wrong with iancode's answer: What's inaccurate about this answer? Say it in 25 words or less here and/or reply in the thread with more detail. Please focus on the content not the person! Link to a credible and well-known source.

You can provide a URL or simply describe the source. iancode An Introduction to Mali Personalized adventure or cultural travel. Guaranteed lowest prices. -->> Mali is shaped a bit like a butterfly, leaning to the northwest, with a much smaller left than right wing. The larger northwestern region of the country, which extends into the Sahara, is almost entirely arid desert or semidesert. In the central region, known as the Sahel, life follows the Niger River's annual flood cycle, with high water between August and November. In the southwestern area, rainfall and rivers are more plentiful, and this region is marginally more lush than the rest of the country. Mali's single most important geographic feature is undoubtedly the great Niger River, which traverses both the Sahel and the southeastern section of the country. The Niger, like the Nile, is both a critical source of sustenance and a major transportation artery--and in this latter capacity it is an excellent venue for boat travel. Although most of Mali experiences only negligible rainfall, the 'rainy' season in the south extends from June through September.

History & People Although Mali is today one of the poorest countries in the world, it has a long and illustrious past as an integral part of great African empires. The first of these empires was the empire of Ghana, which from the 4th to the 11th century controlled the trans-Saharan caravan routes. Ghana fell under invasions by the Muslim Almoravids, but it was soon supplanted by a the Mandinka empire of Mali. Mali reached its pinnacle of power and wealth during the 14th century, extending over almost all of West Africa and controlling virtually all of the rich trans-Saharan gold trade. It was during this period that Mali's great cities, Timbuktu and Djenne, became fabled centers of wealth, learning, and culture. Mali's power didn't last much longer. In the 15th century it fell to the Songhai, who had established their own capital at Gao. The Songhai held sway until the end of the 16th century, their empire collapsed under both internal and external pressures.

The end of the Songhai empire also marked the conclusion of the regions history as a trading centre, for the trans-Saharan trade routes quickly lost their vitality after the establishment of sea routes by Europeans. In the late nineteenth century, Mali became a French colony, and in 1960 it became independent. The country has suffered from periods of internal and external strife, as well as from an extended drought in the early 1970s, but today it appears to by moving toward a stable, multi-party democratic government. Mali's population comprises a number of different peoples, including the Bambara (who are the largest single segment), the Songhai, Mandinka, Senoufo, Fula, and Dogon. The last of these groups, the Dogon, are world-renowned for their artwork, and a visit to their traditional cliffside villages is a fascinating experience. The majority of Mali's people are Muslim, and the official language is French. Bambara, however, is the country's true lingua franca.

Timbuktu | Mali | Britannica.com Timbuktu Africa Timbuktu, French Tombouctou, city in the western African country of Mali , historically important as a trading post on the trans-Saharan caravan route and as a centre of Islamic culture (c. 1400–1600). It is located on the southern edge of the Sahara , about 8 miles (13 km) north of the Niger River . The city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. In 2012, in response to armed conflict in the region, Timbuktu was added to the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger. Sankore mosque, Timbuktu, Mali. Timbuktu, Mali, designated a World Heritage site in 1988. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Timbuktu was founded about 1100 ce as a seasonal camp by Tuareg nomads. There are several stories concerning the derivation of the city’s name. According to one tradition, Timbuktu was named for an old woman left to oversee the camp while the Tuareg roamed the Sahara.

Her name (variously given as Tomboutou, Timbuktu, or Buctoo) meant “mother with a large navel,” possibly describing an umbilical hernia or other such physical malady. Timbuktu’s location at the meeting point of desert and water made it an ideal trading centre. In the late 13th or early 14th century it was incorporated into the Mali empire. By the 14th century it was a flourishing centre for the trans-Saharan gold and salt trade, and it grew as a centre of Islamic culture. Three of western Africa’s oldest mosques—Djinguereber (Djingareyber), Sankore, and Sidi Yahia—were built there during the 14th and early 15th centuries. After an extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324, the Mali emperor Mansa Mūsā built the Great Mosque (Djinguereber) and a royal residence, the Madugu (the former has since been rebuilt many times, and of the latter no trace remains).

