Latest / Timbuktu: Africa's Forgotten Center of Knowledge — Fexingo History
The Sahelian Gold Trade: Timbuktu's Hidden Economy
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the intricate system of the trans-Saharan gold trade that underpinned Timbuktu's wealth and scholarship. They trace the journey of gold from the Bambuk and Bure fields through Wangara merchants, the role of silent barter, and the relationship with the Mali and Songhai empires. Lucas explains how gold was traded for salt from Taghaza and Taoudenni, and how this exchange funded mosques, libraries, and scholars like Ahmed Baba. The episode also examines the impact of the Portuguese arrival on the coast and the eventual shift in trade routes…
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