songhai empire essay grade 10

Songhai Empire Essay Grade 10

How to answer “Songhai Empire Essay Grade 10” correctly?

Let us look at the magic term: Essay . When a question asks a student to write an “essay,” they (students) are expected to provide a structured and well-organised piece of writing that presents and supports a main idea or a position. The essay should have an introduction that introduces the topic and states the position or a side of the writer, body paragraphs that support the thesis or position with evidence and examples based on their country of South Africa, and a conclusion that summarises the main points and restates the position (good/bad). For higher marks, the essay should demonstrate critical thinking, a paragraph with history or background of the topic, and all should be written with clarity and simple english for better understanding.

Shama Nathoo

Related articles.

Life Orientation Project Grade 12 Democracy And Human Rights Memo

Black power movement essay memorandum.

Songhai Empire Essay Grade 10 Guidelines for students

On this page, you will find Songhai Empire essay guidelines for students. Songhai Empire Essay is very common for Grade 10 , Grade 11 and Grade 12 classes. This is mostly a Historical Studies subject essay.When writing an essay, you must always remember that an essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author’s own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a letter, a paper, an article, a pamphlet, and a short story.

Songhai Empire: It was from one of Mali’s former conquests, the kingdom of Gao, that the last major empire of the western Sudan emerged. 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. It began to rise in 1464 when Sonni ‘Ali Ber came to power. Sonni ‘Ali conquered much of the weakening  Mali empire’s territory  as well as Timbuktu, famous for its Islamic universities and the pivotal  trading city of Jenne . Following Sonni ‘Ali’s death, Muslim factions rebelled against his successor and installed Askia Muhammad (formerly Muhammad Ture) as the first ruler of the Askia dynasty (1492–1592). Under the Askias, the Songhai empire reached its zenith, Timbuktu and Jenne flourished as centers of Islamic learning, and  Islam  was actively promoted. Met Museum

Songhai Empire Essay Guidelines

Introduction.

• Use keywords from the question
• For example, “why did the Songhai empire become economically successful?”
• Introduce your text(s) with an underline and include how they relate to the essay question
• Introduce your  three  paragraph ideas

Body Paragraph #1

• Present your first idea
• Follow PEEL: Point, Evidence, Explain, Link

Body Paragraph #2

• Present your second idea
• Follow PEEL x3

Body Paragraph #3

• Present your third idea

Conclusion :

• Restate your  essay statement
• Summarise your ideas
• Give a concluding sentence on the essay question and text(s)

Songhai Empire Exam Questions and Answers

Why did the songhai empire become economically successful.

• Safe economic trade existed throughout the Songhai empire, with the 200,000 person army stationed in the provinces. 
• Gold fields of the Niger River in Songhai empire. These gold fields, which were often independently operated, provided a steady supply of gold that could be purchased and bartered for salt.
• Salt and gold consisted of the bulk of trans-Saharan trade and the Songhai dominance in these commodities solidified Songhai’s role as a leader in the trans-Saharan trade system.
• The Songhai empire government was centralized by creating a large and elaborate bureaucracy to oversee the empire’s interests.  

What was the capital city of the Songhai empire?

The capital city of Songhai empire was Gao. 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.

What caused the decline of the Songhai Empire?

• Drought and disease had fallen upon the Songhai empire
• Civil war over leadership succession significantly weakened the authority of the central Songhai government
• Moroccan army (from North Africa) invaded Songhai with powerful weapons in search of gold
• Inability of the disjointed smaller kingdoms to re-form a political alliance and reassert a strong central government. 

More Questions

Here are some more potential long essay questions related to the Songhai Empire:

• Discuss the rise and fall of the Songhai Empire, including the key events and figures that shaped its history.
• Analyze the political, social, and economic structures of the Songhai Empire, and explain how they contributed to its success or failure.
• Compare and contrast the religious and cultural beliefs of the Songhai people with those of other West African societies during the same period.
• Evaluate the role of the trans-Saharan trade in the development of the Songhai Empire, and explain how it influenced the empire’s relations with its neighbors and with Europe.
• Discuss the impact of the Songhai Empire on West African history, including its influence on the spread of Islam and its role in the development of West African civilizations.
• Analyze the contributions of Songhai scholars, such as Ahmad Baba and Al-Maghili, to the fields of science, literature, and religion, and explain their significance to the empire and to West African history.
• Evaluate the legacy of the Songhai Empire, including its impact on modern West African societies and its significance to the wider world.
• Compare and contrast the Songhai Empire with other West African empires, such as the Ghana Empire and the Mali Empire, and explain how it was similar to or different from these other civilizations.

Looking for something specific?

• History & Society
• Science & Tech
• Biographies
• Animals & Nature
• Geography & Travel
• Arts & Culture
• Games & Quizzes
• On This Day
• One Good Fact
• New Articles
• Lifestyles & Social Issues
• Philosophy & Religion
• Politics, Law & Government
• World History
• Health & Medicine
• Browse Biographies
• Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
• Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
• Environment
• Fossils & Geologic Time
• Entertainment & Pop Culture
• Sports & Recreation
• Visual Arts
• Demystified
• Image Galleries
• Infographics
• Top Questions
• Britannica Kids
• Saving Earth
• Space Next 50
• Student Center

Songhai empire

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• The History Files - Songhai Empire
• Ancient Origins - How Did the Songhai Empire Dominate West Africa?
• South African History Online - Songhai, African Empire, 15-16th Century
• World History Encyclopedia - Songhai Empire
• Academia - The Empire of Songhay, 1375-1591: Memory and Heritage of a Glorious Past A Historiographical Essay
• GlobalSecurity.org - Songhai
• Humanities LibreTexts - Songhai
• Songhai Empire - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• Songhai Empire - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Songhai empire , 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 .

