Ibn Battuta's Journey to Timbuktu

Timbuktu: Africa's Forgotten Center of Knowledge — Fexingo History · Jul 28, 2026 · 8m · transcript

In 1352, the Moroccan scholar and world traveler Ibn Battuta crossed the Sahara to visit the Mali Empire. His detailed account offers a rare, firsthand glimpse into Timbuktu at the height of its early prosperity—decades before the city became a renowned center of learning. From the brutal salt mines of Taghaza to the bustling streets of Walata and the Niger River crossing, Battuta recorded everything: the customs of the court of Mansa Suleyman, the astonishing courtesy of the women, the food (millet and dried fish), and the legendary gold wealth. Yet he also noted tensions: the suspicion of…