Sankore Madrasah
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Sankoré Madrasah, The University of Sankoré, or Sankore Masjid is one of three ancient centers of learning located in Timbuktu, Mali, West Africa. The three Masjids (common word for mosque in the region) of Sankoré, Djinguereber Mosque and Sidi Yahya compose the famous University of Timbuktu.
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[edit] Construction
The structure that would become known as Sankoré University began as a simple mosque, built around 989 AD on the orders of the city's chief judge Al-Qadi Aqib ibn Mahmud ibn Umar. He had the Mosque's courtyard built to the exact dimensions of the Ka'abah in of Mecca, using a rope for precise measurements.
[edit] Growth as a Center of Learning
Timbuktu had long been a destination or stop for merchants from the Middle East and North Africa. It wasn't long before ideas as well as merchandise began passing through the fabled city. Since most if not all these traders were Muslim, the mosque would see visitors constantly. The temple accumilated a wealth of books from throughout the Muslim world becoming not only a center of worship but a center of learning. Books became more valuable than any other commodity in the city, and private libraries sprouted up in the homes of local scholars.
[edit] Apex
The Mali Empire gained direct control over the city of Timbuktu in 1324 during the reign of Mansa Kankan Musa. A royal lady financed plans to turn Sankoré into a world class learning institution with professors on par with any outside of Africa. By the time Mansa Musa returned to Mali from his famous Hajj in 1325, the Sankoré Masjid had been converted into a fully staffed Madrassa (Islamic school or in this case university) and with the largest collections of books in Africa since the Library of Alexandria. Mansa Musa brought the Grenada architect Abu Es Haq es Saheli from Egypt to build the Jingeray Ber Masjid in 1327. The Sidi Yahya Masjid would be constructed in 1441.
[edit] Organization
As the center of an Islamic scholarly community, the University was a Madrassa, very different in organization from the universities of medieval Europe. It had no central administration other than the Emperor. It had no student registers but kept copies of its student publishings. It was composed of several entirely independent schools or colleges, each run by a single master or imam. Students associated themselves with a single teacher, and courses took place in the open courtyard of the mosque or at private residences.
[edit] Curriculum
The curriculum of Sankoré and other masjids in the area had four levels of schooling or "degrees". On graduating from each level, students would receive a turban symbolizing their mastery. The schooling was not secular as arguments that could not be backed by the Qu'ran were inadmissible in debates. However, secular teaching (geometry, mathematics) were included and stressed to develop well-rounded individuals.
[edit] Qu'ranic School
The first or primary degree (Qur'anic school) required a mastery of Arabic language and writing along with complete memorization of the Qur'an. Students were also introduced to basic sciences at this level. They are also prepared for secondary school with a small introduction to basic sciences.
[edit] General Studies
The secondary degree or General Studies degree focused on full emersement in the basic sciences. Students learned grammar, mathematics, geography, history, physics, astronomy, chemistry alongside more advanced learnings of the Qu'ran. At this level they learned Hadiths, jurisprudence and the sciences of spiritual purification according to Islam. Finally, they began an introduction to trade school and business ethics.
[edit] Superior Degree
The Superior degree required students to study under specialized professors doing research work. Much of the learning centered on debates to philosophic or religious questions. Before graduating from this level, students attached themselves to a Sheihk (Islamic teacher) and demonstrated a strong character.
[edit] Alumni Level
The last level of learning at Sankoré or any of the Masjids was the level of Judge or Professor. These men worked mainly as judges for the city and eventually the region dispersing learned men to all the principle cities in Mali. A third level student who had impressed his Sheihk enough was admitted into a "circle of knowledge" and valued as a truly learned individual and expert in his field. The members of this scholar's club were the equivalent of tenured professors. Those who did not leave Timbuktu remained there to teach or council the who's who of the region on important legal and religious matters. They would receive questions from the region's powerful (kings or governors) and distribute them to the third level students as research assignments. After discussing the findings among themselves, the scholars would issue a fatwa on the best way to deal with the problem at hand.
[edit] Scholars of Sankoré
Scholars wrote their own books as part of a socioeconomic model. Students were charged with copying these books and any other books they could get their hands on. Today there are over 700,000 manuscripts in Timbuktu with many dating back to West Africa's Golden Age (12th-16th centuries).
- Ahmed Baba
- Mohammed Bagayogo
- Abu Al Baraaka
- Abu Bakr ibn Ahmad Biru
- Mohammed ibn Mohammed Kara
- Ag Mohammed
- Al Aqib ibn Faqi Muhmud
- Abd Arahman ibn Faqi Mahmud
