Rene Caillie, a voracious Frenchman in 1827, resolved to leave his small West African town of Senegal, and travel in to the savage land of Timbuktu. Earlier that year, the Geographical Society of Paris promised any man who explored Timbuktu and survived would receive 10,000 francs; Which averages to about 20 dollars in American money. Caillie worked long hours until he fluently spoke Arabic, the native language of Timbuktu. To survive the journey, Caillie disguised himself as a Muslim, which he believed would win the trust of the locals. Packed and ready to set off, Rene Caillie left his homeland in 1828 to see this glorious land of Timbuktu. After a couple hour ride on the caravan, Caillie reached his destination. Spying Timbuktu, Caillie was astonished. Shockingly, the land of opportunity was nothing like the citizens of Senegal had characterized. Instead it was a land of poverty; The natives lived in small mud huts that were barely upright. For the luxurious Frenchman, Timbuktu was to impoverished. Following a two week stay, Rene Caillie headed back to his prosperous land of Senegal, where he would receive all the treasures of the province.
Upon his return, Caillie was convinced that the wealth of Timbuktu was only a myth. This idea was an exaggeration. The predicament was Caillie made his voyage toso late. If he journeyed there between the seventh and fifteen centuries he would have seen just how influential Timbuktu was to West Africa. During that time the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay, dominated West Africa. Though it may seem astonishing, in the time of Mali, Timbuktu was the center of trading. The university of Sankore, which was filled with many students, was the broadest academy in West Africa. These pupils displayed great service. Wishing to learn business, the scholars eagerly accepted every opportunity they were given. Unfortunately all the achievements of the West African Empires would soon be crushed. Because of the quarreling and fighting...