Timbuktu: The Great Mosques

Timbuktu: The Great Mosques

The Spread of Islam in Mali

• The Islamic faith became widespread in Mali.
• The expansion of Islam led to the construction of more mosques and madressas (Islamic schools).
• These institutions attracted many scholars to Mali and Timbuktu, fostering a center of learning.

The Three Great Mosques

• There were three significant mosques in Timbuktu: Djingareyber, Sankore, and Sidi Yahia.
• All three mosques were built in the 14th century.
• They were designed by the same architect.
• The mosques served as places of worship and centers of learning.

Architect Abu Ishaq al-Sahil

• King Mansa Musa summoned the architect to Mali after his pilgrimage to Mecca.
• The architect's name was Abu Ishaq al-Sahil.
• He was paid handsomely for his work with $200 \text{kg}$ of gold.

Innovative Construction Materials

• The mosques were built with materials that differed from those commonly used at the time.
• Burnt bricks were a new technique in construction.
• Wooden sticks were used for decorative purposes.

Restoration and Rebuilding

• Over the decades, the mosques required restoration and rebuilding.
• In the 16th century, an Imam named Qadi Al Aqib added and rebuilt sections of the Djinguereber mosque.

Origin of the Name Timbuktu

• Timbuktu is believed to be named after an old woman called Buktu.
• Buktu looked after a campsite for a group of Imakcharen Tuareg nomads.
• The word "Tim-Buktu" means "the place of Buktu."