Songhai Empire

The Songhai Empire

Location

Located in Western Africa south of the Sahara Desert and along the Niger River, the Songhai Empire stretched well over 1,000 miles from the present-day country of Niger to the Atlantic Ocean. Gao was the capital of the Songhai Empire. It is located in present-day Mali on the banks of the Niger River.

Established

The Songhai Empire came into power under Sunni Ali, a prince of the Songhai. The Mali Empire, who controlled the Songhai at the time, were holding Sunni Ali as a political prisoner. He escaped in 1464 to Gao and took over the city. He established the Songhai Empire and started conquering nearby regions, including the important trading cities of Timbuktu and Djenne. Sunni Ali became a legendary hero in Songhai folklore. They often portrayed him with magical powers and called him “Sunni Ali the Great.”

ASKIA MUHAMMAD

Askia Muhammad became the leader of the Songhai in 1493. Under him, the Songhai Empire reached the height of its power and founded the Askia Dynasty. He was a devout Muslim, so Islam became an important part of the empire. He conquered many surrounding areas and took over the gold and salt trade from the Mali Empire. Askia the Great ruled until 1538. He also completed a special religious journey to Mecca, like Mansa Musa of ancient Mali. Askia took gold with him and gave a lot of it away to charity. He brought many things back to the Songhai Empire. Askia brought in scholars from Morocco and Egypt to work in the Sankore mosque in the city of Timbuktu. He set up many learning centers and observatories to study the stars.

GOVERNMENT

The Songhai Empire was divided into five provinces, each led by a governor. All governors, judges, and town chiefs were Muslims under Askia Muhammad. The Songhai emperor had complete power, but also had ministers who ran different parts of the empire. In addition, they counseled the emperor on important issues

CULTURE

Songhai culture was a blend of traditional West African beliefs with the religion of Islam. Dailylife was ruled by traditions and customs, but laws were based on Islam.

FALL

The Songhai Empire started to weaken due to internal conflict and civil war in the mid 1500s. The Moroccan army invaded and captured Timbuktu and Gao in 1591. This led to its collapse and division into separate smaller states.

SLAVERY

The slave trade was important to the Songhai Empire. They used enslaved people to transport goods across the Sahara Desert to Morocco and the Middle East. They were also sold to Europeans to work in Europe and the Americas. The enslaved were typically captives of war taken during raids of nearby regions. If a prisoner of war converted to Islam prior to their capture, they could not be sold into slavery.

Multiple Choice

The Songhai Empire is located in which present-day country?

• Nigeria
• Niger
• Mali

Multiple Choice

How did Sunni Ali become the leader of the Songhai Empire?

• He killed the Mali Empire’s emperor and took over

• He gathered troops to help him conquer the Mali Empire

• He escaped from imprisonment under the Mali Empire and took over Gao and surrounding areas.

Multiple Choice

What quality did all governors, judges, and town chiefs need to possess under Askia Muhammad?

• They must be Muslims.

• They must be married.

• They must own land.

Multiple Choice

What was the job of ministers under the emperor?

• To capture people to enslave.

• To take over surrounding land.

• To counsel the emperor and run parts of the government

Multiple Choice

The Songhai Empire fell when it was taken over by the Mali Empire.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Askia Muhammad was a devout Muslim

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Laws in the Songhai Empire were based on Islam.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Prisoners-of-war who converted to Islam were sold into slavery

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Askia Muhammad took over the Mali Empire’s salt and gold trade.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The Egyptian army invaded the Songhai Empire in the mid-1500s

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Established the Songhai Empire

• Askia Muhummad

• Sunni Ali

Multiple Choice

Continent on which the Songhai Empire was located

• South America
• Europe
• Africa

Multiple Choice

Religion practiced by most in the Songhai Empire

• Islam
• Christianity

Multiple Choice

Capital of the Songhai Empire

• Gao
• Timbuktu
• Mali

Multiple Choice

Leader of the Songhai Empire during its height

• Askia Muhammad
• Mansa Musa
• Sunni Ali

Fill in the Blanks

People were captured and used or sold into this

Multiple Choice

Captured Sunni Ali prior to him establishing the Songhai Empire

• Ghana Empire
• Ottoman Empire
• Mali Empire