Sokoto Caliphate By: Sela Stazzone, Matt Klinger, and Sam Cruz

Usman Dan Fodio- The First Sultan of the Sokoto Empire – Fundamentalist Muslim, Fulani religious leader and teacher in the Hausa city state of Gobir – Born in December of 1754 in the Hausa city state of Gobir (Present day Northwestern Nigeria) – Died in 1817 in the Sokoto Fulani Empire (Present day Northern Nigeria) – The community praised Usman for religious and political leadership

The Fulani Jihad- ( ) – Usman initiated the Jihad when he and his followers were expelled from Hausa by the king Yunfa. – The holy war was against Gobir and other city states. – Usman’s large army of Fulani and Hausa supporters conquered Gobit, Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, other city states. – Executed the king Yunfa – Usman Dan Fodio won the Jihad and established the Sokoto Caliphate.

Sokoto Caliphate – The Sokoto Caliphate took up most of present day Nigeria, northern Cameroon and parts of Niger. – At its peak, it extended over 1000 miles from current day Burkina Faso to Northern Cameroon – By the end of Muhammed Bello’s rule (son of Dan Fodio), the Sokoto empire grew to be the most populous empire of West Africa. (10 million people)

Sokoto Caliphate

Sokoto Caliphate ( ) Key Information – The empire existed in the early 19 th century to the early 20 th century. – The religion is Sunni Islam. – Usman Dan Fodio instituted the Jihad and became the first Sultan of Sokoto. – When Dan Fodio died his son Muhammad Bello took control of the eastern part and his brother Abdullahi became titular ruler of the western section. – Bello expanded and strengthened the empire during his reign. – Fodio and his sons stressed military power and education was encouraged by Muslim elite. – The empire started to dissolve in the 1890s. – Civil war weakened the empire and the British invaded and began to colonize. Muhammad Bello: The Second Sultan of Sokoto

Relations with Neighbors and Europeans – Britain and France constantly put the empire under colonial pressure which lead to the empire’s downfall. – The relationship with the British was brief. It lasted for 10 years while the British colonized. – During its reign it had a peaceful relationship with its neighbors. – Due to intimidating military power/strength

The Rise of the Sokoto Empire (1808-mid 1830s) – Dan Fodio believed that Allah’s law was not being implemented to his liking in Gobir. Only the spilling of blood could make it right. – The growth of the empire was due to the establishment of an extensive system of ribats. – Ribats: Small fortifications built along a frontier during Muslim conquest to house military volunteers. They also served to protect commercial routes and centers for isolated Muslim communities. – The ribats expand the Empire by developing new cities, settling the pastoral Fulani people, and supporting the growth of plantations. – The slave trade and plantations became a crucial part of the economy and its growth

The Fall of the Sokoto Empire (1890s-Early 20 th Century) – Collapsed under colonial pressure when Britain and France tried to invade and eventually interrupted the traditional trading patterns and crushed the economy. – The British influence was the result of the British Navy's crackdown on slavery and the slave trade. The slave trade was replaced with trade in commodities, particularly oils. – The slavery continued in the area and the British had to battle parts of the empire to eliminate slavery. – In 1893 there was an internal civil war between Kano and “anti- Sokoto” that weakened the empire.

Factors of the Sokoto Caliphate Factors of the Rise – Support from Fulani and Hausa believers – Ribats expanded the empire – Increase in the slave trade and slave plantations Factors of the Fall – The removal of the slave trade and slavery in the empire – Colonial pressure from Britain and France – Civil war

Significance in its Region – Sokoto Caliphate was huge in slave trade, and plantation industry. – They gained their slaves by raiding near by city states while trying to expand the empire. – The slaves that were seized were typically non-Muslim – When the Atlantic slave trade ended many of the slaves were used for the growing plantation industry. – Crops produced in the area: Cotton, Indigo, Kola and Shea nuts, Grain, Rice, Tobacco, and Onion

Era of Exploration – The Sokoto Caliphate was not conquered by the Europeans. They had a mutual relationship due to the slave trade. – The relationship between them changed when Britain no longer supported slavery and wanted the Sokoto Caliphate for other resources besides slaves.

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