Source A: The Learning Centre of Timbuktu

"Timbuktu, a city in the Mali Empire, became renowned across Africa and beyond for its rich libraries, universities, and scholars. It was a hub where knowledge was preserved and shared, attracting students and teachers from distant lands. The city housed mosques with extensive libraries filled with manuscripts on religion, astronomy, medicine, and history. Traders and scholars valued Timbuktu because of its role in fostering learning and cultural exchange. Its reputation as a centre of education contributed significantly to the empire’s strength and influence. Many travelers and historians documented Timbuktu’s importance as a seat of learning, emphasizing its role in advancing Islamic scholarship and local knowledge. The city’s libraries and schools helped preserve ancient texts and promote new ideas, making Timbuktu a symbol of knowledge and learning in medieval Africa."* Provenance: Ibn Battuta, 1352, Travel report