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 . Gao so prospered and expanded during the next 300 years that from 1325 to 1375 the rulers of Mali added it to their empire . 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.

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). 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. He later evicted the Tuareg from Timbuktu, which they had occupied since 1433, and, after a siege of seven years, took Jenne ( Djenné ) in 1473 and by 1476 had dominated the lakes region of the middle Niger to the west of Timbuktu. 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 . 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.

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. 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 . 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. He was deposed by his eldest son, Musa, in 1528.

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 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. 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. Retaliatory guerrilla action of the pastoral Songhai failed to restore the empire, the economic and administrative centres of which remained in Moroccan hands.

Visiting Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion?

You must join the virtual exhibition queue when you arrive. If capacity has been reached for the day, the queue will close early.

Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History Essays

The empires of the western sudan: songhai empire.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas , The Metropolitan Museum of Art

October 2000

It was from one of Mali’s former conquests, the kingdom of Gao, that the last major empire of the western Sudan emerged. 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. It began to rise in 1464 when Sonni ‘Ali Ber came to power. Sonni ‘Ali conquered much of the weakening Mali empire’s territory as well as Timbuktu, famous for its Islamic universities and the pivotal trading city of Jenne . Following Sonni ‘Ali’s death, Muslim factions rebelled against his successor and installed Askia Muhammad (formerly Muhammad Ture) as the first ruler of the Askia dynasty (1492–1592). Under the Askias, the Songhai empire reached its zenith, Timbuktu and Jenne flourished as centers of Islamic learning, and Islam was actively promoted.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “The Empires of the Western Sudan: Songhai Empire.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/sghi/hd_sghi.htm (October 2000)

Further Reading

Prussin, Labelle. Hatumere: Islamic Design in West Africa . Berkeley: University of California Press, 1986.

Additional Essays by Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ La Venta: Sacred Architecture .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ La Venta: Stone Sculpture .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Monte Albán .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Monte Albán: Sacred Architecture .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Monte Albán: Stone Sculpture .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Teotihuacan: Mural Painting .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Teotihuacan: Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Valdivia Figurines .” (October 2004)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Hopewell (1–400 A.D.) .” (October 2002)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Indian Knoll (3000–2000 B.C.) .” (October 2003)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Poverty Point (2000–1000 B.C.) .” (October 2003)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ African Rock Art .” (October 2000)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ African Rock Art: Tassili-n-Ajjer (?8000 B.C.–?) .” (October 2000)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ African Rock Art: The Coldstream Stone .” (October 2000)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Apollo 11 (ca. 25,500–23,500 B.C.) and Wonderwerk (ca. 8000 B.C.) Cave Stones .” (October 2000)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ The Monumental Stelae of Aksum (3rd–4th Century) .” (October 2000)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Tikal .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Tikal: Sacred Architecture .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Tikal: Stone Sculpture .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Art and the Fulani/Fulbe People .” (October 2002)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Great Zimbabwe (11th–15th Century) .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Ife Pre-Pavement and Pavement Era (800–1000 A.D.) .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Foundations of Aksumite Civilization and Its Christian Legacy (1st–8th Century) .” (October 2000)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Ife (from ca. 6th Century) .” (originally published October 2000, last revised September 2014)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Inland Niger Delta .” (October 2000)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Lydenburg Heads (ca. 500 A.D.) .” (October 2000)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Nok Terracottas (500 B.C.–200 A.D.) .” (October 2000)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ The Empires of the Western Sudan .” (October 2000)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ The Empires of the Western Sudan: Ghana Empire .” (October 2000)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ The Empires of the Western Sudan: Mali Empire .” (October 2000)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ The Trans-Saharan Gold Trade (7th–14th Century) .” (October 2000)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Trade and the Spread of Islam in Africa .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Mangarevan Sculpture .” (October 2003)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Tahiti .” (October 2003)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Cave Sculpture from the Karawari .” (October 2003)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ The Fulani/Fulbe People .” (October 2002)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Great Serpent Mound .” (October 2002)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Ancient American Jade .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Jade in Costa Rica .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ Jade in Mesoamerica .” (October 2001)
• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “ La Venta .” (October 2001)

Related Essays

• The Empires of the Western Sudan
• The Empires of the Western Sudan: Ghana Empire
• The Empires of the Western Sudan: Mali Empire
• Inland Niger Delta
• Trade and the Spread of Islam in Africa
• Ife Pre-Pavement and Pavement Era (800–1000 A.D.)
• The Trans-Saharan Gold Trade (7th–14th Century)
• Ways of Recording African History
• Western and Central Sudan, 1000–1400 A.D.
• Western and Central Sudan, 1400–1600 A.D.
• Western and Central Sudan, 1600–1800 A.D.
• The Songhai Empire
• 15th Century A.D.
• 16th Century A.D.
• Islamic Art
• North Africa
• Western Africa
• Western and Central Sudan

• Society and Politics
• Art and Culture
• Biographies
• Publications

History Grade 10 - Topic 1 Contextual Overview

At this stage, it was not at all clear that Europe would come to dominate the world. The intention is to provide a comparative overview of some of the major empires at this time with Europe, which was not an empire. These include China as a world power in the 14th and 15th centuries, Songhai, an African empire during the 15th and 16th Centuries, and the Indian Mughal Empire during the 16th and 17th centuries. This topic also includes a discussion on the European societal structures during the above mentioned time periods. Societies were dynamic and undergoing change - although the change was slower at that stage than after European expansion (Topic 2). In all units, include the role of women in society. The studies of the three empires should include accounts of the first contacts with Europe before conquests, when relationships were still balanced.

