how was the songhai empire governed

 

Although the city of Gao had been occupied by a Songhai dynasty prior to being conquered by Mansa Musa’s forces in 1325, it was not until much later that the Songhai empire emerged. credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level. Did you know… We have over 220 college Mansa Mūsā, whose empire was one of the largest in the world at that time, is reported to have observed that it would take a year to travel... Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Like his predecessor, Ture, also known as Muhammad the Great, was a bold fighter and tactician. - Information, Structure & Scoring, Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers, Health and Medicine - Questions & Answers, Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. This trade route connected North Africa to South and West Africa. The fall of Songhai empire emerged after the death of askia daoud in a civil war of succession. In return for the right to rule, the chosen official pledges to provide military service and taxes to the emperor. Across these routes, a variety of goods including foodstuffs, cloth, cowrie shells, and kola nuts flowed. The Songhai had been ruled by the Mali Empire before the 1400s. Sonni ‘Ali captures Timbuktu in 1468. The city of Timbuktu became prominent during this period as an urban center, … Dividing the empire into smaller districts with royally appointed governors helped make managing the empire easier. The Songhai Empire began to slowly develop in the mid-800s. Across these routes, a variety of goods including foodstuffs, cloth, cowrie shells, and kola nuts flowed. The judicial system was governed by a sharia law in all the empire and the qadis were charged with the responsibility of giving judgment [23]. In this lesson, you will learn about the origins of the Songhai Empire, the way the Songhai governed their empire, and their trade. Musa was forced to abdicate in 1531, and the declining Songhai Empire was ruled by a succession of Muhammad’s sons and grandsons until it fell to Moroccan troops in 1591. He created a strong central government and divided the kingdom into provinces ruled by governors whom he appointed. The Songhai controlled numerous semi-autonomous vassal states at the empire’s periphery. In addition, Ghana conquered many small neighboring tribes, then forced them to pay … Traders also transported slaves from West Africa north across the desert to slave trading posts in North Africa. The peace and prosperity of Askia Dāwūd’s reign (1549–82) was followed by a raid initiated by Sultan Aḥmad al-Manṣūr of Morocco on the salt deposits of Taghaza. 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. After the defeat, the dynasty moved south back to its homeland in the Dendi region of modern Niger. -Songhai Empire----- Songhai Empire: located in northwest Africa in areas that had been controlled by the earlier Kingdom of Mali was the largest and most organized empire of Africa during the middle of the 15th century until the late 16th century. Origins Of The Songhai Empire. Visit the Major Events in World History Study Guide page to learn more. 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It borders Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, and Algeria. As the Malian Empire… Students will analyze the influence of Islam on the growth of trade networks and power relations in the Songhai Empire and in East African city-states. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Songhai-empire. The Songhai were a people in West Africa located along the Niger River who were initially overshadowed by the Mali Empire. In 1528 several of his many sons staged a coup, deposing him and placing his son Musa on the throne. Surrounding him were advisors, military and religious leaders, and the royal family. His son Sonni Baru (reigned 1493), who sided completely with the pastoralists, was deposed by the rebel Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr Ture, also known as Muḥammad I Askia (reigned 1493–1528), who welded the central region of the western Sudan into a single empire. Under Askia Muhammad, all the governors, judges, and town chiefs were Muslims. The Songhai Empire is a country located in Africa. Updates? (a.) Timbuktu, then in its golden age, was larger than London. Economic expansion was a double-edged sword for Songhai. He repulsed a Mossi attack on Walata to the northwest in 1480 and subsequently discouraged raiding by all the inhabitants of the Niger valley’s southern periphery. From its capital at Gao on the Niger River, Songhai expanded in all directions until it stretched from the Atlantic Ocean (modern Senegal … Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. (d.) The Byzantine Empire is the Western Roman Empire after the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire. 1000s: Ghana; 1100s: first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. At first, it brought new sources of taxation and tribute to fuel the empire. For one kingdom in Africa, the challenges of such a feat were all too real. The emperor had total power, but he also had ministers who ran different aspects of the empire for him. - Mythology, Overview, Quiz & Worksheet - Elements of Plessy v. 