Timbuktu's Secret Science: Astronomy and Timekeeping

Timbuktu: Africa's Forgotten Center of Knowledge — Fexingo History · Sep 14, 2026 · 7m · transcript

While Timbuktu is often remembered for its trade routes and Islamic scholarship, a deeper look reveals a sophisticated scientific tradition rooted in astronomy and timekeeping. In this episode, we explore how scholars like Mahmud ibn Zarqun used the stars to navigate the Sahara and structure daily life. We examine the role of the hilal, or crescent moon, in determining religious and commercial calendars, and discuss the precise methods used to calculate qibla directions for prayer across vast distances. Lucas and Luna dive into the manuscripts that detail these calculations, highlighting the…