The next century saw the continuing decline of the Empire of Mali and rise of Songhai as the greatest empire west Africa has seen. The Songhai Empire was dominated by & named after the Songhai (aka Songhay or Sonhrai), a group of Nilo-Saharan-speaking peoples. The Songhai expanded trade to Europe and Asia, and established an elaborate system of taxation and communication to govern its large kingdom. How did Askia Muhammad organize the government of... What was the role of women in the Songhai... What was the most influential religion in the... Who was the founder of the Songhai empire? The nobles became rich and comfortable. The capital city the Songhai Empire, Gao, was a city located on the Niger River. The main trade in Ghana was between salt and gold, but the trade in Songhai was more diverse. The Songhai people settled along the middle area of the Niger River. Trade ' EconomyThe economy of Songhai was much like the economy of Mali and Ghana. Cite This Work Hence, the king earned his epithet, 'Sunni the Merciless'. One particular rivalry, between Mohammad IV Bano (r. from 1586 CE) and his brothers, effectively divided the empire in half. Cities in the Songhai were known for their culture, strong economy, architecture and intellectual pursuits, particularly in Timbuktu. Trade and Connections with the Surrounding States. Just like Ghana and Mali, the Songhai people were influenced by Islam, and many people even converted. This was not the first time they had tried to split away from the empire, but it was the first time they had succeeded. 5/5 (22 Views . In the latter religion, it was thought that spirits possessed certain objects, especially impressive natural phenomena, trees, caves, and prominent natural features. They also were skilled farmers and agriculture was very important to them. 35 Votes) It was a great cosmopolitan market place where kola nuts, gold, ivory, slaves, spices, palm oil and precious woods were traded in exchange for salt, cloth, arms, horses and copper. And by the 10th century, the Songhai chiefs had established Gao as a small kingdom, taking control of the people living along the trade routes. Traders also transported slaves from West Africa north across the desert to slave trading posts in North Africa. Although conquered by the Mali Empire, the Songhai people would prove troublesome and powerful because they controlled river transport on the Niger. Ghana was ruled by a single king. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Slowly, Songhay developed a strong army and a central government. The two most important spirits were Harake Diko and Dongo, linked to the Niger River and thunderstorms respectively, which is hardly surprising given the importance of the river to trade and rain to the dry savannah of West Africa. The Songhai Empire (also transliterated as Songhay) was a state that dominated the western Sahel in the 15th and 16th century. Also, what was Songhai best known for trading before it became a powerful kingdom? The slave trade became an important part of the Songhai Empire. Rural communities, meanwhile, continued to be wholly dependent on agriculture, but the presence of rural markets indicates there was usually a food surplus. In addition to local trade between the peoples of Songhai, the Songhai Empire itself benefited significantly from the Trans-Saharan Trade. The Songhai Culture The Songhai culture became a blend of traditional West African beliefs and the religion of Islam. We are now World History Encyclopedia to better reflect the breadth of our non-profit organization's mission. In Ghana they had to pay tax to the king, but in Songhai they did not. With an area primarily covering western Sahel, Songhai kings rose to prominence as the Mali Empire dwindled in the 15th century. More a belief system than a formal religion, there were, nevertheless, practising priests, the tierkei or sorcerers, who made it their business to minimise the interference of evil spirits in village affairs. The Songhai Empire’s economy was located in Western Africa along the Niger River. However, the Portuguese were not quite so successful as they had hoped in exploiting Africa's resources. They left the Songhai Empire as a mixture of different independent kingdoms. License. by UN Photo/Harandane Dicko (CC BY-NC-ND). Unfortunately for Sunni Ali though, all this new territory did not give him access to the gold fields of the southern coast of West Africa that both the Ghana and Mali rulers had grown rich on. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the Publishing Director at AHE. O  ne of the best natural resources that Songhai kingdom had gotten, was when they finally expanded their empires territory which eventually had got them the control over the Nile River, which had to have been really good for the Songhai's farmer's crops by supplying them with lots of water, one of my other theories is that it was even better for their trade Learn More. They left the Songhai Empire as a mixture of different independent kingdoms. The trade goods included gold, salt, slaves, kola nuts, leather, dates, and ivory. Products were traded with Berber societies north of the Sahara desert. Just like Ghana and Mali , the Songhai people were influenced by … By controlling trade routes across the Sahara. After 25 years, the Moroccans withdrew from the empire as they did not know how to maintain control of the emprise they once admired its wealth