University of Timbuktu
Encyclopedia
The University of Timbuktu was a medieval University
in Mali
, West Africa
which comprised three schools; namely the Masajid of Djinguereber, the Masajid of Sidi Yahya
, and the Masajid of Sankore. During its zenith, the university at Timbuktu
had an average attendance of around 25,000 students within a city of around 100,000 people. There were four levels within the University curriculum, that included the "Circle of Knowledge", the "Superior Degree", the "Secondary Degree", and the "Primary Degree". Teachings mostly consisted of Quranic principles; however, literature covering topics of science, math, and medicine are also observed, among other disciplines.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
, West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
which comprised three schools; namely the Masajid of Djinguereber, the Masajid of Sidi Yahya
Sidi Yahya
Sidi Yahya is a mosque and madrassa of Timbuktu in the West African country of Mali which finished construction in 1440. Sidi Yahya along with Djinguereber and Sankore compose the "University" of Timbuktu.-History:...
, and the Masajid of Sankore. During its zenith, the university at Timbuktu
Timbuktu
Timbuktu , formerly also spelled Timbuctoo, is a town in the West African nation of Mali situated north of the River Niger on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. The town is the capital of the Timbuktu Region, one of the eight administrative regions of Mali...
had an average attendance of around 25,000 students within a city of around 100,000 people. There were four levels within the University curriculum, that included the "Circle of Knowledge", the "Superior Degree", the "Secondary Degree", and the "Primary Degree". Teachings mostly consisted of Quranic principles; however, literature covering topics of science, math, and medicine are also observed, among other disciplines.
External links
- Islamic Manuscripts from Mali - U.S. Library of Congress