Where was the Songhai Empire located?
The Songhai Empire was
located in Western Africa south of the Sahara Desert and along the
Niger River. At its peak, it stretched well over 1,000 miles from the
current modern day country of Niger to the Atlantic Ocean. The capital
city of the Songhai was the city of Gao which was located in modern-day
Mali on the banks of the Niger River.
When did the Songhai Empire rule?
The Songhai Empire lasted from 1464 to 1591. Prior to the 1400s, the Songhai were under the rule of the Mali Empire.
How did the Empire first begin?
The Songhai Empire first came into power under the leadership of Sunni
Ali. Sunni Ali was a prince of the Songhai. He was being held as a
political prisoner by the leader of the Mali Empire who ruled over the
Songhai. In 1464, Sunni Ali escaped to the city of Gao and took control
of the city. From the city of Goa, he established the Songhai Empire and
began to conquer nearby regions including the important trading cities
of Timbuktu and Djenne.
Askia Muhammad
In 1493, Askia
Muhammad became the leader of the Songhai. He brought the Songhai Empire
to its height of power and founded the Askia Dynasty. Askia Muhammad
was a devout Muslim. Under his rule, Islam became an important part of
the empire. He conquered much of the surrounding lands and took control
of the gold and salt trade from the Mali Empire.
Government
The Songhai Empire was divided into five provinces each led by a
governor. Under Askia Muhammad, all the governors, judges, and town
chiefs were Muslims. The emperor had total power, but he also had
ministers who ran different aspects of the empire for him. They also
counseled the emperor on important issues.
The Songhai Culture
The Songhai culture became a blend of traditional West African beliefs
and the religion of Islam. Daily life was often ruled by traditions and
local customs, but the law of the land was based on Islam.
Slaves
The slave trade became an important part of the Songhai Empire. Slaves
were used to help transport goods across the Sahara Desert to Morocco
and the Middle East. Slaves were also sold to Europeans to work in
Europe and the Americas. Slaves were usually captives of war captured
during raids on nearby regions.
Fall of the Songhai Empire
In the mid-1500's the Songhai Empire began to weaken due to internal
strife and civil war. In 1591, the Moroccan army invaded and captured
the cities of Timbuktu and Gao. The empire collapsed and was divided up
into a number of separate smaller states.
Interesting Facts about the Songhai Empire
Sunni Ali became a legendary hero in Songhai folklore. He was often portrayed as having magical powers and was known as Sunni Ali the Great.
If a prisoner of war had already converted to Islam before being captured, they could not be sold as a slave.
A West African storyteller is called a griot. History was often passed down from generation to generation through the griots.
The city of Timbuktu became an important city of trade and education during the Songhai Empire.
Sunni Ali became a legendary hero in Songhai folklore. He was often portrayed as having magical powers and was known as Sunni Ali the Great.
If a prisoner of war had already converted to Islam before being captured, they could not be sold as a slave.
A West African storyteller is called a griot. History was often passed down from generation to generation through the griots.
The city of Timbuktu became an important city of trade and education during the Songhai Empire.
My name is Tamunoturokoboiyeofori
Cotterell (A.k.a Boiye)
I was born in London,
St Thomas Hospital to be precise. My parents later
relocated to Nigeria
in 1981
So I spent most of my childhood in
Lagos and growing up as a teenager in Port Harcourt. Attend
university of calabar from 1999 to 2002 until left Nigeria in 2003.
I have a BSc in Business
information Systems from the University
of Bedfordshire.
I’m currently starting a
professional services delivery business in UK.
I’ve been living in UK for over
12years with my family.
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