and power. However, semi-independent river 'ports' like Timbuktu began to steal trade opportunities from the Mali kings further west. All three civilizations prospered due to the Gold and salt trade. World History Encyclopedia, 08 Mar 2019. The Songhai empire is the last in this trilogy of great West African kingdoms that were among the most prosperous, educated, and cultured civilisations in the world at the time. The loss of control of a slice of West Africa’s gold trade to the Portuguese may have been one of the reasons for King Mohammad’s decision to expand the Songhai Empire interests to the southeast. The next kingdom to dominate the region and the movement of salt was the Songhai Empire (15-16th century CE) with its great trading capital at Gao. Songhai … Economic trade existed throughout the empire due to the standing army stationed in the provinces. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree. Just like Ghana and Mali , the Songhai people were influenced by Islam, and many people even converted. The Songhai empire is the last in this trilogy of great West African kingdoms that were among the most prosperous, educated, and cultured civilisations in the world at the time. The lifestyle of the nobles and the common people began to change. https://www.ancient.eu/Songhai_Empire/. Why did Songhai become rich like Ghana and Mali? ( Public Domain ) The End of the Sunni Dynasty . The Songhai kings made regular raids on Mali urban centres from the early 15th century CE and ultimately won their independence as the Mali kings lost their grip on several smaller subjugated kingdoms on the periphery of their empire. World History Encyclopedia. During the European Middle Ages a mighty empire arose in West Africa. Of the nine rulers in the Songhai Empire's history, six were either deposed in rebellions or died violent deaths, usually at the hands of their brothers and uncles. However, the empire began to collapse in the 1460s CE following civil wars, the opening up of competing trade routes elsewhere, and attacks from the nomadic Tuareg of the southern Sahara and then the Mossi people, who at that time controlled the lands south of the Niger River. And by the 10th century, the Songhai chiefs had established Gao as a small kingdom, taking control of the people living along the trade routes. The Songhai Empire started out as a fishing and trading center on the Niger River in a place called Gao where West African and Muslim traders visited often. By 1469 CE the Songhai had control of the important trade 'port' of Timbuktu on the Niger River. Should a king reign long enough to benefit from it, there was an imperial council of the most senior officials which included the finance minister (kalisa farma), the admiral (hi koy) of the Songhai fleet who also supervised the regional governors, the head of the army (balama), and the minister of agriculture (fari mondzo). Ghana, the first large West African kingdom, reigned from 750 to 1235. The Songhai traded with many merchants, explorers and travelers arriving to and living within West Africa. Its fall did not bring an end to kingdoms in West Africa. Mark is a history writer based in Italy. Kingdoms that survived were Guinea, Benin in Nigeria, Ashanti in present day Ghana and Dahomey, north of Benin. For many years, Songhai people were ruled for many years by Mali, and were forced to pay taxes. World History Encyclopedia. The Songhai grew rich from trade across the Sahara,particularly trading gold, salt, nuts and slaves and soon was the largest of Africa's trading centers. The Songhai Empire acquired great wealth from the trade and tribute it raised from trading activity along the Trans-Saharan Trade route. The Songhai government was much more centralised in respect of the more federal arrangements of the earlier Ghana and Mali Empires. ArchitectureThe architecture of Songhai was … © copyright 2003-2021 Study.com. 27 Feb 2021. The kingdom of Songhai was fully established by the 1430s. Sonni ʿAlī, Sonni also spelled Sunni, also called Sonni ʿAlī Ber (Arabic: ʿAlī the Great), (died 1492), West African monarch who initiated the imperial expansion of the western Sudanese kingdom of Songhai.His conquest of the leading Sudanese trading cities established the basis for Songhai’s future prosperity and expansion. The trade goods included gold, salt, slaves, kola nuts, leather, dates, and ivory. This was largely due to a string of ineffectual leaders and civil wars for the right of succession which had blighted the empire ever since the death of King Mohammad in 1528 CE. Islam had been introduced to the royal court of Songhai in 1019, but most people remained faithful to their traditional religion. The Songhai king played on his image as a magician of the indigenous animist religion to strike fear into his enemies. By controlling trade routes across the Sahara. They relied on trade and the taxes on trade. The nobles were Muslim. King Mohammad may even have tried to impose Islam as the state religion but, as in the Songhai's predecessor states in the Sudan region, Islam was largely limited to the elite and urban populations while rural communities and the greater part of the population remained loyal to their traditional animist beliefs. With your help we create free content that helps millions of people learn history all around the world. Gao was subsequently conquered by them and Mali profited from Gao's trade … These kingdoms