Fatima al-Fihri

PHILANTHROPIST who founded Al-Karaouine, the OLDEST continually operating university in the world
Fatima and her sister, Mariam, inherited a fortune and decided to spend it all on building a mosque and madrasa (school)
Mariam focused her efforts on the huge mosque, while Fatima oversaw the creation of the adjacent madrasa, where students would eventually learn a range of diverse topics, from grammar to medicine to astronomy
Managed the construction of the building herself
The university helped to solidify the city of Fes as a cultural, economic, and intellectual center
Nicknamed "Mother of the Children"
University of Al-Karaouine opened its doors in 859 AD, and is still regarded as a WORLD CLASS institution, open to both male and female students and scholars of all faiths

Bibliography: Adams, Ebony and Anita Sarkeesian. History vs. Women: The Defiant Lives That They Don't Want You To Know. New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2018. Print.
Buttery, Thomas and Chris Griffiths. (2018 March 19). The world's oldest centre of learning. http://www.bbc.com/travel/gallery/20180318-the-worlds-oldest-centre-of-learning

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University of Al-Karaouine

Biographies for Kids and Young Adults

Fatima Al-Fihri: The founder of the world's first university

(picture book)

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