This topic will require students to do a comparative study on the following 4 sub-topics:

• Ming Dynasty, China in the 14th and 15th Century
• Songhai, African Empire, 15th and 16th Century
• Indian Mughal Empire, 1526 to 1858
• European Societies in the Middle Ages

Click the topics to go to their articles.

Example questions:

Based on the 2012 Grade 10 NSC Exemplar Paper:

Grade 10 Past Exam Paper

Grade 10 Source Addendum

Grade 10 Past Exam Memo

The world in 1500 was different from the world we live in today. It was a world in which no one continent or culture dominated the rest. Each had its own strength and weaknesses, but they were equal.Discuss the changes that societies underwent during the period 1340 to 1850 in any ONE of the following empires.

• The Ming Dynasty
• The Songhai Empire
• The Mughal Empire

Explain to what extent you agree with the above statement by referring to a case study from any ONE of the following empires:

Source for table layout. [2] The sub-headings are guided by the CAPS Guide

This content was originally produced for the SAHO classroom by Ilse Brookes, Amber Fox-Martin & Simone van der Colff

[1] The Western Cape Education Department, South Africa, “History Grade 10 2012 Exemplar,” (Accessed 22 June 2020), Available at:   http://www.wcedcurriculum.westerncape.gov.za/jdownloads/History/Downloads/history_gr_10_exemplar_2012_eng.pdf ↵

[2]N. Worden, J. Bottaro, P.  Visser, P. “In Search of History: Grade 10 Learner’s Book”. ↵

Return to topic: The World Around 1600

Return to SAHO Home

Return to History Classroom

Collections in the Archives

Know something about this topic.

Towards a people's history

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

HISTORY Gr. 10 T1 W1: What was the World like in 1600?

This Topic will focus on What was the World like in 1600? This week will focus on Songhai: an African Empire in the 15th and 16th centuries (around 1340 to 1591).

Do you have an educational app, video, ebook, course or eResource?

Contribute to the Western Cape Education Department's ePortal to make a difference.

Home Contact us Terms of Use Privacy Policy Western Cape Government © 2024. All rights reserved.

Songhai Empire Essay Grade 10

The sample essay on Songhai Empire Essay Grade 10 deals with a framework of research-based facts, approaches and arguments concerning this theme. To see the essay’s introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion, read on.

Beffa 4 The Songhai Empire Alex Beffa Global History April 9, 2012 Beffa 3 The Songhai, also known as the Songhay, was not only the last, but also the largest and greatest empire of western Africa between 1000 and 1600 ce. i The previous empire was the Mali empire. Songhai was just a client state at the port of Gao, which was a major trading port for trans-Saharan trade especially since it is located on the Niger river.

Proficient in: Culture

“ Have been using her for a while and please believe when I tell you, she never fail. Thanks Writer Lyla you are indeed awesome ”

When the Mali empire started to decline in the 14 th century, the Songhai king declared independence. 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 Timbuktu. Sunni Ali became ruler in 1464.

He did not waste any time waiting to begin expanding. Shortly after coming to power, he went to conquer the great trading port of Timbuktu from the Tuareg raiders. After Timbuktu was his, Sunni Ali’s armies went south to the port of Jenne. In 1480, he attacked the Mossi states south of the Niger river.

He had a strong military background which helped him become one of the best conquerers and leaders in African empire history until this point. His best asset was his naval skills which is mostly likely why he typically conquered ports along the Niger river. One of his major advancements was the the creation of a bureaucracy. This allowed the Songhai to be a more centralized empire than the previous empires of Ghana and Mali. To help get the Muslim support, Sunni Ali claimed to be a Muslim, though he never truly left the old traditional religions supposedly due to the belief that it was the source of his supernatural powers in battle.

Why Did The Songhai Empire Decline

In 1492, after a successful conquest, according to some oral traditions, Sunni Ali drowned while crossing the Niger river. Still others refuse to accept this theory, insisting that he died in battle. His reign was from 1464-1492. When Sunni Ali died, one of his sons named Sunni Barou took over. iii Unfortunately, unlike his father, Sunni Barou did not claim to be Muslim but rather embraced the old tradition. This did not go over very well with the Muslim community in the empire. Not long after taking the throne, Sunni Barou was overthrown by a very faithful muslim named Muhammad Ture.

Born around 1440, he was a very ruthless Beffa 4 killer. He even want so far as to eliminate the rest of Sunni Ali’s family members. As for his way of governing, the Islamic religion played a big role. He believed that the spread of islam was very important for two reasons. One, he was a devout muslim and felt that everyone should be. And second, he saw Islam as a way to unify the empire. He organized his own bureaucracy with 10 providences and an administrator for each. This allowed him to rule very effectively over a vast empire.

