Trekking to Timbuktu—Student Version

Curriculum Unit Overview—Student Version

Salt comes from the north, gold from the south, and silver from the country of the white men, but the word of God and the treasures of wisdom are only to be found in Timbuktu.
—An old West African proverb

Introduction:

Making use of special investigative equipment, several ingenious disguises, and the ability to travel backwards in time, you will learn about the geography, history, and unique features of Timbuktu and the surrounding area. Your ultimate task is to make a detailed and convincing presentation to the executive producers of Globe Trekker, explaining why Timbuktu is the perfect place for the next televised adventure.

Here are some questions you'll need to consider for your report:

Where is Timbuktu?

What is the geographical landscape of Mali? How did trade develop in ancient West Africa?

How did the spread of Islam influence the development of cultures in Mali? What were the origins of Timbuktu?

What kingdoms flourished in this region in earlier times? How did Timbuktu become a center of commerce?

Why did it become a center of Islamic scholarship and culture?

What caused the decline of Timbuktu, and how was it "rediscovered" by Europeans?

What problems does the ancient city face today, and what is being done about them?

In order to build a solid case for a Globe Trekker adventure in Timbuktu, you will have to be able to:

• Describe the geography of Timbuktu and the surrounding region of Mali
• Explain how the local people made a living in earlier times
• Discuss the influence of Islam upon the local cultures
• Describe the three kingdoms that flourished in the region in ancient and medieval times
• Explain the origin of Timbuktu
• Relate how the city became an important center of trade
• Explain how the city became a center of Islamic scholarship and culture
• Discuss the reasons for the city's decline - and "rediscovery"
• Describe the environmental threats to the ancient mosques and manuscripts
• Discuss efforts being made to preserve the city's ancient past

As you prepare for your trip, you might want to visit the following websites for some general information about the history of Timbuktu:

• Timbuktu
• Timbuktu available through EDSITEment-reviewed resource Internet Public Library
• Africa's Islamic legacy:
• Mali

Here's a list of topics you'll need to cover in your presentation:

Mission 1: The Geography of Mali

Mission 2: Trade in Ancient West Africa

Mission 3: Timbuktu - A Center of Trade

Mission 4: Mansa Musa Takes a Trip

Mission 5: Timbuktu's Golden Age of Scholarship

Mission 6: The Search for Timbuktu

Mission 7: Restoring the Past

Mission 8: Review and Assessment of the curriculum unit on Timbuktu

• Clickable Map of Africa:
  [http://artnetweb.com/guggenheim/africa/africamap.html African Voices]
• Inland Niger Delta Landscape:
  [http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~anth/arch/mali-interactive/pictures/plains.jpg]
• Mali
  [http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/CIA_Maps/Mali_19856.gif]
• Sankore Mosque
  [http://www.pbs.org/wonders/Episodes/Epi5/5_wondr6.htm]
• The Niger River:
  [http://www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/ontheline/explore/journey/mali/niger.htm]
• The Road to Timbuktu
  [http://www.pbs.org/wonders/fr_e5.htm].
• The Tuareg People
  [http://www.pbs.org/wonders/fr_e5.htm]
• Uncovering an African Scholarly Heritage
  [http://www.pbs.org/wonders/Episodes/Epi5/roadto_2.htm]

• Musa and the Mali Empire
  [http://www.carmensandiego.com/products/time/malic07/mansamusa.html]
• Outline maps:
  [http://geography.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.southernct.edu%2F%7Elukinbea%2Foutline.html]
• Timbuktu: Legendary City of Africa;
  [http://geography.miningco.com/library/weekly/aa101300a.htm]

• enluminures
  [http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/images/jpeg/i8_0000m.jpg]
• Mansa Musa: King of Mali
  [http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/manuscrits/aman6/i8_000dd.htm]

• Djenne, Mali
  [http://www.sacredsites.com/africa/djenne.html].
• Empires of the Western Sudan
  [http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/sghi/hd_sghi.htm].
• Ghana Empire
  [http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ghan/hd_ghan.htm
• Golden Age
  [http://www.historychannel.com/classroom/unesco/timbuktu/goldenage.html].
• On the Edge of Timbuktu
  [http://www.npr.org/programs/re/archivesdate/2003/may/mali/ ].
• Mansa Musa
  [http://purpleplanetmedia.com/bhp/pages/mansamusa.shtml]
• Mansa Musu and Songhai Empire
  [http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/mansa.htm].
• Manuscripts
  [http://www.sum.uio.no/research/mali/timbuktu/libraries.html].
• Manuscripts
  [http://www.timbuktuheritage.org/gallery/album02].
• Map of Africa:
  [http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine/index.html?id=362&size=medium&left=-39&bottom=-34.6&right=72.8&top=38.2&point=x16.9,x1.8&text=Africa]
• Map of Africa:
  [http://www.library.northwestern.edu/africana/map/]
• Map of Africa
  [http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/africa_ref02.jpg]
• Neglected and Decaying Sacred Sites
  [http://www.timbuktuheritage.org/sites.html].
• Sacred Text
  [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/photogalleries/
  timbouctu/photo4.html
• Sankore
  [http://www.cwo.com/~lucumi/timbuktu.html].
• Shabeni's description of Timbuktu
  [http://www.manntaylor.com/shabeni.html].
• Songhay
  [http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/CIVAFRCA/SONGHAY.HTM].
• The Catalan map
  [http://www.manntaylor.com/africa1.html]
• The Topic: Salt
  [http://42explore.com/salt.htm ].
• Threats to the Survival of Timbuktu
  [http://www.historychannel.com/classroom/unesco/timbuktu/threats.html]
• Timbuktu
  [http://whc.unesco.org/sites/119.htm]
• Timbuktu:
  [http://fp.thesalmons.org/lynn/wh-timbuktu.html]
• Timbuktu: City of Legends
  [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1911321.stm]
• Timbuctoo the Mysterious
  [http://www.manntaylor.com/timbuctoo.html]
• University of Timbuktu
  [http://www.timbuktuheritage.org/university.html]