TIMBUKTU WAS ONCE a crossroads of the African continent and the Muslim world, a vibrant center of commerce and trade, spirituality and mysticism, knowledge and learning. Since last week, however ...

The research center’s 13,000 Arabic language documents, most on microfilm, make it an important source of information about Africa and Islam during Timbuktu’s golden era.

The Treasures of Timbuktu Scholars in the fabled African city, once a great center of learning and trade, are racing to save a still emerging cache of ancient manuscripts ...

The research center’s 13,000 Arabic language documents, most of them on microfilm, make it an important source of information about Africa and Islam during Timbuktu’s golden era.

Another treat was a daylong camel trek from Timbuktu. Since ancient times, the Tuareg have organized trading caravans across the Sahara, and travelers can still take trips with them.

But Timbuktu’s manuscripts might just change that. The books date from between the 14th and 16th centuries, a time when the town was a thriving trading hub and intellectual center for West Africa.

Timbuktu is a trove of medieval treasures. But there are fears its heritage could be at risk from armed rebels who have overrun the ancient city.

As Timbuktu entered the historic period this trade picked up with gold, coming from the south, passing through the city in preparation for its transport north across the Sahara to North Africa.

Timbuktu was a center of the manuscript trade, with traders bringing Islamic texts from all over the Muslim world. Despite occupations and invasions of all kinds since then, scholars managed to ...

This storied African city grew from a nomads’ camp into a wealthy cosmopolitan center of wisdom and learning enriched by trade in gold and salt.

(Reuters) – The Malian town of Timbuktu, recaptured from Islamist rebels by French and Malian troops, is an ancient center of Islamic culture that grew rich in the 14th and 15th centuries as … ...

Timbuktu is a trove of medieval treasures. But there are fears its heritage could be at risk from armed rebels who have overrun the ancient city.