The Songhai Empire.pptx

An African Empire In the 15th and 16th centuries

1. The Songhai Empire An African Empire in the 15th century

2. Songhai Empire

3. A map of the Songhai Empire.

4. Sonni Ali Sonni Ali was the first great king of Songhai who came to power in 1464-1492 (Solano, 2011). He was considered the first king of Africa’s Songhai Empire and the 15 th monarch of the Sunni dynasty (Catheryn,2012). Timbuktu and Djenne , which had been part of the Kingdom of Mali, were taken by him. These were significant centers of commerce education, along with the Gao capital city. He seized Timbuktu in 1468 and Djenne in 1475. A flotilla was sent down the Niger River by Sonni Ali. During his rule, Songhai outgrew the Mali Empire and absorbed its dominion over other regions (Catheryn, 2012).

5. Sonni Ali continuation

6. Sonni Ali as emperor

7. Religion Sonni Ali was only nominally a Muslim. The majority of his people were still practicing their old religion and keeping in touch with their ancestors despite not having converted to Islam. He accepted and tolerated the African Indigenous religion. This implied that women had a lot more freedom than they did in conservative Muslim societies. They interacted with the males and were exempt from covering their faces. The only place in Songhai that took Muslim serious was the royal house in Gao because it had converted to Muslim in the 11 th century and to be able to gain access to the major trade routes it was essential for you to be a Muslim.

8. Askia Mohammed In 1492, Sonni Ali died, his son took over the empire but unfortunately lost the throne to Askia Mohammed (Catheryn, 2012). In 1493, Askia Mohammed took over Songhai. He created a new system of laws and taxation, increased the military, promoted education and encouraged learning. Askia Mohammed was a very religious Muslim, he used his power to spread Muslim within the empire (Solano, 2011). He constructed his power by encouraging scholars and traders who were Muslim to come to Songhai

9. Askia Mohammed cont During his reign: -He took control of the gold mines to the south and the salt mines to the north. -The trans-Saharan trade developed. -Timbuktu developed and became a commercial and cultural centre . -He organized the tax system and improved the government system. -Peace, stability and growth was brought to the Songhai empire. -He encouraged literacy and learning ( Classtorremar , 2012).

10. Askia Mohammed (King of Songhai in 1593)

11. Travel and Trade

12. Traders coming to Timbuktu to exchange goods

13. Timbuktu

14. The Fall of Songhai Empire

15. THE END

16. REFERENCE LIST Andambi , K. (2011). Songhai Presentation. Available from slideshare at https://www.slideshare.net/kevinandambi/songhai-yoooo?qid=f020c816-b491-4ccc-b03f-047fcca9938d&v=&b=&from_search=4 (Accessed 19 August 2022). Caleb, N. (2011). Africa’s blood diamonds. Available from slideshare at https://www.slideshare.net/Nicolecaleb18/africas-blood-diamonds?qid=210c4fd8-6fbf-4cec-8a9e-72b7de816d1f&v=&b=&from_search=3 (Accessed 19 August 2022). Catheryn, L. (2012). Kingdom of Songhai. Available from slideshare at https://www.slideshare.net/lykacatheryn/kingdom-of-songhai (Accessed 19 August 2022). Classtorremar , SS. (2012). Songhai. Available from slideshare at https://www.slideshare.net/ssclasstorremar/songhai-12935973?qid=8a8617b7-dee5-4981-b789-0380b174ff34&v=&b=&from_search=8 (Accessed 19 August 2022). Solano, J. (2011). (Social) African Civilization B. Available from slideshare at https://www.slideshare.net/justinesolano/social-african-civilization-b?qid=f41144fc-c2aa-4bf5-b489-5c391c1ec58c&v=&b=&from_search=5 (Accessed 19 August 2022).