The hidden treasures of Timbuktu - Elizabeth Cox
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On the edge of the vast Sahara desert, citizens snuck out of the city of Timbuktu and took to the wilderness. They buried chests in the desert sand, hid them in caves, and sealed them in secret rooms. Inside these chests was a treasure more valuable than gold: the city’s ancient books. Why were they hiding these priceless manuscripts? Elizabeth Cox digs into the literary tradition of Timbuktu.
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Meet The Creators
- Educator Elizabeth Cox
- Director Juliana Constantino
- Narrator Bethany Cutmore-Scott
- Storyboard Artist Alexandre Braga, Juliana Constantino
- Animator Alexandre Braga, Natália Andrade
- Art Director Alexandre Braga
- Sound Designer André Aires
- Music André Aires
- AIM Creative Studios Producer Tiago Ribeiro
- Special Thanks Christie Simpson
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal, Elizabeth Cox
- Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
by TED-Ed
Why do you think the the preservation of the texts was so important that people put it before their lives and health?
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Christopher Najera
Lesson completed
Because it held the history of their ancestors
Peyton Athen
Lesson completed
People put preserving of the texts first because it helped them with education and when people had the text and they figured out how to read them they took them and helped others learned and to grow their knowledge more and more. They didn't really have any place for school and nobody went to school or had any type of education so when they found this they just wanted to give others education too.
Grace Baldwin
Lesson completed
I think it was to keep religion alive and to educate people who found and read them.
Evi Fariska
Lesson completed
There are many factors that could be the reason why the preservation of the texts was so important. Firstly, I think it is because the text is related to the religion. Religion is believing a god or goddess. So if something is related to the god or religion, it must be important. So they put it before their lives and health. Secondly, I think it's because learning is important. They really needed education. Besides, the text is relatde to their culture and lifestyle. It also represented the people's culture. If you had your most favorite memory on a paper, you wouldn't want any person to throw it away.
Harry Connerty
Lesson completed
I think the preservation of the texts was so important that people put it before their lives and health because of there hidden books.
Lucy Jung
Lesson completed
I think they thought that their history and literature was so important and they wanted to spread their history to other/future people.
Karima Kabir Manha
Lesson completed
Because they studied math and philosopher.
brus Olivan
Lesson completed
in response to Arabella Molteni :) Show comment
Good opinion, my studetn Regina likes and agrees with your opinion. Thank you!
ANA PAOLA GARCIA DELGADILLO
Lesson in progress
As a people is continuously conquered, the important thing that always remains in the end is the intellect of the people. A people cannot be deleted if they do not want to be deleted; this is avoided by not being ignorant. That is a big problem here in Mexico, ignorance kills people.
Alessandro Eskere di Prampero Salazar
Alessandro Eskere di Prampero Salazar
Lesson completed
It was part of there culture, they learned about the past and all of the things they believed. A example is if you had something you liked and had a lot of memories with it, you wouldn't want to give it away.
