Ancient Songhai Empire
eswerther12
Location I
- Songhai was located in the Sahara desert of West Africa.
- The Songhai empire dominated the Mali region after Mali's decline.
Location II
- The Niger river flows through Songhai
- Songhai is broken up into 5 provinces (territories)
Trade I
- For currency, people used cowrie shells and trading beads.
- They also used gold chains and spear heads.
- Gold nuggets were very valuable.
Trade II
- The need for money in Songhai was growing.
- While the empire was growing, coins became popular.
Trade III
- Songhai took over Timbuktu
- To trade, merchants from Europe and Asia came to Songhai.
<- illustration of Songhai Merchants
Cities I
- Timbuktu, Gao, Kumbi, Jenne and Koumbi Saleh were the cities (provinces)
- Gao was the captial of Songhai
Cities II
- These cities were all known for education
- They all had schools
Rulers I
- The first ruler of Songhai was Sunni Ali. When he died, Askia Muhammad took over.
- (Sultan) Sunni Ali governed the Songhai empire.
<- what Sunni Ali may have been/looked like
Rulers II
- Askia Muhammad was the GREATEST ruler of Songhai
- Askia overthrew the current ruler after Sunni Ali died, so he could rule.
<- What Askia Muhammad may have looked like
Decline I
- The sultan of Morocco wanted to invade Songhai. The Europeans wanted to help them. It took them 9 years of planning and then in 1590 they sent a group of army to Songhai.
- Judar Pasha (the sultan) led the invasion. He had an army 30 times smaller than Songhai, but he won because he had guns. No one then wanted to come to Songhai because no one thought it was safe anymore.
<- This picture works for every "Decline" slide!
