Grade 7, Term 1 Social Science: History Lesson Topic: Education and Timbuktu Lesson 5 of 6 CAPS reference: page 33 Total time: 1 hour Aims Engage higher order thinking through questions Expand knowledge base on African history Develop cognitive reasoning and comprehension skills Questions Resources Worksheet Introductory activity Discussion: Why is education important? 15 minutes Why is education important? Which subjects are most important and why? (All subjects are important, no one subject should be considered more or less important than another) Activity 30 minutes Read through the worksheet and allow for explanations and clarifications Discuss new terminology Learners complete the worksheet Consolidation 15 minutes Mark the worksheet Allow learners to discuss what they have learnt Allow learners to discuss the manuscripts that were saved and burnt and the significance of both. i.e. some knowledge was saved and other knowledge lost forever. How does this impact us? Outcomes Develop an ability to infer data from context Exercise comprehension skills Understand preservation and document restoration Terms: (see worksheet) Manuscript Dictation Degradation Preservation Restoration Collaboration Means of Assessment Either to be marked in class or by the educator Total Marks for entire worksheet: 21 Marks References: http://www.southafrica.info/africa/timbuktumanuscripts.htm https://books.google.co.za/books?hl=en&lr=&id=naswqqy_fxwc&oi=fnd&pg=pp7&dq=great+mosque+timbuktu&ots=38iju8dxkf&sig=rh3v2_ ukzrts4vrb0sp2dhoarvg#v=onepage&q=great%20mosque%20timbuktu&f=true * Disclaimer: E-classroom has made every effort to ensure that links provided contain no inappropriate content, advertisements, cookies or potentially harmful images. We cannot be held responsible for any material that may be deemed harmful or inappropriate.
Name: Education and Timbuktu From the 14th to the 17th century, Timbuktu was considered the centre of Islam and education in the world. With the famous mosque, Sankore, transforming into the University of Sankore and the population of 100 000 people totalling one quarter scholars, the city of Timbuktu became a centre of learning. Even though Timbuktu was a famous hub of trade, the greatest import, second only to salt, became books. Image Source: http://www.brentstirton.com/data/photos/2299_1timbuktu_015.jpg Not only was Islamic theology covered, but Mathematics, Law, Geography, Astronomy, the Sciences, Medicine and History were also popular areas of study. Even though Timbuktu was a popular hub for trade, the greatest import, second to salt, was books. Timbuktu s reputation as an educational centre attracted many scholars, and the kings of this era who were highly learned men, would encourage scholars to study and teach others. Despite access to the university, most scholars did much of their studying at home using dictation. Once the scholars had an understanding of the topic, they would discuss and debate the topic further. Modern historians estimate that there would have been millions of manuscripts and other documents during the prime of Timbuktu. Unfortunately only a few hundred thousand remain after degradation and damp destroyed many documents. In 2003, the South African Government in conjunction with the Malian Government and New Partnership for Africa s Development (NEPAD), collaborated to start a preservation programme to save the Malian manuscripts from ruin. The Malian manuscripts represent the highly evolved past of scholars in Africa, and it is critical that this history is preserved.
Experts have been to Mali to upgrade the facilities and store, restore and preserve the manuscripts. Most of the manuscripts in need of preservation are in the Ahmed Abba Institute, named after one of the most prestigious scholars of the 15th century. During 2013, militant rebels burnt several thousand manuscripts Two archivists, Aboubakar Yaro (left) and Alphamoye Djeite (right), study ancient manuscripts in a library in the Malian town of Djenne. and today, South Africa, the African Union, NEPAD and the Malian government is still striving to preserve the manuscripts. Image Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/the-secret-race-to-save-timbuktus-manuscripts/article6763747/ Answer the questions below: 1. How many scholars studied in Timbuktu between the 13th and 17th century? 2. Name all the different subjects that were taught to the scholars in Timbuktu. 3. What were the two greatest imports in Mali during the 13th and 17th centuries? 4. Describe how an average lesson would take place in Timbuktu.
5. How did the manuscripts of Timbuktu become diminished? 6. What action is being done to preserve the remaining manuscripts? 7. Which countries and organisations are helping to preserve the manuscripts? 8. What happened to some of the manuscripts in 2013? 9. What does NEPAD stand for? 10. Why is it important to preserve the manuscripts?
Answer the questions below: Answer sheet (28 marks) 1. How many scholars studied in Timbuktu between the 13th and 17th century? (2) 100 000 1 4 = 25 000 scholars 2. Name all the different subjects that were taught to the scholars in Timbuktu. (8) Islamic studies, mathematics, law, geography, astronomy, the sciences, medicine and history. 3. What were the two greatest imports in Mali during the 13th and 17th centuries? (2) Salt and books. 4. Describe how an average lesson would take place in Timbuktu. (4) The teacher would dictate the lesson and the scholar would copy it down. The scholar would then repeat the lesson back to the teacher and if they understood, they would discuss the lesson. 5. How did the manuscripts of Timbuktu become diminished? (2) They disintegrated with age, and some were burnt by militant rebels. 6. What action is being done to preserve the remaining manuscripts? (2) People are being educated on how to look after and restore the manuscripts, their libraries are also being upgraded to protect the fragile manuscripts. 7. Which countries and organisations are helping to preserve the manuscripts? (4) South Africa, Mali, the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa s Development (NEPAD). 8. What happened to some of the manuscripts in 2013? (1) Militant terrorists burnt some of the manuscripts. 9. What does NEPAD stand for? (1) New Partnership for Africa s Development. 10. Why is it important to preserve the manuscripts? (2) It is important because otherwise the knowledge of previous generations will be lost forever.