Timbuktu

 

Map Of Mali

Today I’m entering my time capsule to be transported back to the Kingdom of Mali. I’ve set the dials to arrive in West Africa in the year 1235. My plan is to watch as history takes place from the beginning of the Kingdom of Mali up until Mansa Musa finally leaves on his pilgrimage to Mecca. The Kingdom of Mali came into existence when Sundiata of the Keita clan defeated Soumaoro, the King of Sossa. Up to that time it was known as the Kingdom of Ghana.  

  

Ancient Manuscript



When I stepped out of the time capsule I was right smack dab in the middle of a city named Timbuktu. The first thing I did was to find some robes that would hide my jeans and tee-shirt.  I feel like I’m in an oven because it is so unbearably hot! Next I found a village guide to take me to visit the university library so that I could learn more about Mali’s history since it had become a kingdom. I didn't really understand the language, but the guide helped me to translate what had happened since Sundiata defeated Soumaoro. While I was there I was able to watch the scribes work on copying books.



Camel Caravan

 We walked around the village most of the morning. I had lunch with the guide’s family. We ate goat meat with vegetables. When I put it into my mouth my first reaction was Yuk! How can you people eat this? After lunch we mounted a real camel for our journey to the Niger river to watch the village women mine gold. Then we were on our way to the salt mines where they actually have huts made from big blocks of salt. After checking out the salt mines, we’ll be riding the camels back to Timbuktu. 

Salt Blocks



When we finally got back to Timbuktu, I re-entered the time capsule and set the dials forward to 1324 so that I could watch Mansa Musa depart on his pilgrimage to Mecca. Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim who was also very wealthy. It has been said that his caravan included 80 camels, 60,000 men and 12,000 slaves who carried gold bars which he gave away to the poor as he was traveling. He was well known for his generosity and devotion to the principles of the Qur’an.

 When he returned from his pilgrimage, he built several mosques and a royal palace in Timbuktu.Now I’m ready to go back to the real world. It’s hot, I’m tired, and hungry. There are no showers or restaurants here, so I guess I really am a spoiled American. The thing I will remember most about my journey is how Mansa Musa took the gold bars and handed them out to the poor as he was traveling. It impressed me how much he cared about the poor and that he wasn’t greedy like most kings. If I had to choose a second thing I would remember, it would be the disgusting food that I ate with the guide’s family. I mean who really eats that? Hey! If they liked it, it’s fine with me. The guide was very helpful with translating and showed me how to ride a camel like a pro.

Sources:

  

 http://www.javierjimenezonline.com/mali.htm

http://minglecity.com/group/knowledgeisking/forum/topics/the-rise-and-fall-of-timbuktu?commentId=2322904%3AComment%3A14869813&groupId=2322904%3AGroup%3A14845749

http://bamakan.blogspot.com/2010/06/salt-of-earth.html

 http://jeffreylantarticles.com/jeffreylant/ansar-dine-islamists-destroy-famed-mosque-in-timbuktu-promising-more-wanton-destruction/attachment/timbuktu_mosque1/

http://cms.iucn.org/index.cfm?uNewsID=512

 http://www.uvm.edu/~inquiryb/webquest/sp07/mcmoore/Salt%20Mine%20Tour.html 

http://www.artzar.com/content/sahara/page09.html