Songhai Empire: Map & History
The Songhai Empire was a state located in the western part of the Sahel during the 15th and 16th centuries.
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The Songhai Empire was a state located in the western part of the Sahel during the 15th and 16th centuries. At its peak, it was one of the largest African empires in history. The state is known by its historiographical name, derived from its largest ethnic group and ruling elite, the Songhai people. Sonni Ali established Gao as the empire's capital, although a Songhai state had existed in and around Gao since the 11th century. Other important cities in the kingdom were Timbuktu and Djenné, where urban-centred trade flourished; they were conquered in 1468 and 1475, respectively. Initially, the Songhai Empire was ruled by the Sonni dynasty, but it was later replaced by the Askia dynasty (1493–1591).
Modern Countries Once Part of Songhai Empire
At its mapped extent, Songhai Empire covered territory in 3 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Songhai Empire'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.
Songhai Empire in Depth
History
In ancient times, somewhere between the 9th and 3rd centuries BCE, several different groups of people collectively formed the Songhai identity, centered around the developing hub of ancient Kukiya. Among the first people to settle in the region of Gao were the Sorko people, who established small settlements on the banks of the Niger River. The Sorko fashioned boats and canoes from the wood of the cailcedrat tree, fished and hunted from their ships, and provided water-borne transport for goods and people. Another group of people that moved into the area to live off of Niger's resources were the Gao people. The Gao were hunters and specialized in hunting river animals such as crocodiles and hippopotamus.
Military
The Songhai armed forces included a navy led by a hikoy (admiral), a cavalry of mounted archers, an infantry, and a camel cavalry. They trained herds of long-horned bulls in the imperial stables to charge at the enemy in battle. Vultures were also used to harass opposing camps.
The Songhai included three military provinces, and an army was stationed in each. It was divided into several garrisons, the kurmina, led by the balama, the central province by the emperor himself and the dendi by the dendi fari. The army of the closest military province was mobilized with that of the emperor. Those remaining on the spot ensured order in the three provinces; the emperor was obliged to be in front of the armed during a war of conquest.
Culture
At its peak, Timbuktu became a thriving cultural and commercial centre. Arab, Italian, and Jewish merchants all gathered for trade. A revival of Islamic scholarship took place at the university in Timbuktu.
Overland trade in the Sahel and river trade along the Niger were the primary sources of Songhai wealth. Trade along the West African coast was only possible in the late 1400s. Several dikes were constructed during the reign of Sonni Ali, which enhanced the irrigation and agricultural yield of the empire.
Overland trade was influenced by four factors: camels, Berber tribe members, Islam, and the structure of the empire. Gold was readily available in West Africa, but salt was not, so the gold-salt trade was the backbone of overland trade routes in the Sahel.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Songhai Empire (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Songhai Empire: Key Facts
| Capital | Gao |
|---|---|
| Official language | Songhay |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Currency | cowrie currency |
| Founded | 1464 |
| Dissolved | 12 March 1591 |
Preceded by
- Gao Empire
Facts from Wikidata Q202687 (CC0).
Songhai Empire Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Songhai Empire appears, with the other states of the time.
Songhai Empire Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 665,730 km² in 1579 CE.
Songhai Empire: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Songhai Empire exist?
The Songhai Empire is dated to 1463 CE – 1608 CE, in the Early Modern & Age of Discovery era.
What was the capital of the Songhai Empire?
The capital of the Songhai Empire was Gao.
How large was the Songhai Empire at its peak?
At its peak in 1579 the Songhai Empire covered about 665,730 km².
How did the map of the Songhai Empire change over time?
The Songhai Empire appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1500 CE to 1600 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
Other Sovereign Realms
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Avarga
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, Constantinople
Industrial Era • Capital: London
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi