E. Napp The West African Kingdom of Songhai In this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms: The Kingdom of Songhai Cultural Diffusion Monotheism Trans-Saharan Trade The Fall of Songhai

E. Napp Great trading kingdoms emerged in West Africa.

E. Napp The Kingdom of Songhai In 1464, the people of Songhai captured Timbuktu. The people of Songhai seized control of the profitable Trans-Saharan trade. The West African Kingdom of Songhai was the largest of the three trading kingdoms.

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

E. Napp Conversion to Islam The rulers of Songhai were Muslims. Many West Africans had converted to Islam. They accepted the Five Pillars of Islam and became monotheists (believers in one God). North Africans were Muslims. Through trade, cultural diffusion or cultural exchanges occurred.

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

E. Napp Trans-Saharan Trade Like Ghana and Mali, the kingdom of Songhai controlled the profitable Trans- Saharan trade. The Trans-Saharan trade connected North Africa and West Africa. North African salt was exchanged for West African gold.

E. Napp North African nomads exchanged salt for West African gold.

E. Napp The Fall of Songhai Eventually, the kingdom of Songhai fell to invading armies from Morocco in The Moroccan armies had guns. The Moroccans had acquired guns from Europeans.

E. Napp The Moroccans had acquired guns from Europeans.

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

E. Napp Summary Three great West African kingdoms controlled the Trans-Saharan trade routes. While profiting greatly from the trade, the three kingdoms built beautiful cities and great centers of learning. Trade between North Africa and West Africa increased cultural diffusion.

E. Napp The Trans-Saharan trade greatly increased cultural diffusion.

E. Napp Questions for Reflection: How did the people of Songhai gain control of the Trans-Saharan trade routes? What was the Trans-Saharan trade? Why did the Trans-Saharan trade greatly increase cultural diffusion? How did the introduction of Islam to West Africa affect the cultures of West Africa? Why did the kingdom of Songhai collapse?