What happened to Timbuktu’s scholars and manuscripts after the Moroccan conquest?

Following the Moroccan conquest of Timbuktu in 1591, the city’s intellectual community faced severe persecution. In 1593, scholars were arrested on suspicion of disaffection, as they were viewed by the Moroccan authorities as a significant political threat.12

The consequences for these scholars and their intellectual legacy were devastating:

• Scholars: Many scholars were killed during the resulting struggles, while others were exiled to Morocco.12
• Manuscripts: The extensive libraries of books and manuscripts that had flourished during the Songhai period were largely dispersed.2

This suppression, combined with the subsequent political instability and the failure of Moroccan garrisons to provide adequate protection, led to a period of decline for the city as it became subject to repeated attacks by the Bambara, Fulani, and Tuareg.12