wellimported
as the study
of theand
Quran
in his
He
scholars
books
to kingdom.
introduce his
He
imported
scholars
and
books
to
introduce
his
subjects to the message of Allah. He brought
archisubjects
to the
message
Allah. He
brought
architects
back with
him
to buildofmosques
like
the ones
he
back
build mosques
like the
ones he
hadtects
seen
in with
Cairohim
andtoArabia.
The famous
Sankore
mosque
in Timbuktu
was Arabia.
one of the
had seen
in Cairo and
Theresults.
famousSankore
Sankore
also
becameinan
important
learning.
mosque
Timbuktu
wascenter
one ofofthe
results. Sankore
Mansa
Musa
proved
to
be
the
last
powerful
also became an important center of learning. ruler
of Mali.
By Musa
1359, proved
civil war
Within
Mansa
to bedivided
the last Mali.
powerful
ruler
another
hundred
years
a
new
kingdom—that
of
of Mali. By 1359, civil war divided Mali. Within
Songhai—was beginning to surpass Mali.
another hundred years a new kingdom—that of
Reading Check
Songhai—was
beginning
to surpass
Summarizing
WhatMali.
were Mansa
Musa’s accomplishments?
Reading Check Summarizing What were Mansa
Musa’s accomplishments?
The Kingdom of Songhai
Like the Nile, the Niger River floods and thus provides a rich soil for raising crops and taking care of
cattle.Like
East
Timbuktu,
river
makes
a wide
theofNile,
the Nigerthe
River
floods
and thus
probend.
Along
south of
thatand
bend,
a people
vides
a richthe
soilriver,
for raising
crops
taking
care of
known
the Songhai
established
themselves.
cattle.asEast
of Timbuktu,
the river
makes a wide
In
1009,
a
ruler
named
Kossi
converted
bend. Along the river, south of that bend,toa Islam
people
and established the Dia dynasty. This first Songhai
known as the Songhai established themselves.
state benefited from the Muslim trade routes linking
In 1009, a ruler named Kossi converted to Islam
Arabia, North Africa, and West Africa. An era of
and established the Dia dynasty. This first Songhai
prosperity ensued with Gao as the chief trade center.
state benefited
from the
tradewho
routes
linking
Under
the leadership
ofMuslim
Sunni Ali,
created
a
Arabia,
North
Africa,
and
West
Africa.
An
era
new dynasty—the Sunni—in 1464, Songhai began toof
prosperity
withmuch
Gao as
center.
expand.
Sunniensued
Ali spent
ofthe
hischief
reigntrade
on horseUnder
of led
Sunni
created
back and
on the
the leadership
march as he
his Ali,
armywho
in one
mil- a
itary
afterSunni—in
another. 1464,
Two Songhai
of Sunni
Ali’sto
newcampaign
dynasty—the
began
The Kingdom of Songhai
expand. Sunni Ali spent much of his reign on horseback and on the march as he led his army in one military campaign after another. Two of Sunni Ali’s
conquests, Timbuktu and Jenne, were especially
conquests,They
Timbuktu
and Jenne,
were
especially
important.
gave Songhai
control
of the
trading
important. They gave
Songhai
of the trading
empire—especially
trade
in saltcontrol
and gold—that
had
empire—especially
trade
in salt and gold—that had
made
Ghana and Mali
so prosperous.
made
andEmpire
Mali so reached
prosperous.
The Ghana
Songhai
the height of its
power
theEmpire
reign ofreached
Muhammad
Ture. AofmiliTheduring
Songhai
the height
its
tary
commander
and
devout
Muslim,
Muhammad
power during the reign of Muhammad Ture. A miliTure
of Sunni
Ali Muhammad
and seized
tary overthrew
commanderthe
andson
devout
Muslim,
power
in 1493, thus
creating
a new
the
Ture overthrew
the son
of Sunni
Ali dynasty,
and seized
Askia. (Askia means “usurper.”)
power in 1493, thus creating a new dynasty, the
Muhammad Ture continued Sunni Ali’s policy of
Askia. (Askia means “usurper.”)
expansion, creating an empire that stretched a thouMuhammad Ture continued Sunni Ali’s policy of
sand miles along the Niger River. He was an able
expansion, creating
an empire
that stretched
a thouadministrator
who divided
Songhai
into provinces.
sand miles along
the Niger River.
He was
an able
Muhammad
Ture maintained
the peace
and security
into provinces.
ofadministrator
his kingdomwho
withdivided
a navySonghai
and soldiers
on horseMuhammad
Turecities
maintained
peaceprospered
and security
back.
The chief
of the the
empire
as
never
fromwith
the salt
andand
goldsoldiers
trade. on horseof hisbefore
kingdom
a navy
AfterThe
Muhammad
reign,
Songhai
enteredasa
back.
chief citiesTure’s
of the
empire
prospered
period
of slowfrom
decline.
Near
endtrade.
of the sixteenth
never before
the salt
andthe
gold
century,
decline quickened
the entered
forces of
After that
Muhammad
Ture’s reign,when
Songhai
a
the
sultan
of
Morocco
occupied
much
of
Songhai.
period of slow decline. Near the end of the sixteenth
One observer wrote, “From that moment on, everycentury, that decline quickened when the forces of
thing changed. Danger took the place of security,
the sultan of Morocco occupied much of Songhai.
poverty [took the place] of wealth. Peace gave way to
One observer
wrote,
that moment
distress,
disasters,
and“From
violence.”
By 1600,on,
theeverySongthing
changed.
Danger
took
the
place
of
security,
hai Empire was little more than a remnant of its forpoverty
[tookself.
the place] of wealth. Peace gave way to
mer
glorious
distress, disasters, and violence.” By 1600, the SongReading Check
What wereoftheitskeyforhai Empire was little Summarizing
more than a remnant
factors in Songhai’s rise to power?
mer glorious self.
CHAPTER
7
Early
African Civilizations
Reading
Check
Summarizing
What were the key
factors in Songhai’s rise to power?
231