continued the Trans Saharan trade with the … Trade and Economy. Timbuktu Beffa 3 was founded by nomads of the Tuareg in the early 12 th century. Songhai Empire. Tribute was extracted from local chiefs, hostages taken and marriages of political alliance arranged, but at least Sunni Ali did build many dykes which improved the irrigation and agricultural yield of many areas. The first emperor of Songhai was Sonni Ali, reigning from about 1464 to 1493. Timbuktu, with a population of around 100,000 in the mid-15th century CE, continued to thrive as a trade 'port' and as a centre of learning into the 16th and 17th centuries CE when the city boasted many mosques and 150-180 Koranic schools. answer! The state is known for its historiographic name, derived from the Songhai, its leading ethnic group and ruling elite. One man responsible for the notoriety of Songhai was Sunni Ali. At its peak, the Songhai city of Timbuktu became a thriving cultural and commercial center where Arab, Italian, and Jewish merchants all gathered for trade. Trending. Upper classes in the society embraced Islam, while lower classes tended to remain connected to their local religious customs. The common people were poor and did all the work. Sunni Ali … These trades date back as early as 300 c.e and ended with the conquest of Songhai by Morocco in the 16th-century c.e. In 1430, as the Mali’s power faded, Songhai managed to assert its independence. The works of the latter would become an important part of the Islamic reform movement that swept the region from the 18th century CE. The kingdom of Songhai dates back to at least the 9th century CE and was contemporary with the Ghana Empire (6-13th century CE) further to the east. Daily life was often ruled by traditions and local customs, but the law of the land was based on Islam. After the fall of the Mali Empire, the Songhai Empire expanded. Mali rose to prominence in 1230, witnessing its height under Mansa Musa, who ruled from 1312 to 1337. The nobles were Muslim. During the reign of Dia Kossi, the Songhai Capital Gao was founded in approximately 800 A.D, and it eventually expanded to include the Mali Empire after conquering Timbuktu. These trades date back as early as 300 c.e and ended with the conquest of Songhai by Morocco in the 16th-century c.e. The Atlantic triangular slave trade started in the late 16th century and was conceived by European colonists as a cycle of import-export to maintain the wealth of the European empire. West African kingdoms, such as the Soninke empire of Ghana and the empire of Mali that succeeded it, were rich in gold but lacked salt, a commodity that countries around the Mediterranean had in plenty. They had war canoes along the Niger River to protect their trading cities from raiders. The Songhai Empire started out as a fishing and trading center on the Niger River in a place called Gao where West African and Muslim traders visited often. In this lesson, you will learn about the origins of the Songhai Empire, the way the Songhai governed their empire, and their trade. Create your account. Related Content Books Horses and textiles were also common in exchange. Transporting Salt on the Niger Riverby Taguelmoust (CC BY-SA). Like the Mali kings before him, Ali was a Muslim. As the Timbuktu chronicle, the Tarikh al-Sudan (c. 1656 CE) notes: [He reigned] for 28 years, waged 32 wars of which he won every one, always the conqueror, never the conquered. This brought the two kingdoms into conflict. By conquering this major port early on in the Songhai empire's life, it established a sort of foundation. After the fall of the Mali Empire, the Songhai Empire expanded. Timbuktu was an important trade city for the Songhai Empire. The Songhai Empire grew very wealthy thanks to its control of trading posts along the Trans-Saharan Trade Route, including Jenne and Timbuktu. The gold-salt trade was an exchange of salt for gold between Mediterranean economies and West African countries during the Middle Ages. The Songhai Empire began to shrink around the edges, especially in the west, from the last quarter of the 16th century CE. World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. Generally, each clan had a specific occupation. The Mali Empire would cling on to the western corner of its once vast territories, that is until the Moroccans arrived in the 17th century CE. Directions: Read the documents and respond to the questions. They grew many crops and animals such as beans, sheep, onions, millet, and … At the local level, there were many officials with specific duties such as policing or checking the use of official weights at trading centres, as well as heads of local craft guilds and tribal groups. For example, the Portuguese arrival from... Our experts can answer your tough homework and study questions. It was one of the most important states in African history at its height. He died of natural causes in 1539 and was succeeded by another brother, Askia Ishaq I. Ishaqs reign also became … Origins Of The Songhai Empire. The Songhai empire was known for its production of religious artifacts and practical tools. Predominantly a Muslim community, the Songhai are found primarily throughout Nigeria and Niger in the Western sudanic region (not the country). The Songhai expanded trade to Europe and Asia, and established an elaborate system of taxation and communication to govern its large kingdom. King Mohammad I (r. 1494-1528 CE), a former