World historyLesson 1 of 1 in the course Early Modern Africa and the Wider World

The Songhai Empire: Rise, Government, Trade, and Fall

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson traces Songhai from an early kingdom to a powerful empire under Sunni Ali. It explains how control of trade and strategic cities helped Songhai rise.

The early Songhai state was associated with the Za dynasty, traditionally dated to the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Its first political center was Kukiya, about eighty miles southeast of Gao. At some point in the 1000s, the ruling dynasty converted to Islam, possibly under Za Kusay, and the kingdom’s focus shifted to Gao.

All flashcards

How did Askia Muhammad use his pilgrimage to Mecca to support his rule?
It advertised his commitment to Islam; he also gained recognition in Cairo as caliph of the whole of Sudan.
What role did standardized weights and measures play in Songhai trade?
They helped officials monitor transactions and collect taxes.
What was the effect of Sunni Ali’s conquest of Djenné on its Muslim scholars?
He accommodated them, and their institutions continued to preserve and develop Islamic learning.
How did the Saadi forces damage Songhai after the Battle of Tondibi?
They sacked major cities, destroyed crops, and filled in wells, disrupting trade and government.
What was a major source of Songhai’s wealth besides trade?
Agriculture on the Niger floodplain.

Quiz questions

  1. Who defeated Sonni Baru in April 1493 and took the throne as Askia Muhammad?Answer: Muhammad Ture
  2. Whom did Askia Muhammad appoint as provincial governors to strengthen central control?Answer: Members of the royal family or trusted servants
  3. Against which people did Askia Muhammad declare a holy war in 1498?Answer: The Mossi
  4. At its height, which description best matches the approximate extent of Songhai?Answer: From Senegal toward Kano, and north to Taghaza
  5. What military advantage helped the Saadi forces defeat Songhai at Tondibi?Answer: Firearms, ammunition, and cannon

Based on World History Volume 2, from 1400 by Ann Kordas, Ryan J. Lynch, Brooke Nelson, Julie Tatlock (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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