Latest / Timbuktu: Africa's Forgotten Center of Knowledge — Fexingo History
Timbuktu's Lost Library of Astronomy and Time
In Episode 233, Lucas and Luna turn away from the famous manuscripts on law and trade to explore Timbuktu’s surprising legacy in astronomy. While many know of the Sankore Madrasah as a center for Islamic jurisprudence, fewer realize it was also a hub for calculating prayer times, determining the qibla direction, and mapping celestial movements across the Sahara. We look at how scholars like Mahmud ibn Zarqun used astrolabes and star charts not just for spiritual devotion, but to navigate the vast desert and synchronize agricultural cycles along the Niger Bend. This episode uncovers the quiet…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.