1. Songhai Empire 1464-1591 (at its height)
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Songhai Empire (at its height)
Location: West Africa
Religion: Islam
Famous city: Timbuktu, major trade center for gold and salt. Timbuktu was also a center for learning.
Contributions/inventions/innovations:
In the city of Timbuktu, the Songhai built an international university. Established gold and salt trade in west Africa.
Famous leaders: Sonni Ali and Askia the Great
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2. Mughal Empire 1556-1707 (at its height)
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Location: India
Religion: Islam, but toleration for other religions
Famous city: Agra Contributions/inventions/innovations:
The Taj Mahal
Famous leaders: Babur and Akbar
Taj Mahal: 2

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Ottoman Empire
Location: Turkey and most land surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.
Religion: Islam
Famous city: Istanbul
Contributions/inventio ns/innovations:
Legal code, Islamic art and architecture. Exported coffee, ceramics, and textiles.
Famous leaders: Suleiman the Magnificent
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Safavid Empire
Location: Iran (ancient Persia) and other parts of central Asia.
Religion: Islam (Shi’a)
Famous city: Istafahan
Contributions/inventions/
innovations:
Leaders of the Safavid Empire were known as Shahs. Textiles (Persian carpet)
Famous leaders: Abbas I
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5. Ming Dynasty 1368-1644 Famous leaders: Hong-wu Location: China
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Location: China
Religion: Confucianism and some polytheism
Famous city: Nanjing and
Beijing
Contributions/inventions/innovations:
Great Wall was redesigned, the novel, porcelain, and dictionary.
Famous leaders: Hong-wu 5

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Maya Empire 300 c.e- 900 c.e
Location: Yucatan Peninsula (parts of Mexico and Guatemala)
Religion: polytheistic, sacrifices performed
Famous city:
Tikal and Chichen Itza (location of the famous ball court)
Contributions/inventions/innovations:
calendar, ball court, writing system based on hieroglyphics
The Mayan Empire mysteriously disappeared. Could have been caused by a natural disaster, but historians are still not sure. 6

7. Aztec Empire 1325-1519 Location: Mexico
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Location: Mexico
Religion: polytheistic, sacrifices performed
Famous city:
Tenochtitlan, built on an island in the center of Lake Texcoco (Mexico City is located on this spot today)
Contributions/inventions/innovations:
floating gardens, calendar
The Aztec Empire was invaded by the Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortez in 7

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Inca Empire
Location: Andes Mountains of western South America
Religion: polytheistic, sacrifices performed
Famous city:
Cuzco, Machu Picchu
Contributions/inventions/innovations:
Quipu (knotted system of keeping records), large road system, surgery, bridges.
The Inca Empire was invaded by the Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro. 8