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Timbuktu

Definition

Timbuktu is an ancient city in Mali, situated 20 km north of the Niger River. It was historically important as a post on the trans-Saharan caravan route and as a center of Islamic culture (15th–16th centuries).

Analogy

Think of Timbuktu like a bustling airport hub. Just as major airports connect flights from all over the world, Timbuktu connected traders from across Africa and beyond, exchanging goods and ideas.

Related terms

Trans-Saharan Trade Route: This was a trade route that traveled across the Sahara Desert, connecting Sub-Saharan African kingdoms like Mali to North Africa and Europe. Goods such as gold, salt, slaves, cloth, beads were traded along this route.

Islamic Culture: The religious practices, social norms, literature and arts associated with Islam. In places like Timbuktu it influenced architecture, education (with institutions like Sankore University) and law.

Caravanserai: These were roadside inns where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey. They supported the flow of commerce through regions like Central Asia and North Africa.