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Islam acted as a legal and cultural unifying force, while the trade of gold and salt across the Trans-Saharan Trade Route enriched the empire. The new dynasty quickly set about to establish the government on a firm foundation. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa I. Here, the emperor sat as the head of the government and the army. Gao so prospered and expanded during the next 300 years that from 1325 to 1375 the rulers of Mali added it to their empire. The situation, which continued to worsen under Muḥammad Bāni (1586–88), culminated disastrously for Songhai under Issihak II (1588–91) when Moroccan forces, using firearms, advanced into the Songhai empire to rout his forces, first at Tondibi and then at Timbuktu and Gao. In the 7th century, it was the kingdom of Gao, subsequently becoming vassal of the empires of Ghana and Mali. Islam was a unifying force in the region. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons Background The Songhai are an ethnic group native to the Dendi region of Nigeria. By repulsing a Mossi attack on Timbuktu, the second most important city of Songhai, and by defeating the Dogon and Fulani in the hills of Bandiagara, he had by 1468 rid the empire of any immediate danger. i The Songhai empire was the most thriving west African empire for many reasons but major ones are: the kings Sunni Ali and Muhammad Ture as well as the conquering of the city of … Corrections? To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. By 1620, the territory had fragmented into smaller states and the Songhai Empire had all but vanished. Sunni Ali became ruler in 1464. courses that prepare you to earn After he felt secure, he decided—as a devout Muslim—to make a pilgrimage to Makkah. Although these individuals acted as advisors, the emperor had the final say on all matters including enacting law, making treaties, and appointing government officials. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Funded by the lucrative gold-for-salt trade that dominated the Trans-Saharan trade network, Songhai was well on its way to becoming one of the most powerful empires in Western Africa. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. The Songhai Empire grew very wealthy thanks to its control of trading posts along the Trans-Saharan Trade Route, including Jenne and Timbuktu. The Songhai had an independent monarchical tradition of their own, and Mande control of their capital, Gao, proved somewhat fitful. Songhai rulers subsequently took advantage of the weakened Mali Empire to expand Songhai rule. Using bold military tactics and a strong cavalry, Sunni Ali annexed the wealthy cities of Timbuktu and Jenne. The central government observed a patrimonial dynastic system (that is, through the male line of succession), in which the ruler served as head of state, head of government, and commander of the armed forces. South African History Online - Songhai, African Empire, 15-16th Century, Songhai Empire - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Songhai Empire - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The Songhai had been based around the city of Gao for centuries, and in fifteenth century, they established the Songhai Empire, one of the largest empires in African history. Create your account, Already registered? credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. Sunni Ali was the founder of Songhai Empire. How did Islam impact the Songhai empire. Log in here for access. He too fought the Mossi of Yatenga, tackled Borgu, in what is now northwestern Nigeria (1505)—albeit with little success—and mounted successful campaigns against the Diara (1512), against the kingdom of Fouta-Toro in Senegal, and to the east against the Hausa states. New territories were frequently added through military conquest. Each territory had a strong governor who was responsible for recruiting soldiers from the local population and for collecting taxes. After annexation, transitional military leaders were installed in each territory. Omissions? The Songhai Empire. During the European Middle Ages a mighty empire arose in West Africa. While this was probably an exaggeration,…, …Muslim kingdom of the Sudan, Songhai, was expanding northward, and its growing control of major trade routes into Morocco provoked Moroccan interference. The Songhai Empire came to power first, under Sunni Ali’s leadership. Mesoamerican Civilizations: The Olmecs to Cortes, Quiz & Worksheet - Songhai Trade & Government, {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}, African Cultures: Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, Axum Empire: Religion, Culture & Government, Ancient West Africa: Bantu Migrations & the Stateless Society, Trans-Saharan Trade & West African Sudanic States, The Spread of Pastoralism and Agriculture in Africa, Establishment of Small City-States on Africa's East Coast, Central & Southern Africa & the Indian Ocean Economy, Ancient Sub-Saharan African Civilization & Culture, Ancient West African Civilization, Culture & Religion, Songhai Empire: Definition, Location & History, The Songhai Empire: Religion & Social Structure, Major Events in World History Study Guide. To ensure control over his growing territory, Muhammad Ture also reorganized the empire. But the greater part of Songhai remains beyond Mali’s tax-collecting orbit. 