Songhai Empire: Trade and Military

The video explores the rise and fall of the Songhai Empire, focusing on key figures like Sunni Ali and Askiyya Muhammad. It highlights Sunni Ali's military prowess and Askiyya Muhammad's economic reforms, which led to Songhai's prosperity. The empire's cultural and religious diversity is discussed, along with its eventual decline due to internal strife and external invasion by Morocco in 1591.

What was the primary reason for Gao's emergence as a powerful trade center?

• The influence of European traders

• The presence of a large military

• Its strategic location on the Niger River

• The discovery of gold mines nearby

Which military strategy did Sunni Ali use to expand the Songhai Empire?

• Using the Niger River for naval attacks

• Employing mercenaries from Europe

• Building alliances with neighboring kingdoms

• Relying solely on land-based forces

How did Sunni Ali manage the diverse religious beliefs within his empire?

• By enforcing a single religion across the empire

• By ignoring religious differences

• By converting to Islam

• By appointing territorial governors

What economic reform did Askiyya Muhammad introduce to strengthen the Songhai Empire?

• A ban on foreign trade

• A uniform system of currency and measurement

• A new agricultural system

• A focus on mining operations

Which trade routes did the Songhai Empire control under Askiyya Muhammad?

• The Atlantic Trade Route

• The Spice Route

• The Trans-Saharan trade routes

• The Silk Road

What was a key feature of the cities in the Songhai Empire?

• They were built entirely of wood

• They had no religious buildings

• They included mosques and public squares

• They were isolated from trade routes

How did women in the Songhai Empire hold positions of power?

• By serving as governors

• By leading military campaigns

• By being part of the royal family

• By being keepers of religious and medicinal knowledge

What event marked the beginning of the decline of the Songhai Empire?

• The Moroccan invasion

• The death of Sunni Ali

• The discovery of new trade routes

• The rise of a new dynasty

What advanced technology did the Moroccan army use to defeat the Songhai Empire?

• Iron chariots

• Gunpowder weapons

• Naval ships

• Catapults

What was the ultimate outcome of the Battle of Tondibi for the Songhai Empire?

• The expansion of Songhai's territory

• The capture of Timbuktu and Gao by Morocco

• A decisive victory for Songhai

• A stalemate with no clear winner