Sankore

Sankoré, or the University of Sankoré, is a historic center of learning located at the Sankoré Mosque in Timbuktu, Mali. During the medieval period, roughly from the 12th to the 16th centuries, it functioned as one of West Africa's great intellectual hubs, attracting scholars and students from across the region.

Within the mosque complex and its associated madrasas, teachers offered instruction in Quranic studies, Islamic law, grammar, and sciences such as astronomy, mathematics, medicine, and literature. The institution was known for its emphasis on scholarship, debate, and the transmission of knowledge through handwritten manuscripts. Timbuktu became famous for its manuscript tradition, with thousands of texts preserved in libraries and private collections.

Notable figures associated with Sankoré include Ahmed Baba, a prominent Malian scholar whose work exemplified the scholarly activity of the school. The university declined in influence after the 16th century due to shifts in trade routes, political upheavals, and later colonial disruptions, and the once-flourishing center gradually faded.

Today, Sankoré remains a symbol of medieval African learning. Timbuktu's historic center, including the Sankoré Mosque, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, recognizing its historical significance and the enduring manuscript heritage. Efforts to preserve and study Timbuktu's manuscripts continue, with institutions in Mali and abroad working to safeguard this legacy.