Sankoré Madrasah

About

Sankoré Madrasa (also called the Sankoré Mosque, Sankoré Masjid, Sankoré Madrasah or University of Sankoré) is one of three medieval mosques and centres of learning located in Timbuktu, Mali. (The others being Djinguereber and Sidi Yahya) Founded in the 14th or early 15th century, the Sankoré mosque went through multiple periods of patronage and renovation under both the Mali Empire and the Songhai Empire until its decline following the Battle of Tondibi in 1591. The mosque developed into an Arabian madrasa. The term "University of Sankoré" has sometimes been applied to the Sankoré Madrasa, though there is no evidence of a centralized teaching institution such as the term university implies. Instead the mosque served as the focal point for individual scholars with their own private students, and as a location in which some lectures and classes were held.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.