Final answer:
During the height of Timbuktu's greatness, a significant percentage of the population consisted of scholars supported by the king.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the height of Timbuktu's greatness, a significant percentage of the population consisted of scholars. According to historical accounts, Timbuktu had over one hundred schools and eighteen universities dedicated to Islamic studies. These institutions attracted religious teachers, judges, scholars, and other learned individuals, and they were supported by the king.
Although the exact percentage is not specified in the provided information, based on the prominence of scholarly activity in Timbuktu and the establishment of public libraries and book trade, it is reasonable to conclude that a substantial percentage of the population in Timbuktu during its peak could have been scholars.