To lower chances of a rebellion, Muhammad Ture would not allow the kings of the conquered to keep their power but instead he would replace them with members of his own family. In 1495, Muhammad decided to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike other rulers, he was able to leave for long periods of time due to how incredibly stable his government was. After his journey, he felt the need to expand the empire. When Sunni Ali had died, a good number of the states Sunni Ali had conquered had declared independence.

It was up to muhammad to reassert the Songhai’s control over these territories. He had no problem with going on an almost continuous military conquest for close to two decades. Like Sunni Ali, Muhammad Ture also expanded the navy. After a military life like that, he was lucky to be around to experience old age. In 1528 Muhammad was so well aged that he had lost the drive to continue the conquests. Also he began to go blind, so his son Farimundyo Musa took over. Farimundyo Musa changed his name to Askia Musa which is where the Askia dynasty comes from.

Askia Musa was assassinated in 1531 by one of his brothers. Since Muhammad Ture was Islamic and education is a big part of Islam, Muhammad obviously supported education. The University of Timbuktu was one of the first universities in all of Africa. It attracted many scholars, mainly Islamic. Trade helped bring prosperity to the Songhai Empire as well as these other advances. iv Timbuktu was not only, a major trading spot, but also an educational capital. It had a big effect on the Songhai empire.

By conquering this major port early on in the Songhai empire’s life, it established a sort of foundation. By controlling this port along with a few other key cities, they basically dominated the trans-Saharan trade. Timbuktu Beffa 3 was founded by nomads of the Tuareg in the early 12 th century. In its early days, Timbuktu was thought to be inferior to other major trading ports for trans-Saharan trade such as the cities of Ghana or Walata because they were more impressive. It did not take long to change people’s minds.

Timbuktu and its sister city Jenne, which was also soon conquered by the Songhai, were in much better position to the gold field than Walata. Another factor in the rise of timbuktu was the nomad arabs that had been raiding caravans along the western routes. In turn, more people had been taking the eastern routes through Timbuktu. Finally, probably the most signif icant reason timbuktu was such a major port, Timbuktu was on a point where three major trans-Saharan routes went: the Mauritanian, Taghaza salt road, and the route to In Salah by way of Arawan. Two of the most important major imports and exports of the Songhai empire were salt and gold, but other items included slaves, ivory, cotton fabrics, grains, and ostrich feathers. vi To Timbuktu in particular, the major ones were gold, salt, slaves, and kola nuts. The salt came from the salt mines in the Sahara. The gold came from Bure, Bambuk, and Akan. The others, kola nuts and slaves were kinda of wide spread, coming from several places and in demand at many more. Naturally as a major trading port, Timbuktu had cultural diffusion.

Islamic ideas were passed around especially when Muhammad Ture was in power. vii In 1591 a Moroccan force overthrew the last king of the Songhai empire, thus ending the reign of the greatest western African empire between 1100 and 1600. viii They took the capital at Gao and then moved on to timbuktu. ix It would make sense that trade would be the Songhai’s forte since when the Mali empire was still in power, the Songhai was a major trading spot at the city of Gao. And the big emphasis on having a great navy would also make sense considering they are located on the Niger river.

The major reasons for such an enormous and thriving empire were the well-organized government, combined with outstanding kings, and never having a financial crisis since they conquered cities like Timbuktu and Jenne right from the beginning. Beffa 4 Bibliography Fritze, Ronald. “Timbuktu. ” In World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2004-. Accessed April 16, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. Insoll, Timothy A. “Trade & Empire. ” Archeaology 53, no. 6 (november 2000): 48 MAS Ultra-School Edition, Ebscohost (accessed February 5, 2012). Page, Willie F.

Encyclopedia of African History and Culture. USA: A Learning Source Book, 2001 William, Oscar. “Songhai Empire. ” In World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABCCLIO, 2004-. Accessed February 5, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abcclio. com/search/display/601432? terms=songhai World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. “Africa, 3000 BCE-1500 BCE,” ac cessed February 4, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abcclio. com/search/display/588506? terms=medieval+africa+songhai World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. “Askia dynasty,” accessed April 16, 2012. http://ancienthistory. bc-clio. com/. World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. “Muhammad Ture,” accessed April 15, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. “Sunni Ali,” accessed April 8, http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. 2012. i Oscar William. “Songhai Empire. ” In World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC- CLIO, 2004-. Accessed February 5, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/search/display/601432? terms=songhai ii World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. “Sunni Ali,” accessed April 15, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. om/. iii World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. “Sunni Ali,” iv World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. “Muhammad Ture,” accessed April 15, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. v Ronald Fritze. “Timbuktu. ” In World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2004-. Accessed April 16, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. vi World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. “Muhammad Ture,” vii Fritze viii World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. “Askia dynasty,” accessed April 16, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. ix Fritze

Cite this page

Songhai Empire Essay Grade 10. (2019, Dec 07). Retrieved from https://paperap.com/paper-on-essay-songhai-empire/

"Songhai Empire Essay Grade 10." PaperAp.com , 7 Dec 2019, https://paperap.com/paper-on-essay-songhai-empire/

