Essay On Timbuktu

During the classical period in Xian, China; Paris, France and Timbuktu, a great deal of importance was placed on education. One of the first universities was in China and the purpose of said university was to prepare young men to become officials and bureaucrats. Institutions of advanced learning in Timbuktu were called Madrasas, but teachers would also teach out of their homes as well. Paris also had a large university, which students attended to become teachers themselves. Students in these areas were prescribed many books and subjects to study and although they were often different, there were abundant similarities between them and ultimately the values that each of these three cultures possessed.
Students in China studied a wide variety of subjects including music, astronomy, geography and military strategy. They were also expected to study the masters, classics, histories and current events. Students were to read and memorize many texts including books on literature such as the Classics of Changes, Documents and Odes and books on philosophy such as "The Great Learning," "The Analects," "The Mencius" and "The Mean." The fact that students were expected to learn, master and memorize so many books and subjects indicated that the people of classical China wanted …show more content…
He would own many books and read them often. Devotion to God was also of great importance and was valued greatly. A scholar wishing to teach should be generous and patient with his students, as demonstrated by the description of teacher Muhammad Baghayogho. That a scholar should continue to seek out knowledge even after he has completed his formal education illustrates that the people of Timbuktu placed a great deal of importance on learning. Both Baghayogho and Ahmed Baba's grandfather are praised for their piety, suggesting that the Islamic faith was of great importance to this