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Where in the world

Mali

Timbuktu

Mali Empire · Mali

Field notes

civilizations: Mali Empire
types: City
occupied: 1,100 CE — 1,600 CE
country: Mali

The site

Timbuktu is an ancient Malian city set 20 kilometres north of the Niger River, begun as a seasonal camp and made permanent early in the 12th century. Its strategic position on the Saharan trade route turned it into a hub for salt, gold, and ivory, flourishing especially after Mansa Musa's visit around 1325. Absorbed into the Mali Empire, it drew scholars and traders as a renowned Islamic city and is today a World Heritage Site.

Nearby sites

~264 km

Bandiagara Escarpment