Songhai army commander who had wrested the throne from Sunni Ali's son, Sonni Baro, began the use of the dynastic title Askiya or Askia (meaning 'ruler' or perhaps even 'usurper ruler'). Unformatted text preview: African Trading Civilizations: Ghana, Mali, Songhai Global Studies 10 Topic Review African Kingdoms All major African kingdoms controlled important trade routes and were very advanced long….. before European contact.Ghana, Mali, & Songhai All existed at different times. The Songhai Empire during the 15th and 16th centuries was a kingdom that controlled the Western Sahel. The Songhai Empire. Here they would be sold to Muslim traders from across the Islamic World or to European s… Certainly, famine was a rare event during the first half of the Songhai Empire's reign, and there are no records of any peasant revolts. Songhai also exports hippopotamus skins, cut and tanned to make shields, reputed in Morocco. The Songhai kingdom did … Similarly, what did the Songhai Empire export? How did these empires and states consolidate power? Songhai Empire. Certainly, the Songhai in any case managed to monopolise the Saharan caravan trade which brought rock salt and luxury goods like fine cloth, glassware, sugar, and horses to the Sudan region in exchange for gold, ivory, spices, kola nuts, hides, and slaves. For example, the Portuguese arrival from... See full answer below. The Songhai grew rich from trade across the Sahara,particularly trading gold, salt, nuts and slaves and soon was the largest of Africa's trading centers. At around 1300, Gao had become so prosperous that it attracted the attention of the Mali Empire and its rulers. Trans-Saharan trade brought prosperity and taxes that enabled the state to run statecraft. Songhai as a country came into existence around 1000AD, and eventually became part of the Mali Empire, one of the most long-lived African empires. The clothes that Africanus describes were European textiles traded for the Songhai exports of gold, ivory, and slaves. The capital at Gao in this period boasted an impressive 100,000 inhabitants and the empire stretched almost from the Senegal River in the west to what is today central Mali in the east. The lifestyle of the nobles and the common people began to change. Songhai as a country came into existence around 1000AD, and eventually became part of the Mali Empire, one of the most long-lived African empires. It was a great cosmopolitan market place where kola nuts, gold, ivory, slaves, spices, palm oil and precious woods were traded in exchange for salt, cloth, arms, horses and copper. … The Songhai Empire was the last and largest of the three main West African Pre-Colonial Empires.. Cartwright, Mark. Islam was a unifying force in the region. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. The Songhai (or Songhay) was a large West African empire during the 1400s and 1500s A.D. The Songhai Empire completely dominated almost the whole stretch of the Niger River, West Africa's trade superhighway so that the Songhai peoples were now a small minority group in a state that encompassed such diverse groups as the Mande, Fulbe, Mossi, and Tuareg. This was because a Portuguese fleet, sponsored by the Lisbon merchant Fenão Gomes, had, in 1471 CE, sailed around the Atlantic coast of Africa and established a trading presence near these gold fields (in modern Ghana). The nobles became rich and comfortable. The Songhai people settled along the middle area of the Niger River. The Songhai Empire was successful due to its centralized government, effective development of the Trans-Sahara trade, and a common religion. Trade ' EconomyThe economy of Songhai was much like the economy of Mali and Ghana. The Songhai army numbered some 30,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry, but their weapons were mere spears and arrows. Not just made up of wealthy merchants, there also sprang up a class of religious scholars whose texts not only examined the ins and outs of their religion but also produced works on many other subjects from science to history. It would be the last of the great empires that had dominated West Africa since the 6th century CE. Why did Yongle move the capital to Beijing? At its peak, it was one of the largest states in African history. Songhay did a great job catching and trading fish. Trans-Saharan trade brought prosperity and taxes that enabled the state to run statecraft. The empire’s power was linked to economic trade; their government system granted authority to local chiefs as long as they did not undermine Songhai policy and tightly controlled labor division system. Three major cities of Hausaland, located between the Niger River and Lake Chad, were, according to the historian Leo Africanus (d. c. 1554 CE), attacked: Gobir, Katsina and Zaria. Central to … a. to control trade across the Mongol empire b. to strengthen ties with lands outside China c. to strengthen Ming rule over southern China d. to protect against future Mongol invasions . At the same time (1230-1300) the Mali kingdom of the Mande people, to the east of Ghana, was growing and increasing its control of trade in the region. The main trade in Ghana was between salt and gold, but the trade in Songhai was more diverse. Written by Mark Cartwright, published on 08 March 2019 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Around this core was a floating suburban population living in mud and reed houses or tents. Songhay