Songhai, Africa
Songhai, Africa
The Songhai Empire, also known as the Songhay Empire, was a state located in western Africa. From the early 15th to the late 16th century, Songhai was one of the largest Islamic empires in history. This empire bore the same name as its leading ethnic group, the Songhai. Its capital was the city of Gao, where a Songhai state had existed since the 11th century. Its base of power was on the bend of the Niger River in present day Niger and Burkina Faso. The Songhai state has existed in one form or another for over a thousand years, if one traces its rulers from the first settlement in Gao to its smaller status under the Mali Empire through its continuation in Niger as the Dendi Kingdom.
The Songhai are thought to have settled at Gao as early as 800 CE, but did not make it as the capital until the 11th century, during the reign of Dia Kossoi. However, the Dia dynasty soon gave way to the Sonni, going towards the making of Sulaiman-Mar, who gained independence and power over the city and was a forbear of Sonni Ali. Mar is often credited with taking power away from the Mali Empire and gaining independence for the small Songhai kingdom at the time.
In 1340, the Songhai took advantage of the Mali Empire's decline and successfully asserted its independence. Disputes over success weakened the Mali Empire, and many of its smaller subjects broke away. The Songhai made Gao their capital and began a great expansion of their own throughout the western Sahel. And by 1420, Songhai was strong enough to exact tribute from Masina. In all, the Sonni Dynasty would count 18 kings. The first emperor of Songhai was Sonni Ali, reigning from about 1464 to 1493. Like the Mali kings before him, Ali was a Muslim. In the late 1460s, he conquered many of the Songhai's neighboring states, including what remained of the Mali Empire. Sunni Ali quickly established himself as the empire's most formidable military strategist and conqueror. His empire was the largest empire that
The Songhai Empire, also known as the Songhay Empire, was a state located in western Africa. From the early 15th to the late 16th century, Songhai was one of the largest Islamic empires in history. This empire bore the same name as its leading ethnic group, the Songhai. Its capital was the city of Gao, where a Songhai state had existed since the 11th century. Its base of power was on the bend of the Niger River in present day Niger and Burkina Faso. The Songhai state has existed in one form or another for over a thousand years, if one traces its rulers from the first settlement in Gao to its smaller status under the Mali Empire through its continuation in Niger as the Dendi Kingdom.
The Songhai are thought to have settled at Gao as early as 800 CE, but did not make it as the capital until the 11th century, during the reign of Dia Kossoi. However, the Dia dynasty soon gave way to the Sonni, going towards the making of Sulaiman-Mar, who gained independence and power over the city and was a forbear of Sonni Ali. Mar is often credited with taking power away from the Mali Empire and gaining independence for the small Songhai kingdom at the time.
In 1340, the Songhai took advantage of the Mali Empire's decline and successfully asserted its independence. Disputes over success weakened the Mali Empire, and many of its smaller subjects broke away. The Songhai made Gao their capital and began a great expansion of their own throughout the western Sahel. And by 1420, Songhai was strong enough to exact tribute from Masina. In all, the Sonni Dynasty would count 18 kings. The first emperor of Songhai was Sonni Ali, reigning from about 1464 to 1493. Like the Mali kings before him, Ali was a Muslim. In the late 1460s, he conquered many of the Songhai's neighboring states, including what remained of the Mali Empire. Sunni Ali quickly established himself as the empire's most formidable military strategist and conqueror. His empire was the largest empire that