Around 800 years ago, in what is today known as ‘Mali’, there stood an ancient city called Timbuktu, which was well known for its rich resources, such as gold, ivory and salt, as well as its interesting culture. It was also in Timbuktu that the first university was created. It was called ‘Sankore University’ and it was built under the rule of the world’s richest known man, Mansa Musa.

THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST UNIVERSITY

Small groups of very clever people, both men and women of this culture, gathered together at this university to share their knowledge of the world and to learn from others around them. The university slowly grew, and soon had 25,000 students. At that time, it was the most important place for religious learning, especially of Islam.

WHAT THE ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS CAN TELL US

Written information that has been found in this area shows us that these African ancestors, who were very curious, put down on ancient paper, known as manuscripts, a lot about the world they lived in. This included ways to count the stars and the planets, ways to stay healthy such as recipes for toothpaste, ways to practise religion, and ways to help educate others. Nearly a million manuscripts that date to these ancient times have been found.

Along with other items such as gold and salt, these manuscripts were seen as valuable by those who lived in Timbuktu, and by others who traded with Timbuktu. The new and interesting knowledge, first discovered by Africans, and written in these manuscripts, made them Timbuktu’s most precious commodity.

Timbuktu later fell to enemies from the East, The Moroccans, but it will be forever remembered in history and archaeology as a great centre of education and advancement, much like the oldest university in the English-speaking world, Oxford University.