1 Background 2 Terrain 3 Economy and Manpower 4 Threats TheSonghaiEmpire (also transliterated as Songhay) was a state that dominated the western Sahel in the 15th and 16th century. Mansa Mūsā, whose empire was one of the largest in the world at that time, is reported to have observed that it would take a year to travel from one end of his empire to the other. WATCH AD-FREE:https://www.patreon.com/fallofcivilizations_podcastToday, the Songhai Empire is all but forgotten by history. Under the rule of Sonni Ali, the Songhai surpassed the Malian Empire in area, wealth, and power, absorbing vast areas of the Mali Empire and reached its greatest extent. The Askiya Dynasty, also known as the Askia Dynasty, ruled the Songhai Empire at the height of that state's power. In the mid-fourteenth century, dynamic and inventive leaders of this kingdom took control of the remnants of the great empire of Mali and transformed it into the Songhai Empire. You might be familiar with this concept from Medieval European or Japanese history. The Songhai Empire was the largest and last of the three major pre-colonial empires to emerge in West Africa. At its peak, the Songhai Empire extended over part of Niger, Mali and part of present-day Nigeria. The Songhai Empire grew very wealthy thanks to its control of trading posts along the Trans-Saharan Trade Route, including Jenne and Timbuktu. You might be interested: What is the trade deficit with mexico It was established around 1486 when the Songhai people of Gao broke away from the Mali Empire to create the Songhai Empire.. The Songhai Empire was initially a small kingdom stretched along the Niger River. How Long is the School Day in Homeschool Programs? study Get the unbiased info you need to find the right school. Under Sonni ‘Ali the Great (r. 1464–92), the Songhai become an empire, totally eclipsing Mali. The Songhai Empire had its origins as far back as the mid-800s when small bands of farmers and fishermen united together to create a small independent kingdom. They also counseled the emperor on important issues. The Songhai Empire was a massive, multicultural West African state that spanned between the 15th and 16th centuries CE. | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} 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. All rights reserved. The Mali Empire had many profound cultural influences on West Africa, allowing the spread of its language, laws and customs along the Niger River. Jeff has taught US and World History at the high school and college levels for nearly ten years and has a master's degree in history. Though the Songhai people are said to have established themselves in the city of Gao about 800 ce, they did not regard it as their capital until the beginning of the 11th century during the reign of the dia (king) Kossoi, a Songhai convert to Islam. It was from one of Mali’s former conquests, the kingdom of Gao, that the last major empire of the western Sudan emerged. It became an empire during the fifteenth century. There they established the Dendi Kingdomand ruled until the beginning of … The people of Ghana also had to pay taxes. Anyone can earn © copyright 2003-2021 Study.com. Over time, more and more small communities joined the growing kingdom as it transformed into an empire. By 1620, less than 120 years after reaching its peak, the Songhai Empire had fragmented into dozens of smaller states. The Songhai was a succession of dynasties that spread through portions of the present day. Sociology 110: Cultural Studies & Diversity in the U.S. This trade route connected North Africa to South and West Africa. The Songhai Empire was divided into five provinces each led by a governor. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. The century or so of vicissitudes that followed was ended by the accession about 1464 of Sonni ʿAlī, also known as ʿAlī Ber (died 1492). Many of his most important companions were murdered and killed in this time and historians have studied this era very deeply to understand how, despite all odds, did Islam rise to become so important in the coming … The Songhai Empire was the last and largest of the three main West African Pre-Colonial Empires.. However, as the empire grew it became increasingly politically fragmented. Conquer… All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Upon his death, a new dynasty came to power that would put Islam at the center of life in the Songhai Empire. The Songhay Empire (1468-1591), also written as Songhai, was an empire in West Africa centred on the Niger River. A central royal bureaucracy was established in charge of the treasury, army, navy, tax and customs collection, weights and measures, administration of royal and Islamic justice (sharia), irrigation, royal lands and granaries, affairs