For centuries the city of Timbuktu was famed as a golden metropolis situated on the southern fringes of the Sahara; tales of its immense wealth and its reputation as a key centre of learning obsessed travellers and adventurers for many hundreds of years. Timbuktu certainly has one of the most illustrious histories in Africa; yet its recent history is much more turbulent and in 2012 the city suffered heavily after it was captured by Tuareg separatist Islamist forces. Recently Dan visited the once-gleaming Timbuktu with the International Committee of the Red Cross to learn more about its history and its vast collection of manuscripts - the most important set of documents in the history of sub-Saharan Africa...
Up Next in Documentaries
-
Modern Spain
Sir Paul Preston CBE comes on the show to discuss Spain's modern history and explain how the stripping away of its empire in the early 19th century had such a catastrophic impact on the country.
-
Henry VIII
In today's episode, Dan is joined by fellow history presenter Suzannah Lipscomb to discuss the history of Henry VIII and the impact he had on Britain over the years.
-
The Mayans
In today's episode Dan is joined by David Freidel, often regarded as the real life Indiana Jones, to talk through the history of the Mayans and some of his own discoveries in that area.
