Why was the city of Timbuktu significant in the 14th century?

Historically, the City of Timbuktu was popular as a trading station on the trans-Saharan (caravan) route. ... By the 14th century, it was a thriving centre for gold and salt trade. Some of the oldest mosques built during the 14th century included Sankore, Sidi Yahia, and Djinguereber.

well the fact it is basically a peninsula allowed trade to come from many places, thus allowing cultural diffusion to take place. india has seasonal monsoons that merchants travel back and forth from india using the monsoons wind patterns

this act gave the federal government the power to relocate any native in the east to territory west of the mississippi river.