The Granada architect Abū Isḥāq al-Sāḥili was then commissioned to design the Sankore mosque, around which Sankore University was established. The mosque still stands today, probably because of al-Sāḥili’s directive to incorporate a wooden framework into the mud walls of the building, thus facilitating annual repairs after the rainy season. The Tuareg regained control of the city in 1433, but they ruled from the desert. Although the Tuareg exacted sizable tributes and plundered periodically, trade and learning continued to flourish in Timbuktu. By 1450 its population increased to about 100,000. The city’s scholars, many of whom had studied in Mecca or in Egypt, numbered some 25,000. Great Mosque, built by Emperor Mūsā I of Mali in 1327, Timbuktu, Mali. L. Romano/DeA Picture Library Mopti In 1468 the city was conquered by the Songhai ruler Sonni ʿAlī .

He was generally ill disposed toward the city’s Muslim scholars, but his successor—the first ruler of the new Askia dynasty , Muḥammad I Askia of Songhai (reigned 1493–1528)—used the scholarly elite as legal and moral counselors . During the Askia period (1493–1591) Timbuktu was at the height of its commercial and intellectual development. Merchants from Ghudāmis ( Ghadamis ; now in Libya), Augila (now Awjidah, Libya), and numerous other cities of North Africa gathered there to buy gold and slaves in exchange for the Saharan salt of Taghaza and for North African cloth and horses. After it was captured by Morocco in 1591, the city declined. Its scholars were ordered arrested in 1593 on suspicion of disaffection; some were killed during a resulting struggle, while others were exiled to Morocco. Perhaps worse still, the small Moroccan garrisons placed in command of the city offered inadequate protection, and Timbuktu was repeatedly attacked and conquered by the Bambara , Fulani , and Tuareg.

European explorers reached Timbuktu in the early 19th century. The ill-fated Scottish explorer Gordon Laing was the first to arrive (1826), followed by the French explorer René-Auguste Caillié in 1828. Caillié, who had studied Islam and learned Arabic, reached Timbuktu disguised as an Arab. After two weeks he departed, becoming the first explorer to return to Europe with firsthand knowledge of the city (rumours of Timbuktu’s wealth had reached Europe centuries before, owing to tales of Mūsā’s 11th-century caravan to Mecca). In 1853 the German geographer Heinrich Barth reached the city during a five-year trek across Africa. He, too, survived the journey, later publishing a chronicle of his travels. Market in Timbuktu, Mali. Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent Timbuktu was captured by the French in 1894. They partly restored the city from the desolate condition in which they found it, but no connecting railway or hard-surfaced road was built. In 1960 it became part of the newly independent Republic of Mali.

Africa at Random: Fact or Fiction? Timbuktu is now an administrative centre of Mali. In the late 1990s, restoration efforts were undertaken to preserve the city’s three great mosques, which were threatened by sand encroachment and by general decay. An even greater threat came in 2012 when Tuareg rebels, backed by Islamic militants, took control of the northern part of the country. The Tuaregs claimed the territory, which included Timbuktu, as the independent state of Azawad. However, the Tuareg rebels were soon supplanted by the Islamic militants, who then imposed their strict version of Sharīʾah (Islamic law) on the inhabitants. The Islamic militants—in particular, one group known as Ansar Dine—deemed many of Timbuktu’s historic religious monuments and artifacts to be idolatrous, and, to that end, they damaged or destroyed many of them, including tombs of Islamic saints housed at the Djinguereber and Sidi Yahia mosques. Work to repair the damage began after the militants were routed from the town in early 2013. Pop. (2009) 54,453.

A caretaker praying over a tomb that was damaged by Islamic militants in 2012, Timbuktu, Mali. Baba Ahmed/AP Images Timbuktu - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) The city of Timbuktu, Mali, is located on the southern edge of the Sahara, a vast desert. The city lies about 8 miles (13 kilometers) north of the Niger River. Today, as in centuries past, few roads lead there. The city is mostly accessible by camel or boat, though it has a small airport. Timbuktu was long famous as a center of commerce and scholarship. The city was a major stop on the large caravan routes that crossed the Sahara to trade salt and gold. From about 1400 to 1600, Timbuktu was also an important center of Islamic learning and culture. Because of its historical and cultural monuments, the city was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO (a United Nations agency) in 1988. Article History

Question: In what country is Timbuktu located?
Answer: Mali