Songhai Basics
What was the capital city of the Songhai Empire?
Gao
Who succeeded Sonni Ali and became known as Askia the Great?
Askia Muhammed
Which river’s trade routes were central to the Songhai Empire’s wealth?
Niger River
What determined a person’s social class in the Songhai Empire?
their birth or family background/job skills
Which group invaded Songhai, contributing to its decline?
Moroccans
Name two important cities in the Songhai Empire known for trade and learning.
Timbuktu and DJenne
What religion did Askia Muhammad promote in the Songhai Empire?
Islam
Name one trade good that was important in Songhai’s economy.
gold, salt, or enslaved people
Who were at the top of the Songhai social structure?
royal family and nobles
What advantage did the Moroccans have over the Songhai armies?
better weapons
Songhai prince that was taken captive when Mansa Musa on Pilgrimage. He became Chief of Gao.
Ali Kolon
How did Askia Muhammad improve trade in Songhai?
regulating weights, measures, and appointing trade inspectors
What was the Great Mosque of Djenné made of?
mud bricks or adobe
Could enslaved people in Songhai improve their social status?
yes, some could based on skills or value
Name one internal problem that weakened the Songhai Empire before the invasion.
revolts, weak leadership, or civil war
The Songhai Empire was located in which region of Africa?
Western Sahel
What major pilgrimage did Askia Muhammad undertake to establish his religious authority?
Pilgrimage to Mecca
What type of learning flourished in Timbuktu under the Songhai Empire?
Islamic scholarship and higher education
What was the class just below the nobles that included Muslim clerics and artisans?
freemen
Which two key cities were taken by the Moroccans during the invasion?
Gao and Timbuktu
Who was the first great king that expanded the Songhai Empire?
Sonni Ali
How did Askia Muhammad strengthen the political structure of Songhai?
appointing governors from the royal family and trusted servants
What language were many Timbuktu manuscripts written in?
Arabic
What was the name of the system that ranked people based on birth and social status?
caste system
Besides invasion, name two other factors that contributed to the decline of Songhai.
drought and disruption of trade routes