Timbuktu

History

Stairtin oot as a saisonal settlement, Timbuktu became a permanent settlement early in the 12t century. Efter a shift in tradin routes, Timbuktu flourished frae the trade in salt, gowd, ivory an slaves, an it became pairt o the Mali Empire early in the 13t century. In the first hauf o the 15t century the Tuareg tribes teuk control o the ceety for a short period till the expandin Songhay Empire absorbit the ceety in 1468. A Moroccan airmy defeatit the Songhay in 1591, an made Timbuktu, rather than Gao, their stranghauld. The invaders established a new rulin class, the arma, who efter 1612 became independent o Morocco. Housomeivver, the gowden age o the ceety wis ower an it entered a lang period o decline. Different tribes govrened till the French teuk over in 1893, a situation that lastit till it became pairt o the current Republic o Mali in 1960. Presently Timbuktu is impoverished an suffers frae desertification. Several initiatives are being unnertaken tae restore the historic manuscripts still kept in the ceety. Meanwhile, tourism forms an important source o income.

Eric00000007 @ WikiCommons

In its Gowden Age, the toun's numerous Islamic scholars and extensive trading network made possible an important beuk trade: thegither wi the campuses o the Sankore madrassah, an Islamic university, this established Timbuktu as a scholarly centre in Africae. Several notable historic writers, such as Shabeni an Leo Africanus, hae describit Timbuktu. These stories fuelled speculation in Europe, whaur the ceety's reputation shiftit frae being extremely rich tae being mysterious. This reputation owershadows the toun itsel in modren times, tae the point whaur it is best kent in Wastren cultur as an expression for a distant or ootlandish place.

In the mosk 2 — vitke @ Flickr

On 1 Aprile 2012, ane day efter the captur o Gao, Timbuktu wis captured frae the Malian militar bi the Tuareg rebels o the MNLA an Ansar Dine. Five days later, the MNLA declared the region independent o Mali as the naition o Azawad. The newly declared poleetical entity haes no been recognizit bi ony local naitions or the internaitional commonty.

Climate

The weather is hot an dry throughoot hintle o the year. Average daily maximum temperaturs in the hottest months o the year – Aprile, Mey an Juin – exceed 40 °C (104 °F). Lawest temperaturs occur durin the Northren Hemisphere winter – December, Januar an Februar. Housomeivver, average maximum temperaturs dae no drop belaw 30 °C (86 °F). These "winter" months are characterizit bi a dry, dusty trade wind blowin frae the Saharan Tibesti Region soothwaird tae the Guwf o Guinea: pickin up dust pairticles on their wey, these winds limit visibility in wha haes been dubbit the 'Harmattan Haze'. Additionally, when the dust settles in the ceety, sand builds up an desertification looms. Timbuktu's climate is classifeed as BWhw accordin tae the Köppen Climate Classification: arid, wi nae month averagin belaw 0 °C (32 °F) an a dry saison durin winter.

In the mosk 1 — vitke @ Flickr

Mali. Tombuctu. Mezquita Djingeriber — escandio @ Flickr

Sister ceeties

Timbuktu is a sister ceety tae the follaein ceeties:

• Chemnitz, Germany
• Hay-on-Wye, Wales, Unitit Kinrick
• Kairouan, Tunisie
• Marrakech, Morocco
• Saintes, Fraunce
• Tempe, Arizona, Unitit States
• Tifariti, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Wastren Sahara)

T71024 @ WikiCommons

In the mosk — vitke @ Flickr

Sankoré Mosque — jzielcke @ Flickr

Daniele Facchi @ Flickr

Sankore Mosque, Timbuktu — upyernoz @ Flickr

Mosque views [bc0149] — 10b travelling / Carsten ten Brink @ Flickr

Mali - Timbuktu, the oldest of the two mosques — Jeanne Menjoulet @ Flickr

In the mosk 4 — vitke @ Flickr

Ranveig @ WikiCommons

Eric00000007 @ WikiCommons

Minaret @ Dyingerey Ber Mosque — tj.haslam @ Flickr

Mali. Tombuctu. Mezquita Djingeriber — escandio @ Flickr

Daniele Facchi @ Flickr

Mosque views [bc0121e] — 10b travelling / Carsten ten Brink @ Flickr

Mali - Timbuktu, the oldest of the two mosques — Jeanne Menjoulet @ Flickr

Mosque views - Djenne [bc0224e] — 10b travelling / Carsten ten Brink @ Flickr

Larabanga mosque — 10b travelling / Carsten ten Brink @ Flickr