Great trading kingdoms emerged in West Africa.

The West African kingdoms controlled the salt for gold trade.

Control of the Trans-Saharan trade routes enriched the West African kingdoms.

West African kingdom of Songhai captured Timbuktu, In 1464, the ruler of the West African kingdom of Songhai captured Timbuktu, the capital of Mali.

The West African kingdom of Songhai was the largest of the three trading kingdoms.

The rulers of Songhai were Muslims.

North African nomads were Muslims. Through trade, Islam entered West Africa. Trade increased cultural diffusion or the exchange of cultural ideas and objects.

North African nomads exchanged salt And of course, North African nomads exchanged salt for West African gold.

Sunni Ali was Songhai’s greatest king. From 1464 – 1492, he never lost a single battle.

His empire stretched nearly 1,800 miles and he established a uniform system of weights and measures.

But others wanted Songhai’s riches and by 1590, an Arab ruler from Morocco sent an army to conquer Songhai.

Of course, the Moroccans had acquired guns from Europeans.

The largest of the trading kingdoms, the kingdom of Songhai, only lasted 100 years.

Yes, European guns would forever change African history.