Songhay+6

=__Songhay__=

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The Songhay Empire existed in the 15th~16th centuries, but the Songhay state had existed since the 11th century. Songhay is located near the Niger River and it was a part of the Mali Empire until they obatined their indedependence the 14th century. As the Mali Empire began to lose its strength because of a dispute over succession, the Songhay took advantage of their weakness and asserted its independence. After their assertion of independence, Songhay Made Gao as their capital city and began their imprerial expansion. Songhay also had an abundance supply of gold which were exported by Muslim traders and imported textile, horses, and luxury goods. Due to extensive trade, formation powerful army of horsemen and fleets of war canoes, the Songhay surpassed the Mali Empire in wealth and size and became one of the largest empires ever created in Africa. The key to their success was the Trans-Saharan trade, powerful central government, and the use of Islam as a unifying force. Despite their achievements in gaining territory and creating a wealthy empire, it soon fell to the Moroccans in 1591 when the Moroccans had the advantage of having firearms.=====

=__Economy__=

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The Empire had a strong trading system throughout its region and beyond due to various armies stationed in its provinces. Its major trade goods included salt and gold which made the empire very wealthy. The Trans-Saharan trade of salt and gold between Songhai and Arab merchants brought great wealth to the empire as well as Islam. The Songhay people also traded war captives and European prisoners as slaves.=====

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The Empire's main religion was Islam which was introduced by Arab traders in the 11th century. During the period when gold-salt trade flourished between the Empire and Arab merchants, the idea of Islam=====

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=__Important Figures__=

-Reined from 1464 to 1492 -First King of the Songhay Empire -Captured Timbuktu, a center of education in West Africa, in 1468 -Conquered many territories from the crumbling Mali Empire -Skilled warrior and strategic commander who conquered various regions along the Niger River
 * 1) ===__Sonni Ali Ber__===

2__.__ __Askia Muhammad Toure__
-Defeated Sonni Baru, Sonni Ali's successor, in 1493 and founded the Askia dynasty -Undertook the holy pilgrimage to Mecca -Named Caliph of the Western Sudan -Conducted a two-decade long military campaign to gain more land and created a more professionalized and stronger army and navy

=__Timbuktu__=

Timbuktu is a city along the Niger River in Western Africa. The city was captured by the Songhay Empire in 1468 and entered its Golden Age during Askia Muhammad's rule. When Askia created an efficient regional government, the city flourished in trading goods such as ivory, salt, gold and slaves. The city also grew as a center of learning during the Mali control with the construction of the Sankore Mosque. The Sankore Mosque was not only used as a place of worship, but it was also used as a place of learning as it began to store various books brought by the Muslim merchants. The Sankore Mosque and two other buildings made up the famous University of Timbuktu, an Islamic university. By using the vast trade networks during its Golden Age allowed Islamic scholars to obtain numerous books and establish Timbuktu as a scholarly center of Africa.