Songhai Empire

E68378

The Songhai Empire was a powerful and wealthy medieval West African state centered along the Niger River, renowned for its control of trans-Saharan trade and cities like Gao and Timbuktu.

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Statements (51)

Predicate Object
instanceOf West African state
historical empire
medieval empire
administrativeCenter Gao
armyType cavalry-based army
capital Gao
continent Africa
controlled trans-Saharan trade routes
currencyOrMediumOfExchange cowrie shells
gold
decisiveBattle Battle of Tondibi
dynasty Askia dynasty
Sunni dynasty
economyBasedOn agriculture
trans-Saharan trade
tribute
educationalInstitution Sankore University
endDate late 16th century
ethnicBase Songhai people
fellTo Saadian Morocco
governmentType monarchy
intellectualCenter Jenne
Timbuktu
knownFor Islamic scholarship
control of Saharan trade
military power
wealth
language Songhay languages
surface form: Songhai languages
legalSystem Sharia
surface form: Islamic law (sharia)
locatedAlong Niger River
majorCity Jenne
Timbuktu
navalForce riverine fleet on the Niger
notableScholar Ahmed Baba of Timbuktu
peakPeriod reign of Askia Muhammad I
predecessor Gao Kingdom
Mali Empire
region West Africa
religion Islam
ruler Askia Muhammad I
surface form: Askia Dawud

Askia Muhammad I
Sunni Ali
startDate c. 15th century
successor Moroccan pashas of Timbuktu
smaller successor states along the Niger
tradedCommodity books
gold
kolanuts
salt
slaves
textiles

Referenced by (10)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Niger River associatedEmpire Songhai Empire
Songhai people founded Songhai Empire
West Africa hadHistoricEmpire Songhai Empire
Songhay languages historicalCenter Songhai Empire
Sahel historicalEmpire Songhai Empire
Mali historicalPredecessor Songhai Empire
Gao Region historicallyPartOf Songhai Empire
Songhai people notableState Songhai Empire
Mali Empire successor Songhai Empire