Awesome & Real Stories reposted this
Indeed, the University of Sankore in Timbuktu, Mali, is one of the oldest universities in the world, dating back to around 988 AD. It was a renowned center of learning, attracting scholars from across the Islamic world and beyond. The university's curriculum was remarkably advanced for its time, covering subjects like: 1. Astronomy 2. Geography 3. Medicine 4. Mathematics 5. Science 6. History (unusual for the Islamic world at that time) The university's libraries were filled with precious manuscripts written in African languages, such as Hausa, in the Ajami script (a form of Arabic script). Mansa Musa, the richest man in recorded history, is believed to have built or supported the university. His legendary wealth and pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 AD helped establish Timbuktu as a major center of trade and learning. Unfortunately, with the arrival of European and Asian colonizers, the Malians had to hide their precious manuscripts to protect them from destruction or theft. Fortunately, many of these manuscripts have been rediscovered, with around 700,000 scripts found, including advanced mathematical texts. #takestepafrica
