TED-Ed: The hidden treasures of Timbuktu | Elizabeth Cox

The video explores the history of Timbuktu, a city in Mali that became a center of trade and learning due to its strategic location. It highlights the city's rise during the Mali and Songhai empires, its golden age under Askia Muhammad Ture, and the subsequent decline following Moroccan conquest. Despite numerous challenges, including conquests and environmental threats, efforts to preserve Timbuktu's ancient manuscripts continue, as they hold invaluable historical knowledge.

What was the primary reason for Timbuktu's initial rise to prominence?

• Its location at the intersection of trade routes

• The construction of large monuments

• The discovery of gold mines nearby

• The influence of European traders

Which empire's king marked the beginning of Timbuktu's golden age?

• Songhai Empire

• French Colonial Empire

• Mali Empire

• Moroccan Empire

What was a significant outcome of the Songhai Empire's rule over Timbuktu?

• The decline of intellectual activities

• The abandonment of the city

• The flourishing of scholarship and learning

• The introduction of Christianity

What event led to the abrupt end of Timbuktu's golden age?

• The outbreak of a plague

• The Moroccan king's capture of the city

• The rise of the Mali Empire

• The discovery of new trade routes

How did the literary tradition of Timbuktu survive through various conquests?

• By being stored in public libraries

• Through oral traditions

• By being digitized

• By being hidden in secret locations

What role did Abdel Kader Haidara play in the preservation of Timbuktu's manuscripts?

• He destroyed them to prevent theft

• He retrieved and safeguarded hidden manuscripts

• He sold them to European collectors

• He translated them into French

Why are the manuscripts of Timbuktu considered crucial for historical research?

• They contain detailed maps of the region

• They are the only sources on precolonial history

• They are written in multiple languages

• They include famous European literature