Songhai Empire

The largest West African empire, ruling the Niger bend from Gao with Timbuktu as its university town.

Specifications & Metrics

era

1464 – 1591

region

West Africa / Sahel

Core Principles & Analysis

• Sunni Ali built the empire by taking Timbuktu and Jenne.
• Askia Muhammad strengthened the state and its Islamic institutions.
• A Moroccan army with firearms destroyed the empire at Tondibi in 1591.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Songhai Empire