Songhai Empire

Who used a strong military to conquer territory once held by Mali, including trans-Saharan trade through Timbuktu and Djenne, making Songhai a powerful trading empire like Ghana and Mali.

• Askia Muhammed

• Ali Kolon

• Mansa Maghan

• Sunni Ali

Who was Songhai's first emperor?

• Askia Muhammed

• Ali Kolon

• Mansa Musa

• Sunni Ali

Songhai was a strict _____ society

• animistic

• Christian

• Islamic

• Jewish

unlike Ghana and Mali, Songhai did not control southern _____ in West Africa, resulting in a threat to trade.

• coal mines

• gold mines

• copper mines

• salt mines

Askia helped the empire run more efficiently by creating a _____ and making self-governing provinces.

• centralized government

• social structure

• strong military

• stable economy

Songhai had a distinct _____ with the king and his family at the top, soldiers and traders and merchants in the upper middle, farmers and craftspeople in the lower middle, and enslaved people at the bottom;

• geography

• religion

• government

• social structure

How did Sunni Ali expand the Songhai Empire?

• He invited European rulers to visit his palace in Timbuktu.

• He invited Muslim scholars to study at his university in Gao.

• He used his strong military to control travel on the Niger River.

• He used his diplomats to negotiate with neighboring kingdoms.

How did Askia Muhammad improve trade in Songhai?

• He introduced a system of weights and measures.

• He reduced travel time by using sea routes.

• He allowed all people to own gold nuggets.

• He took prisoners from nearby kingdoms.

Why did Askia Muhammad replace ethnic Songhai officials across the empire?

• He wanted to end slavery.

• He wanted to spread Islam.

• He wanted to regulate trade.

• He wanted to support education.