PaperAp.com. (2019). Songhai Empire Essay Grade 10 . [Online]. Available at: https://paperap.com/paper-on-essay-songhai-empire/ [Accessed: 19 Aug. 2024]

"Songhai Empire Essay Grade 10." PaperAp.com, Dec 07, 2019. Accessed August 19, 2024. https://paperap.com/paper-on-essay-songhai-empire/

"Songhai Empire Essay Grade 10," PaperAp.com , 07-Dec-2019. [Online]. Available: https://paperap.com/paper-on-essay-songhai-empire/. [Accessed: 19-Aug-2024]

PaperAp.com. (2019). Songhai Empire Essay Grade 10 . [Online]. Available at: https://paperap.com/paper-on-essay-songhai-empire/ [Accessed: 19-Aug-2024]

• Aztecs empire was a mighty empire Pages: 5 (1475 words)
• The Crumbling Empire: The Impact of Nationalist Movements on the Ottoman Empire Pages: 2 (466 words)
• A Christmas Carol Grade 9 Essay Pages: 4 (1085 words)
• third grade poetry vocabulary Pages: 1 (107 words)
• Grade 10- poetry terms:sound devices, structure, types AND Literature Pages: 1 (290 words)
• Poetry PreTest 7th grade Pages: 1 (197 words)
• Grade 11 Poetic Devices and Figurative Language Terms Pages: 5 (1300 words)
• English Language Arts 11th grade Pages: 15 (4389 words)
• The Last Dog - Holt McDougal 7th Grade Pages: 1 (121 words)
• 12 Grade English Literature Quiz 12 Review Pages: 1 (97 words)

3.2 The Songhai Empire

Learning objectives.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Describe the characteristics that defined imperial Songhai
• Discuss the ways in which internal conflict led to the decline of the Songhai Empire

The Sudanic kingdom of Songhai was the largest fifteenth-century African state in West Africa. At its height, it stretched from Senegal-Gambia on the Atlantic coast in the west all the way to Kano in the Hausaland region of present-day Nigeria in the southeast, and to the salt-mining trade center of Taghaza in the north. Founded by Sunni Ali in the late fifteenth century, Songhai reached its imperial height under the founder of the Askia dynasty, Muhammad Ture, a general and provisional governor who overthrew Sunni Ali’s legitimate successor.

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 of God”); jahiliyyah is a word used by Muslims to describe the ignorance of people before gaining knowledge of Islam. Sometime in the 1000s, the dynasty converted to Islam, possibly under Za Kusay. It was also at some point during this period that the political focus of the kingdom shifted from Kukiya to Gao .

As kola nuts, dates, ivory, salt, leather, enslaved people, and gold passed through the capital, traders and merchants prospered. While a boon locally, the prosperity of Gao drew the attention of the new and expansionistic West African kingdom of Mali, which annexed Gao around 1325. This was the heyday of imperial Mali, and for the next century, its rulers profited from Gao’s trade and collected taxes from its kings.

Link to Learning

To learn more about the Songhai Empire, watch The Songhai Empire: Africa’s Age of Gold and consider why it is called a cosmopolitan empire. What was unique about Timbuktu?

The annexation of Gao greatly expanded the Malian Empire, but it did not last. Periodic rebellions by the peoples of Timbuktu, Takedda, and Gao, coupled with invasions from the north, civil war, and a struggling economy, caused Gao’s Malian rulers to withdraw from the region in the 1430s. The leader of the Songhai rebels at Gao, Sunni Ali , became the first king of the new Songhai Empire . From his capital at Gao, Sunni Ali engaged in a war of conquest against his Muslim neighbors. Marshalling his massive cavalry and fleet of war canoes, the king extended his empire into the desert in the north and as far as Djenné in the southwest. In the late fifteenth century, his army pushed southward beyond the Niger and raided deep into the Volta River Basin, encroaching on the territory of the Mossi, multiple linguistic groups whose cultures differed but who were loosely connected politically.

In 1468, Sunni Ali sacked Timbuktu . He drove its Amazigh governor from the city, killed many of its scholars, and forced others into exile. Sunni Ali’s conquest of Timbuktu earned him a reputation as a butcher and a tyrant. “He perpetuated terrible wickedness in the city, putting it to flame, sacking it, and killing large numbers of people,” one chronicler from Timbuktu recorded. Sunni Ali’s assault on the scholarly community at Timbuktu prompted the survivors’ exodus to Oualata, leading to a significant decline in Islamic scholarship at Timbuktu. Many of the merchants who had thrived under the city’s Tuareg overlords also fled. As a result, the city slipped into a period of economic decline and did not recover until after Sunni Ali’s death.

It was not enough for Sunni Ali to capture Timbuktu. Securing the vital corridor of trade along the growing Songhai Empire’s western frontier also required capturing the southern trading center of Djenné , a long-standing point of exchange for caravans carrying salt, gold, and enslaved Africans bound for the Atlantic or trans-Saharan slave trades. Sunni Ali attempted to capture Djenné for several years, but the fact that the city was surrounded by water during the annual flooding of the Bani River made the task impossible. Only after a seven-month siege was he finally able to subdue the city, which surrendered in 1473.

