Latest / Timbuktu: Africa's Forgotten Center of Knowledge — Fexingo History
Timbuktu's University: The Sankore Madrasah System
While earlier episodes have explored Timbuktu’s architecture, trade routes, and famous scholars like Ahmad Baba, this episode examines the institutional heart of the city: the Sankore Madrasah. We look at how this decentralized network of teachers and students functioned as a true university system in the 15th and 16th centuries, distinct from state-controlled mosques. Lucas and Luna trace the rise of the Tijaniyya brotherhood, the specific curriculum that blended Islamic jurisprudence with astronomy and mathematics, and the oral examination traditions that defined scholarly prestige. We also…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.