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The Center is partially funded under Title VI of the federal Higher Education Act as a Na- tional Resource Center on Africa, One of only 9 in the U.S. , Florida’s is the only Center located in the southeastern United States. The Center directs, develops, and coordinates interdisciplinary instruction, research, and outreach on Africa. The Outreach Program includes a variety of activities whose objective is to improve the teaching of Africa in primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities and local communities. Following are some of the regular activities which fall under the Outreach Program. Teachers’ Workshops Community and School The Center offers in-service workshops for K-12 Presentations teachers about instruction on Africa throughout Faculty and graduate students make presen- the school year. tations on Africa to local communities and Summer Institutes schools. Each summer, the Center holds teaching institutes for K-12 teachers. Research Affi liate Program Publications Two one-month appointments are provided The Center publishes and distributes teaching re- each summer. The program enables African sources including Irohin. In addition, the Center has specialists at institutions which do not have published a monograph entitled Lesson Plans on African adequate resources for African-related re- History and Geography: A Teaching Resource. search to increase their expertise on Africa through contact with other Africanists. They Library also have access to Africa-related resources Teachers may borrow videotapes and books from the at the University of Florida’s libraries. Outreach offi ce. Timbuktu is located in western Africa in the nation Africa. The Sidi Yahya Mosque is the earliest of Mali. The Niger River peaks at the edge of the Sahara style dating back to the 12th century. The mosque Desert and then flows south just around the location of at Jingaray Ber, built by an Egyptian architect, Timbuktu. This became a perfect meeting point for the dates back to 1325. At present some buildings are Trans-Saharan traders and those West African traders suffering from erosion, but Malian preservationists using the Niger River to transport goods. and international groups are working to preserve these The Tuareg people founded Timbuktu in the 11th historical monuments. century at the site of an ancestral well. The name Islam spread through Northern Africa in the 8th may derive from Tin Abutut, an old Tuareg woman century. By the 12th century, Timbuktu was already a who is believed to have lived at the well. Overtime, it well-known center of Islamic learning. Timbuktu had became Timbuktu, a natural meeting place for Songhai, three universities and 180 Qurʼanic schools. There Wangara, Fulani, Tuaregs, and Arabs. was a population of 100,000 in Timbuktu and 25,000 Prosperity came from trade between the salt miners university students. The three universities were centered of the Sahara and the gold miners of the southern at the three great mosques of Sankore, Jingaray Ber and coastlands of West Africa. Timbuktu became the center Sidi Yahya. Books were written in Timbuktu and many for trade and developed the reputation for fairness, private and university libraries were established. knowledge and wisdom. Timbuktu is the crossroad Mansa Musa, the emperor of Mali from 1307- where “the camel met the canoe”. The gold-salt trade 1332 captured the city in 1325. Mansa Musa was brought prosperity which provided the economic Muslim and was impressed by the learning centers foundation needed for cultural development. Soon of Timbuktu. He brought architects and scholars of scholars were brought to Timbuktu to educate the the Islamic world to teach and study at Timbuktu. In children of the wealthy traders. Others soon followed. 1325 Mansa Musa paid for the building of Jingaray The first buildings in Timbuktu were constructed Ber, also called the Friday Prayers Mosque. This by architects from Djenne. Djenne lies southwest mosque hosted 9,000 worshipers each Friday of Timbuktu along the Niger River. Other for prayer. Mansa Musaʼs generous use of influences came from Muslim gold caused inflation, that put Mali architects from and Timbuktu on the 14th century Northern world map. Timbuktu was controlled by many different leaders over its history. A tradition of Peace shows the diplomatic Under the Askia Dynasty (1493-1591) Timbuktu signifi cance of the manuscripts. African scholars guided prospered intellectually and economically. In 1591 a leaders of Malian empires throughout the centuries. Moroccan army invaded, plundered the city, burned The manuscripts show that governance was based on libraries and deported tolerance, a multi-ethnic many scholars to Fes and state, and peaceful means of Marrakech. Hundreds of resolving confl icts. Some of manuscripts left Timbuktu the manuscripts written in the under this Moroccan 13th and 14th centuries have invasion. been on display in the USA From 1893-1960 showing valued examples of the French dominated peaceful confl ict resolution. Mali.Timbuktu lost African scholars today hope even