In contrast to his harsh actions at Timbuktu, Sunni Ali accommodated the community of Muslim scholars at Djenné, where they remained great preservers of Islamic learning and continued to produce work on Islamic philosophy and the sciences through the seventeenth century. The mosque and university had thousands of teachers and students who mastered a wide range of subjects, including Islamic law, astronomy, math, and philosophy ( Figure 3.10 ).

The Reign of Askia the Great

On the death of Sunni Ali in 1492, his son Sonni Baru came to the throne but reigned less than a year. Muhammad Ture, one of Sunni Ali’s generals and provincial governors, challenged Sonni Baru, and when the two met in battle in April 1493, Sonni Baru was defeated. Muhammad Ture then usurped the throne and took power as Askia Muhammad, later known as Askia the Great . His reign marked the beginning of the Askia dynasty.

Askia the Great strengthened the Songhai Empire and made it the largest in West Africa’s history by adding tributary lands to the east and to the west. At its height, the Songhai Empire stretched from Kano in Hausaland in the southeast (present-day Nigeria) to Taghaza with its valuable salt mines in the north, and modern-day Senegal on the Atlantic coast ( Figure 3.11 ). One of Askia’s primary objectives was to control access to the major trade routes across the Sahara. His success in doing so was rapid: by 1512, it is chronicled that even the mansa of Mali was paying tribute to Askia.

Askia the Great also transformed the nature of Songhai rulership. Under Sunni Ali, Songhai administration at the provincial level had been left in the hands of traditional rulers. Askia abandoned this model in favor of designating royal family members or trusted servants. As appointees of the king, these provincial governors were entirely dependent on the ruler and had to remain in his favor. The governors were invested with a great deal of authority, however; they could, for example, raise their own armies to collect local taxes. Abandoning the use of traditional rulers had the effect of strengthening the centralizing tendency of the state under Sunni Ali. Whereas before such provincial officials might take advantage of dynastic struggles to assert their authority and form a breakaway region or state, the placement of royally appointed officials closely aligned with the king dramatically curtailed this risk. That the state remained intact despite frequent dynastic struggles during Askia’s later reign speaks to the success of this policy.

Islam was crucial to Askia the Great’s consolidation of control. Not ethnically Songhai and thus unable to rely on traditional institutions and rituals to legitimate his rule, Askia instead based his authority on Islam and quickly set out to establish Songhai as a Muslim kingdom. In 1498, he declared a holy war against the non-Muslim Mossi to justify his incursions into their territory. He also recognized the importance of Islam to trans-Saharan trade and used his post-accession pilgrimage to Mecca to advertise his concern for the faith. During his stopover in Cairo, Askia convinced Egypt’s caliph , its spiritual and secular leader, to recognize him as caliph of the whole of Sudan. While in Mecca he spent lavishly, contributing some 100,000 gold pieces to charity and related almsgiving programs. He did not force his subjects to convert, however, and most retained their traditional religious beliefs.

Dueling Voices

The great ruler of songhai: askia muhammad.

The following sources were written by observers of the Songhai Empire. The first, called the Epic of Askia Muhammad , is a written rendition of a tale told by a griot (a West African oral historian, poet, musician, storyteller, and praise-singer) and describes how Askia the Great established his empire. In the excerpt, Askia Muhammed is told how he can repent for having killed his uncle. The second excerpt is from Leo Africanus’s Description of Africa , which he wrote in the sixteenth century and describes the city of Gao and the tactics of Askia Muhammad.

Go home and start a holy war, So that you can make them submit until you reach the Red Sea. [. . .] [Askiya Muhammed] went home to Gao. It is at this time he gathered together all the horses. He took all the horses. He began by the west. [. . .] Early in the morning, they pillage and they go on to the next village . . . The cavalryman who goes there, He traces on the ground for the people the plan for the mosque. . . . The people build the mosque. It is at that time, Mamar Kassaye [Askiya Muhammed] comes to dismount from his horse. He makes the people— They teach them verses from the Koran relating to prayer. They teach them prayers from the Koran. Any villages that refuse, he destroys the village, burns it, and moves on. [. . .] Until that day [. . .] he arrived at the Red Sea. —Nouhou Malio, “The Epic of Askia Mohammed”

The Town and Kingdom [Songhay] of Gao Here are very rich merchants and to here journey continually large numbers of blacks who purchase here cloth from Barbary [North Africa] and Europe. . . . Here also is a certain place where slaves are sold, especially upon those days when merchants assemble. A young slave of fifteen years of age is sold for six ducats [gold coins] and children are also sold. The king of this region has a certain private palace in which he keeps a large number of concubines and slaves, who are watched by eunuchs. To guard his person he maintains a sufficient troop of horsemen and foot soldiers. Between the first gate of the palace and the inner part, there is a walled enclosure wherein the king personally decides all of his subjects' controversies. Although the king is most diligent in this regard and conducts all business in these matters, he has in his company counsellors and such other officers as his secretaries, treasurers, stewards and auditors. It is a wonder to see the quality of merchandise that is daily brought here and how costly and sumptuous everything is. . . . The rest of this kingdom contains nothing but villages and hamlets inhabited by herdsmen and shepherds, who in winter cover their bodies with the skins of animals, but in summer they go naked, save for their private parts. . . . They are continually burdened by heavy taxes; to the point that they scarcely have anything left on which to live. Of the Province of Kano The great province of Kano stands eastward of the river Niger almost five hundred miles . . . . [Their king] had mighty troops of horsemen at his command; but he has since been constrained to pay tribute unto the kings of Zegzeg and Casena. Afterward Askiya the king of Timbuktu [Songhay] feigning friendship treacherously slew them both. And then he waged war against the king of Kano, whom after a long siege he took, and compelled him to marry one of his daughters, restoring him again to his kingdom, conditionally that he should pay unto him the third part of all his tribute [taxes]: and the said king of Timbuktu has some of his courtiers perpetually residing at Kano for the receit [receiving] thereof. —Leo Africanus, Description of Africa (1550)

