October 1, 2009FYI – The Tucson Arizona

School District has instituted a mandatory program of Mexican

American Studies. What do you think of this? Is it a

good idea?

Homework: Sundiata is a myth of

the founding of Mali. Write a “myth” of the founding of KCAPA. You must use the names of at least one teacher and one student. Also use the vocabulary words founding and creation.

What are we going to put in the hall? I suggest

something about Mansa Musa

What do you think? I want ideas soon,

so spend a little bit of time thinking about this

Timbuktu A city in both

ancient and modern Mali

Formerly a trading center

Formerly a center of learning

Timbuktu Current population

31,000 Declined in part due to

an increase in the size of the Sahara Desert

Instead of being on the edge, Timbuktu is now within the Sahara

Sankore Madrasah Part of the

University of Timbuktu

Madrash means school in Arabic

Sankore is als a Mosque

University of Timbuktu At its peak there were

25,000 students Timbuktu had 100,000

people at the time The Quran was the

major subject but other subjects were taught

Timbuktu Texts As many as 700,000

texts exist There is an

international effort to preserve them

The manuscripts are now in the hands of private families in Timbuktu

Class work: Write an imagined

letter home from your visit to Timbuktu

It must be at least 3 paragraphs long

It must include 10 accurate facts about Timbuktu taken from your notes

Use these pictures for more information to use in your letter