The city of Timbuktu: Unit 3: pg. 50 - 61

Question 1

When was Leo Africanus born?

Answer 1

1485.

Question 2

What happened to Leo Africanus in 1492?

Answer 2

He was expelled along with his parents and thousands of other Muslims by king Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain.

Question 3

Christian ______ captured him and presented him as a very _______ _____ to Pope Leo __. The Pope asked him to write about his _____ in _______.

Answer 3

Pirates.
Educated slave.
X.
Travels.
Africa.

Question 4

When did Leo Africanus die?

Answer 4

1554.

Question 5

When did Leo Africanus visit Timbuktu?

2 points

Answer 5

1. Around 1510, when he accompanied his uncle on a diplomatic mission.
2. Around 1526, probably as a merchant.

Question 6

Why was Timbuktu such a successful trade centre on the trans-Saharan caravan route? (3 points)

Answer 6

1. It was established in a very strategic place, the point where the Niger river flows northward into the southern edge of the Saharan Desert.
2. As a result of this unique geographical position, Timbuktu was a natural crossroad of 3 major, ancient trans-Saharan caravan trade routes between West Africa and Tripoli, Alexandria and Cairo to the northeast.
3. It was the meeting point of the Songhai, Wangara, Fulani, Tuareg and Arabs.

Question 7

What goods were traded at Timbuktu?

Answer 7

These were traded...
- Textiles from Europe
- Sugar from Sus in Southern Morocco
- Leather-bound books from Fez
- Brass and copper vessels from the workshops of Marrakesh
...for these products from the Bilad al Sudan:
- Gold
- Slaves
- Pepper and other spices

Question 8

About how many Quranic schools were there at Timbuktu?

Answer 8

About 180 schools.

Question 9

How many universities were there at Timbuktu?

Answer 9

3 universities.

Question 10

What were the 3 universities names?

Answer 10

1. The University of Sankore
2. Jingaray Ber University
3. Sidi Yahya University

Question 11

What were the 9 subjects taught at the universities?

Answer 11

1. Science
2. Mathematics
3. Chemistry
4. Physics
5. Optics
6. Astronomy
7. Medicine
8. History
9. Geography

Question 12

What was the goal of the Timbuktu Manuscripts project?

Answer 12

1. Preserve the manuscripts of the area.
2. Protect the manuscripts.
3. To make it more visible.