• How do the two accounts differ in their description of Askia the Great?
• According to these accounts, how did Askia establish and maintain power in his empire?
• Would you consider Askia the Great to have been a strong ruler? Would you consider him to have been a benevolent ruler? Why or why not?

Askia the Great extended his territory deeper into the desert through military conquest. The advance of Songhai’s army forced the Tuareg nomads to flee, which allowed the Songhai to capture the salt-producing center of Taghaza in the north. Askia did more to regulate trans-Saharan trade than any of his predecessors. He not only introduced the use of standardized weights and measures but also employed trade inspectors at each of the empire’s major trade centers. The Hausaland kingdoms recognized the revival of trade under the Songhai and its benefits and so came into the orbit of the Songhai Empire’s broader trading network.

The primary sources of the Songhai Empire’s wealth continued to be agricultural production centered on the Niger floodplain and taxes on trade goods, especially gold and salt, both of which had also been key to the economy of the Mali Empire. Salt remained Songhai’s currency for external trade, while cowrie shells were used for internal trade ( Figure 3.12 ). Cowrie shells were imported from the Indian Ocean. They were thus relatively scarce and could not be counterfeited. Gold remained the primary good transported along the trans-Saharan trade routes, but enslaved captives and kola nuts were also exported. The empire imported a variety of goods, including Saharan salt , luxury goods, horses, and cloth.

Timbuktu , which had been destroyed by Sunni Ali, revived during the rule of Askia the Great. Leo Africanus observed that the city was a prosperous one filled with artisans and wealthy merchants as well as many enslaved people. According to his sixteenth-century account, in Timbuktu there were “great numbers of religious teachers, judges, scholars and other learned persons, who are bountifully maintained at the king’s expense. Here too are brought various manuscripts or written books from Barbary, which are sold for more money than any other merchandise.” By the mid-sixteenth century, public libraries had been established, and scribes and calligraphers had been hired to copy books ( Figure 3.13 ). As Islamic scholarship once again flourished at Timbuktu, so too did higher learning. Students engaged in multiple tutorials in various fields of study with Islamic scholars and, when they achieved mastery of these subjects, went on to become teachers themselves.

Learn about and see pictures of the tomb of Askia the Great in Gao, Mali. You can follow links on the same page to learn about other items of historical interest in Mali.

The Decline of Songhai

Under Askia the Great, the Songhai Empire flourished. Religious scholars and poets flocked to cities like Timbuktu and Djenné. Islam became more widely practiced. The state embarked on an ambitious infrastructure development scheme, including the construction of canals to enhance agricultural production. Trans-Saharan trade thrived. However, as Askia grew older, his personal power declined, and he relied heavily on his palace officials to manage the affairs of the empire. This alienated his family members, who grew resentful of the power of Askia’s head chamberlain, Ali Fulan.

In 1528 Askia’s sons revolted, deposed him, and declared one of the brothers, Musa, king. Askia Musa’s accession was not smooth, however, and civil war erupted. As Askia Musa waged battle against his kin to retain his position, dozens of his relatives were killed. Musa himself fell victim to this strife and was killed by his brothers in 1531, deepening the crisis and further destabilizing the state. As successive rulers’ attempts at governing the empire failed, political chaos consumed the ruling class and military as they vied for control. Without effective administration from the center, Songhai weakened, and external groups began eyeing an opportunity to intervene and seize control of the lucrative trans-Saharan trade in salt and gold. This was particularly the case for the Saadi dynasty of Morocco .

In 1578, the Saadi had repulsed an invasion by the Portuguese, but only at an enormous cost, draining the imperial coffers. To stave off bankruptcy, Sultan Ahmad I al-Mansur Saadi cast about for new resources. All this unfolded just as a sense of stability and calm had returned to Songhai under the reign of Askia Ishaq II , which began in 1588. However, this revival of Songhai’s fortunes proved short-lived; the Saadi invaded in 1591. Although it was greatly outnumbered by the forces of Songhai, the Saadi army had an insurmountable advantage: a stockpile of guns, ammunition, and cannon supplied by Queen Elizabeth I of England, who hoped to make Morocco an ally against Spain. The Saadi army also contained many Spanish Muslims. In 1502, the Spanish monarchs had ordered all Muslims in Spain to convert to Christianity, and many Muslims had fled the country. Outmatched, the larger Songhai army was defeated at the Battle of Tondibi, and Askia Ishaq II was killed.

Following their victory on the battlefield, the commander of the Saadi army, an enslaved Spanish eunuch named Judar Pasha, moved on the key cities and trading centers of the empire. The Saadi sacked and pillaged Djenné , Gao , and Timbuktu , burning them to the ground. To seal their victory, the invaders filled in water wells and destroyed fields of crops. They spared few, not even women and children. The Songhai Empire’s power was rendered ineffective after the looting and destruction of these cities. A decade later, the empire was shattered, its provinces divided into several smaller kingdoms and territories.

