By Brandon Wills
During the post-classical era Timbuktu was possibly the most important and influential city in Western Africa. Timbuktu , capital of Mali, was a world center of trade and technology. It became a main city due to its key point along the Niger river causing it to become important in gold and salt trade. They innovated the gold trade and when one Muslim emporer went on a haj he gave so much gold that its price inflated at about 20%. If you are Muslim you can join in with the majority of Timbuktu in prayer.
http://period90910.wikispaces.com/Timbuktu-+Hunter,+Hickey,+Rus
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Niger_saharan_medieval_trade_routes.PNG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Djingareiber_cour.jpg
http://atlantablackstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Timbuktu.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Niger_saharan_medieval_trade_routes.PNG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Djingareiber_cour.jpg
http://atlantablackstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Timbuktu.jpg