with the provinces and chancery. The territories furthest from the central region contained vassal states and tribes. Islam became the unifying cultural and legal force for the expanding empire. He was deposed by his eldest son, Musa, in 1528. The Songhai Empire acquired great wealth from the trade and tribute it raised from trading activity along the Trans-Saharan Trade route. Soon after the death Muhammad (PBUH), warring factions sought to control influence and power in the Arabian peninsula. Morocco was reunited under…, …over a non-Mande people, the Songhai, who monopolized the fishing and canoe transport of the middle Niger. The Songhai vassals were largely autonomous but were required to pay taxes and contribute soldiers to military expeditions. They covered a period from the 4th century until the 16th century, with the Mali Empire in particular having a very long history. The civil policy of Sonni ʿAlī was to conciliate the interests of his pagan pastoralist subjects with those of the Muslim city dwellers, on whose wealth and scholarship the Songhai empire depended. When the Mali empire started to decline in the 14 th century, the Songhai king declared independence. The Songhai Empire was successful due to its centralized government, effective development of the Trans-Sahara trade, and a common religion. Leo Africanus, a traveler visiting the city of Timbuktu in the 1500s, noted that corn, cattle, milk, and butter were all available in great quantities, but that salt was so scarce that it traded almost equal in weight to gold! By the eleventh century, the Songhai controlled a vast export industry along the Niger River from their administrative city of Gao. It was founded in 1493 by Askia Mohammad I, a general of the Songhai Empire who usurped the Sonni Dynasty. Study.com has thousands of articles about every These governors and the agents under their control were carefully selected based on their loyalty to the king. Throughout the dynastic squabbles of successive reigns (Askia Musa, 1528–31; Bengan Korei, also known as Askia Muḥammad II, 1531–37; Askia Ismail, 1537–39; Askia Issihak I, 1539–49), the Muslims in the towns continued to act as middlemen in the profitable gold trade with the states of Akan in central Guinea. The Songhai Empire was divided into urban districts containing at least thirty-five cities, which blended into sub-urban districts and peripheral territories. Here they would be sold to Muslim traders from across the Islamic World or to European slave traders. In order to win control of the principal caravan markets to the north, he ordered his armies to found a colony in and around Agadez in Aïr. Invaded in 1591, Songhai was ruled as a Moroccan vassal for 40 years, during which time Morocco itself was experiencing political confusion and instability. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. You can test out of the The three main empires of West Africa and when they reached their height:. Perhaps the most famous and lucrative economic activity of the Songhai Empire was the trade of gold for salt. A large bureaucracy was responsible for ensuring the operation of the treasury, military, domestic affairs, matters of religion, and agriculture. and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you. Salt was prized for its ability to preserve food. After the fall of the Mali Empire, the Songhai Empire expanded. With the decline of Mali in the fifteenth century, Songhai shows its independence. Not sure what college you want to attend yet? In an age without refrigeration, the ability to preserve meats and other foods gave a ruler the ability to transport a large army over great distances without concern for a steady food supply. About 1335 the dia line of rulers gave way to the sunni, or shi, one of whom, Sulaiman-Mar, is said to have won back Gao’s independence. (b.) He divided the lands of the empire into districts, each containing at least 35 wealthy cities. {{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | The Mali Empire or Mandingo Empire or Manden Kurufa was a West African empire of the Mandinka from c. 1230 to c. 1600. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. 's' : ''}}. Here they would be sold to Muslim traders from across the Islamic World or to European s… However, Sunni Ali was not a devout Muslim and his lack of respect for the religion of Islam brought criticism from Islamic leaders who controlled many of the cities in his growing empire. With so many traders passing through their lands, Ghana’s rulers looked for ways to make money from them. Teaching Financial Literacy & Personal Finance, Overview of Blood & the Cardiovascular System, Electrolyte, Water & pH Balance in the Body, Sexual Reproduction & the Reproductive System, 2021 Study.com Scholarship for Homeschool Students, How Teachers Can Improve a Student's Hybrid Learning Experience. Not the only people who had to pay taxes northward coupled with Britannica! Most recently revised and updated by, https: //www.britannica.com/place/Songhai-empire unifying cultural and legal force for the wealth of time... 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