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/world-history-volume-2/pages/1-introduction

• Authors: Ann Kordas, Ryan J. Lynch, Brooke Nelson, Julie Tatlock
• Publisher/website: OpenStax
• Book title: World History Volume 2, from 1400
• Publication date: Dec 14, 2022
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/world-history-volume-2/pages/1-introduction
• Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/world-history-volume-2/pages/3-2-the-songhai-empire

© Jul 3, 2024 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.

Songhai Empire (c. 1464–1591)

• The African History
• June 29, 2020
• Empire , History

The Songhai Empire during the 15th and 16th centuries was a kingdom that controlled the Western Sahel. At its height, it was one of the greatest in African history. The state is known for its historiographic name, derived from the Songhai, its leading ethnic group and ruling elite.

The Songhai Empire was located in south of the Sahara Desert in Western Africa and along the River Niger. It reached to the Atlantic Ocean at its peak well over 1,000 miles from the country in present-day Niger. The Songhai capital city was the city of Gao which was situated on the banks of the Niger River in modern-day Mali.

The Kingdom of Songhai existed from 1464 till 1591. The Songhai had been ruled by the Mali Empire before the 1400s.

The Songhai Empire came to power first, under Sunni Ali’s leadership. Sunni Ali was the founder of Songhai Empire. The leader of the Malian Empire, who controlled the Songhai, kept him as a political prisoner.

In 1464, Sunni Ali escaped to the town of Gao and took control of the town. He founded the Songhai Empire from Gao City and started to conquer Timbuktu and Djenne’s neighboring regions, including major commercial cities.

Askia Muhammad became the leader of the Songhai in 1493. He brought the Songhai Empire to its peak and established the Askia Dynasty.

Askia Muhammad was a committed Muslim. Islam was made an significant part of the empire under his rule. He captured most of the surrounding lands and took control of the Mali empire’s gold and salt trade.

The Empire of Songhai was divided into five provinces headed by a governor each. All the governors, judges and town leaders were Muslims under Askia Muhammad.

The ruler had absolute influence but he still had ministers working for him various parts of the empire. They also briefed the Emperor on complex subjects.

The Songhai culture had become a mixture of traditional West African beliefs and Islamic religion. Traditions and local customs often governed the daily life, but the law of the land was based on Islam.

The trade in slaves became a significant part of the Songhai Empire. Slaves were being used to aid move goods into Morocco and the Middle East across the Sahara Desert. Throughout Europe and the Americas, slaves were also sold to Europeans for labor. Generally the slaves were captured war prisoners during raids in neighboring areas.

Due to internal strife and civil war the Songhai Empire began to weaken in the mid-1500’s. The Moroccan Army invaded and captured the towns of Timbuktu and Gao in 1591. The empire dissolved, and was split into a number of smaller separate states.

Related posts

Discovering Morocco: 10 Fascinating Facts

• January 6, 2024

• Ancient Egypt

Africa: The Cradle of Mankind was the Safe place for Baby Jesus Christ

• December 28, 2023

• Personality Profile

King Afonso I of Kongo, ruler of the Kongolese Kingdom (1509 -1543)

Kilwa Kisiwani: One of the Great Ancient African Cities

• December 13, 2023

The Ancient Legacy: Mysteries of 1500 years old Stone Circles of Senegal

• November 17, 2023

Free Printable the songhai empire Worksheets for 10th Grade

Explore the Songhai Empire with our free printable social studies worksheets, tailored for Grade 10 students. Discover the rich history, culture, and achievements of this influential West African civilization.

10th - 11th

10th - 12th

Explore the songhai empire Worksheets by Grades

Explore other subject worksheets for grade 10.

• social studies

Explore printable the songhai empire worksheets for 10th Grade

The Songhai Empire worksheets for Grade 10 are an excellent resource for teachers looking to engage their students in the study of African history, specifically the rise and fall of one of the continent's most powerful empires. These worksheets, designed for social studies and history classes, cover a wide range of topics related to the Songhai Empire, including its political structure, economic systems, cultural achievements, and interactions with other civilizations. Teachers will find these Grade 10 worksheets to be a valuable addition to their lesson plans, as they provide opportunities for students to explore primary and secondary sources, analyze historical events, and develop critical thinking skills. The Songhai Empire worksheets for Grade 10 are an essential tool for any educator seeking to bring this fascinating period of history to life in their classroom.

In addition to the Songhai Empire worksheets for Grade 10, teachers can also utilize Quizizz, an interactive platform that offers a variety of engaging resources for social studies and history instruction. Quizizz allows educators to create custom quizzes, games, and activities that align with their curriculum and target specific learning objectives. This platform also offers a vast library of pre-made content, including quizzes and activities related to the Songhai Empire, which can be easily integrated into lesson plans. With Quizizz, teachers can monitor student progress, provide immediate feedback, and even assign homework or assessments. By incorporating both the Songhai Empire worksheets for Grade 10 and Quizizz into their teaching strategies, educators can create a dynamic and interactive learning environment that fosters a deeper understanding of history and its relevance to the modern world.