1. Illustrative of African empires 1450-1750
Songhai Empire

2. History Seceded from the Mali Empire (in 1375)
Under Sunni Ali Songhai became the largest of the western Sudan empires
Successor Askia spread the empire west into Mali & north into Sahara and encompassed the trading cities of Hausaland
Askia centralized administration, created a tax system & regulated trade

3. Influence of Islam
Islam was present through trade, but weak outside of urban areas where traditional “small traditions” prevailed
95% of population was peasants who spoke many languages, practiced indigenous religions, and stayed loyal to local chiefs
Askia made pilgrimage to Mecca and returned with Muslim scholars from Morocco and Egypt to teach in the Sankore Mosque in Timbuktu

4. Songhai Photos
Tomb of Askia
Sankore Mosque

5. Timbuktu Today in the country of Mali Primarily made of mud
Had 3 great mosques
Was the intellectual and spiritual capital for spreading Islam in Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries
Located at an intersection of the Trans-Saharan trade route
A natural meeting point for North African Arabs and nomadic Berbers
Longlasting reputation for scholarship, having one of the first universities in the world
Contains many ancient Greek texts, ended up being a trade post that involved Europe
Visited by Ibn Battutta ~1350