Songhai Empire

Niger, 1464–1591. Draft, not yet reviewed

Sonni Ali established Gao as the empire's capital, although a Songhai state had existed in and around Gao since the 11th century. Initially, the Songhai Empire was ruled by the Sonni dynasty, but it was later replaced by the Askia dynasty. At its peak, it was one of the largest African empires in history. The Songhai Empire collapsed after the defeat at the Battle of Tondibi in 1591.

Seat of power: Gao

No rulers documented for this era yet.

Culture

• Other important cities in the kingdom were Timbuktu and Djenné, where urban-centred trade flourished.
• In 1449 Agadez became a sultanate, but was later conquered by the Songhai Empire in 1515, remaining a part of that empire until 1591.
• Under the rule of Sonni Ali, the Songhai surpassed the Malian Empire in area, wealth, and power, absorbing vast regions of the Mali Empire.
• Muhammad Ture, more commonly known as Askia the Great, instituted political and economic reforms throughout the empire.

Picture

The Songhai Empire was a state located in the western part of the Sahel during the 15th and 16th centuries.

Image: HetmanTheResearcher, CC BY-SA 4.0, file

Sources

• Songhai Empire (Wikipedia)
• Songhai Empire (Wikidata)
• About the picture (Wikipedia)

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.