<p>Since the 12th century, when Tuareg tribes founded Timbuktu as a seasonal camp on the southern edge of the Sahara, the city has seen waves of conquerors come and go. In April, Tuareg rebels and Islamist factions affiliated with al Qaeda seized control of northern Mali, including Timbuktu.</p><p><a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/12/121207-timbuktu-mali-al-qaeda-world-politics-cultures/">(Read more about Timbuktu's change of power.)</a></p>
Timbuktu
Since the 12th century, when Tuareg tribes founded Timbuktu as a seasonal camp on the southern edge of the Sahara, the city has seen waves of conquerors come and go. In April, Tuareg rebels and Islamist factions affiliated with al Qaeda seized control of northern Mali, including Timbuktu.
These 3,000-year-old relics were torched and buried—but why?
Bug-eyed sculptures. Huge masks of hammered gold. These artifacts in China have long puzzled archaeologists—but may show us how to adapt to a changing world.
