Sokoto Caliphate: Map & History
The Sokoto Caliphate, also known as the Sultanate of Sokoto, was a Sunni Muslim caliphate in West Africa.
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The Sokoto Caliphate, also known as the Sultanate of Sokoto, was a Sunni Muslim caliphate in West Africa. It was founded by Usman dan Fodio in 1804 during the Fulani jihads after defeating the Hausa Kingdoms in the Fulani War. The boundaries of the caliphate extended to parts of present-day Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria. By 1837, the Caliphate had a population of 10–20 million people, becoming the most populous empire in West Africa. It was dissolved when the British, French, and Germans conquered the area in 1903 and annexed it into the newly established Northern Nigeria Protectorate, Senegambia and Niger and Kamerun respectively.
Modern Countries Once Part of Sokoto Caliphate
At its mapped extent, Sokoto Caliphate covered territory in 4 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Nigeria1805–1904 CE · a large part
- Niger1834–1904 CE · a large part
- Cameroon1809–1904 CE · a small part
- Burkina Faso1834–1904 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Sokoto Caliphate's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Sokoto Caliphate in Depth
History
The major power in the region in the 17th and 18th centuries had been the Bornu Empire. However, revolutions and the rise of new powers decreased the power of the Bornu empire and by 1759 its rulers had lost control over the oasis town of Bilma and access to the Trans-Saharan trade. Vassal cities of the empire gradually became autonomous, and the result by 1780 was a political array of independent states in the region.
The fall of the Songhai Empire in 1591 to Morocco also had freed much of the central Bilad as-Sudan, and a number of Hausa sultanates led by different Hausa aristocracies had grown to fill the void. Three of the most significant to develop were the sultanates of Gobir, Kebbi (both in the Rima River valley), and Zamfara, all in present-day Nigeria.
Economy
After the establishment of the Caliphate, there were decades of economic growth throughout the region, particularly after a wave of revolts in 1816–1817. They had significant trade over the trans-Saharan routes.
After the Fulani War, all land in the empire was declared waqf or owned by the entire community. However, the Sultan allocated land to individuals or families, as could an emir. Such land could be inherited by family members but could not be sold. Exchange was based largely on slaves, cowries or gold. Major crops produced included cotton, indigo, kola and shea nuts, grain, rice, tobacco, and onion.
Considerable numbers of scholars and the poor depended on the "great houses" for basic amenities like food and clothing.
Legacy
Although it has lost its former political power, the Sokoto Sultanate Council continues to exist, and the Sokoto Sultans are still "leading figures in Nigerian society". Even the Presidents of Nigeria have sought their support.
Due to its impact, the Sokoto Caliphate is also revered by Islamists in modern Nigeria. For example, the Jihadist militant group Ansaru has vowed to revive the Sokoto Caliphate in order to restore the "lost dignity of Muslims in black Africa".
The influence of the Sokoto Caliphate can also be seen in extremist groups like Boko Haram. Boko Haram, based in northeastern Nigeria, promotes an extremist interpretation of Islam and seeks to establish an Islamic state governed by strict Sharia law.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Sokoto Caliphate (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Sokoto Caliphate: Key Facts
| Official languages | English, Arabic, Hausa, Swahili, Fula |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1804 |
| Dissolved | 1903 |
Preceded by
- Hausa Kingdoms
Succeeded by
- Northern Nigeria Protectorate
- Kamerun
- French West Africa
Facts from Wikidata Q600524 (CC0).
Sokoto Caliphate Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Sokoto Caliphate appears, with the other states of the time.
Sokoto Caliphate Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 798,855 km² in 1838 CE.
Sokoto Caliphate: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Sokoto Caliphate exist?
The Sokoto Caliphate is dated to 1805 CE – 1904 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of the Sokoto Caliphate?
The capital of the Sokoto Caliphate was ubl.
How large was the Sokoto Caliphate at its peak?
At its peak in 1838 the Sokoto Caliphate covered about 798,855 km².
How did the map of the Sokoto Caliphate change over time?
The Sokoto Caliphate appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1850 CE to 1900 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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