more manuscripts to use the manuscripts to rally to French museums and diverse groups of Africans universities. The current around their common cultural poverty in much of Mali heritage. today has left Timbuktu The economic and social drifting economically and signifi cance of the Mali intellectually.Scholars manuscripts is hopeful. still try to preserve the Scholars are digitizing remaining manuscripts and cataloging documents and cultural heritage hoping to revive the book sites, but funds are industry once so strong in needed. The evidence Timbuktu. In the 15th and shows that West African civilizations were host to great 16th centuries, Timbuktu had a thriving book industry, intellectual life and scientifi c studies. Timbuktu was which was comparable to Italian intellectual leadership certainly one of those great centers of civilization. in the European early Renaissance. Increased national and international (global) support is needed for these TheILibraries and Manuscripts of efforts to really take hold. A revival of the libraries Timbuktu could bring increased tourism and encourage the economic growth of other local crafts and industries. Timbuktu has over 50 libraries associated with Scholars value the Timbuktu manuscripts as keys to the University. These libraries contain many books pre-colonial African civilization. These keys could open and manuscripts, which have scholarly, diplomatic the doors to a wider interpretation of Africaʼs historical and economic signifi cance. Careful study of these importance. They could also help Mali to reclaim documents has shown the great intellectual history of its place as a world leader in study and commerce. Timbuktu. Meanwhile, the manuscripts must be preserved for the The Scholarly signifi cance of the manuscripts has future generations. been compared to the discovery of the Dead-Sea Scrolls. At a time when the scholars of Africa are battling the old western view of Africa as a “Dark Continent” the manuscripts shed new light on pre-colonial Africa. The manuscripts contain the knowledge of Muslim Imams, The University System of Timbuktu scholars and professors that studied in Timbuktu over A. Where is Timbuktu? many centuries. The evidence of great scientifi c and 1. University System is organized around 3 great intellectual thought should profoundly change western mosques of Timbuktu views of African history. Africa should be better seen a. Sidi Yahya dates to the 12th century, built by as one of the hallmarks of civilization rather than as a Mandika people “Dark Continent”. b.Jingaray Ber dates to 1325, built by Mansa Musa b. Students researched questions, presented c. Sankore dates to early 15th century, built by arguments, and defended their positions in front Mohammed Naddi of professors and other students Mohammed Naddi c. Students found a Sheik (Master) to guide them in this higher stage of learning. 2. About the 12th century, the University of Timbuktu d. Graduates were expected to be good Islamic had 25,000 students in a city with a population of models for future generations 100,000. a. Students came from all over Africa 4. Circle of Knowledge b. They studied Islamic Sciences and the Qurʼan a. Consisted of a committee comprised of Muslim c. Students studied for approximately 10 years Imams, scholars, and professors d.Classes were held in the open courtyards of b. Had deepest understanding of the Qurʼan and mosques and in private homes manuscripts e. Graduates were awarded a turban representing c. Discussed issues pertaining to Islam and the divine obligations and responsibilities of government Islam. d. Government leaders frequently asked the Circle of Knowledge for advice 3. In the 1590ʼs a Moroccan e. Each scholar was expected invasion deported many of to research any issue and Timbuktuʼs best scholars and share their perspectives with many valuable manuscripts the group were lost or taken. f. The Circle of Knowledge would then issue a “Fatwa” or legal Islamic ruling to which B. Intellectual Life in the government must abide Timbuktu g. Today a 20 - member Circle 1. Primary Degree: Qurʼanic of Knowledge continues to School meet every morning to a. Students memorized the discuss current issues. Qurʼan b. Mastered Arabic grammar Class Exercise: c. Learned effective writing Applying to Timbuktu d. Received basic science University instruction Materials needed: 2. Secondary Degree: General Part 1: Questions on overhead or Studies Level board or copies for the student a. Further studies of groups. Islamic Sciences: Part 2: A copy of each of the grammar, following for each group: commentaries of - Application for Admission the Qurʼan, prophetic to Timbuktu University narrations, - Academic Calendar jurisprudence, mathematics, geography, history, - Tuition Charges Islamic schools of thought, physics, astronomy, - Course Listings and chemistry b. Learn a trade and business ethics: business, Part A: Ask students to answer the following questions carpentry, farming, fi shing, construction, shoe- either individually or as a group. making, tailoring, and navagation 1. What makes a person educated? 3. Superior Degree 2.