TED-Ed: The hidden treasures of Timbuktu | Elizabeth Cox

The video explores the history of Timbuktu, a city in Mali that became a center of trade and learning due to its strategic location. It highlights the city's rise during the Mali and Songhai empires, its golden age under Askia Muhammad Ture, and the subsequent decline following Moroccan conquest. Despite numerous challenges, including conquests and environmental threats, efforts to preserve Timbuktu's ancient manuscripts continue, as they hold invaluable historical knowledge.

What happened to Timbuktu's literary tradition during the French colonial period?

What efforts were made to protect the manuscripts of Timbuktu in recent years?

Why are the manuscripts of Timbuktu considered valuable for understanding precolonial history?