1. Kingdom of Songhai
A.D

2. Who were the Songhai people?
They lived under the rule of the Kingdom of Mali during the 1400s.
Storytellers, or griots, were responsible for the telling the history of the people for each generation.
Islam was the religion of the people.

3. Location
Niger Valley
West Africa

5. Rise of Songhai The leading kingdom of West Africa
Factor One: Trade
Songhai’s leaders controlled trade routes and the sources of salt and gold
Factor Two: Timbuktu
Songhai’s wealth and power grew when it conquered the rich trading city of Timbuktu.

6. Songhai’s Great Leaders
Sunni Ali
Was a prisoner of war under the Kingdom of Mali.
Escaped and began taking over cities such as Gao, Timbuktu and Djenne.
Many believed he had magical powers and became known as ‘Sunni Ali the Great’.
Askia Muhammad
The Kingdom of Songhai was strongest under his rule.
Began the Askia dynasty.
He was responsible for taking over the majority of the salt and gold trade in Western Africa.

7. Songhai’s Decline
In less than 100 years, Songhai began to lose its power.
Reason One
Internal fighting (Civil War) weakened the Kingdom.
Reason Two
Moroccan armies invaded and captures the major cities. Songhai fell and was divided to form smaller states.

8. Review
How was Songhai’s rise as an empire similar to Ghana’s and Mali’s?
What events led to the fall of Songhai?