did a great job catching and trading fish. The goods of exchange were gold, salt, leather, grain, and slaves. Trade and Connections with the Surrounding States. Askia Musas reign was off to a bad start when his own brothers rebelled against his rule. The main trade in Ghana was between salt and gold, but the trade in Songhai was more diverse. Daily life was often ruled by traditions and local customs, but the law of the land was based on Islam. "Songhai Empire." During this time, he captured Timbuktu, an important trade center, and Gao, the capital city of Songhai, spreading Islam to them both. From a centralized base in the capital Gao, famous and wise Songhai kings such as Sunni Ali and Mohammad I were phenomenal in turning the empire into a dominant force in trade, education, science and military. This was not the first time they had tried to split away from the empire, but it was the first time they had succeeded. All rights reserved. The Songhai treasury was seized and the empire, including Timbuktu, was absorbed into that of the Moroccans, becoming a province therein. Slaves The slave trade became an important part of the Songhai Empire. He was a controversial and fearsome military leader and became the first king of Songhai. Read More on This Topic Mūsā I of Mali: Conquest of Songhai kingdom Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. By controlling this port along with a few other key cities, they basically dominated the trans-Saharan trade. Cartwright, Mark. Mohammad imposed Islamic law on his people, appointed qadis (Islamic magistrates or judges) as heads of justice at Timbuktu, Djenne and other towns, and engaged the services of the North African Mohammad al-Maghili as his government advisor. In Ghana they had to pay tax to the king, but in Songhai they did not. Popular. For many years, Songhai people were ruled for many years by Mali, and were forced to pay taxes. You can view more similar questions or ask a new question. The Songhai Empire was successful due to its centralized government, effective development of the Trans-Sahara trade, and a common religion. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Songhai Empire. Just like Ghana and Mali, the Songhai people were influenced by Islam, and many people even converted. Even more effective than these strategies was Sunni Ali's battle tactics of attacking the enemy with overwhelming force and with the utmost speed. Unfortunately for Sunni Ali though, all this new territory did not give him access to the gold fields of the southern coast of West Africa that both the Ghana and Mali rulers had grown rich on. It had a big effect on the Songhai empire. These three Western African states dominated the trade of gold, salt, and merchandise between North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The loss of control of a slice of West Africa's gold trade to the Portuguese may have been one of the reasons for King Mohammad's decision to expand the Songhai Empire interests to the southeast. The empire absorbed large portions of the neighboring and earlier Mali Empire. The Songhai empire traded many items including: Gold, Kola nuts, and slaves for cowries, cloth, and salt. Certainly, an urban elite developed which was predominantly Islamic. The Songhai people (also Songhay or Sonrai) are an ethnic group in West Africa who speak the various Songhai languages.Their history and lingua franca is linked to the Songhai Empire which dominated the western Sahel in the 15th and 16th century. Timbuktu, with a population of around 100,000 in the mid-15th century CE, continued to thrive as a trade 'port'. The state is known by its historiographical name, derived from its leading ethnic group and ruling elite, the Songhai. The Songhai Empire collapsed when the Moroccans used superior weaponry to seize power and when maritime trade routes replaced trans-Sahara trade routes. Who did the Songhai Empire trade with? How did Askia Muhammad gain control of Songhai? The Songhai Empire (aka Songhay, c. 1460 - c. 1591 CE) replaced the Mali Empire (1240-1645 CE) as the most important state in West Africa (covering modern southern Mauritania and Mali). With its capital at Gao and managing to control trans-Saharan trade through such centres as Timbuktu and Djenne, the empire prospered throughout the 16th century CE until, ripped apart by civil wars, it was attacked and absorbed into the Moroccan Empire c. 1591 CE. Songhai empire, also spelled Songhay, great trading state of West Africa (flourished 15th–16th century), centred on the middle reaches of the Niger River in what is now central Mali and eventually extending west to the Atlantic coast and east into Niger and Nigeria. More importantly than anything he did for trade was the introduction of weights and measures and the appointment of an inspector for each of Songhai’s important trading centers. One of the major resources that were lacking in the New World was work force, as indigenous Americans had proven to be unreliable and were affected by diseases brought by the Europeans. Describe the achievements of the Songhai Empire in consolidating their power? The Songhai civilization accomplished many great artistic and technological achievements: they made a variety of artwork for show and religious, social and economic use, they also built river boats from scratch, and they built an incredible capital of Gao.
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