The Songhai Empire was a state located in the western part of the Sahel during the 15th and 16th centuries. At its peak, it was one of the largest African empires in history. The state is known by its historiographical name, derived from its largest ethnic group and ruling elite, the Songhai people. Sonni Ali established Gao as the empire's capital, although a Songhai state had existed in and ...
Songhai empire, great trading state of West Africa (flourished 15th–16th century), centered 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. Learn more about the Songhai empire here.
The Songhai Empire (aka Songhay, c. 1460 - c. 1591) covered what is today southern Mauritania and Mali. It replaced the Mali Empire (1240-1645) as the most important state in West Africa. Originating...
The Songhai Empire was one of Africa's most powerful and wealthy states, influencing and shaping the West African world during the medieval era.
Discover how the Songhai Empire influenced West African history through its trade, culture, governance, and lasting legacy.
Key Points The Songhai Empire was a state that dominated the western Sahel in the 15th and 16th centuries. At its peak, it was one of the largest states in African history. Initially, the empire was ruled by the Sonni dynasty (c. 1464–1493), but it was later replaced by the Askiya dynasty (1493–1591). In the second half of the 14th century, disputes over succession weakened the Mali Empire ...
The Songhai Empire was a large and powerful West African civilization from about 1450-1600. The kingdom grew after the decline of the Mali Empire. The Songhai people broke away from Mali control after Mansa Musa's death. Centered in the city of Gao along the Niger River, the Songhai built up a large army and expanded their territory. Eventually, they were able to control the lucrative gold and ...
The Rise of Imperial Songhai The earliest dynasty of kings of the Songhai state was the Za , which tradition and later historical records suggest ruled the kingdom during the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Tradition also holds that the first fourteen rulers of the Songhai state, which was initially centered on Kukiya, approximately eighty miles southeast of Gao, were jahiliyyah (“ignorant ...