The fall of Songhay1
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The fall of Songhay
INTRODUCTION
The Songhai Empire, often spelled Songhay, was a powerful West African dynasty that
ruled over the Sahel region in the 15th and 16th centuries. The empire was once among the
biggest in Africa. The Songhai, the major ethnolinguistic group and the most powerful nobles in
the kingdom, are honored by the state's historical name. Even though a Songhai state had existed
in and around Gao since the eleventh century, Sonni Ali chose to make Gao the imperial capital.
Timbuktu and Djenné, which the empire occupied in 1468 and 1475, respectively, were
prosperous metropolitan areas with bustling trade. The Sonni dynasty first dominated the empire
(about 1464–1493), but the Askia dynasty eventually overthrew them (1493–1591). Gao and the
surrounding area developed into a significant economic hub in the second part of the thirteenth
century, drawing the interest of the rapidly growing Mali Empire. Mali ruled GAO at the close of
the 13th century. The Malians had complete control over GAO up until the late 14th century
(
Amoah‐Boampong, p.5)
The Songhai retook Gao following the fall of the Mali Empire. Following the collapse of
the Mali Empire, Songhai kings grew their domain. The Songhai Empire expanded under Sunni
Ali's leadership to surpass the Malian Empire in size, wealth, and political clout. Sonni Bru
(1492-1493), his son and successor, was a less effective ruler of the empire, and he was
overthrown by Muhammad True (1493-1528; nicknamed Askia), one of his father's generals,
who implemented political and economic reforms across the entire kingdom. The Songhai
2
Empire (also known as Songhay, c. 1450-c.) replaced the Mali Empire (1240-1645) as the
dominant power in West Africa (covering modern southern Mauritania and Mali). Along the
eastern bend of the Niger River, a small kingdom emerged around 1000. The Songhai would
greatly increase their area under King Sunnily I. (1464-1492). The Songhai Empire, which had
its capital at Gao and controlled trans-Saharan trade from cities like Timbuktu and Djenne, lasted
for the majority of the 16th century before the Moroccans overthrew it in 1591 as a result of
internal strife(
Amoah‐Boampong, p.2)
Several internal and external events weakened the Songhai Empire. Moroccan military
incursions into the empire in 1591 resulted in a significant external setback. Civil unrest afflicted
the empire for much of the second half of the 16th century, greatly weakening it and making it
simpler to capture. The economy also had issues from within the empire as the ruling class grew
more corrupt and incompetent. The Sahel region grows more arid and challenging to farm,
exacerbating the empire's environmental issues. The Songhai Empire ultimately fell due to these
circumstances.
OVERVIEW OF AIM / SUBJECT MATTER
One of the biggest empires ever to exist in Africa was the Songhai Empire. In its heyday,
its dominion stretched from the western shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the easternmost parts of
the Sahara Desert, as well as from the southern bank of the Niger River to the northern shores of
the Mediterranean Sea. The Songhai people established their empire around the beginning of the
15th century, bringing their shared culture and language together. But by the late 16th century,
the empire had begun to disintegrate due to a number of internal issues, including as political
corruption, religious conflict, and economic collapse. The empire disintegrated around the start
of the 17th century as a result of these internal issues. The Songhai people established the
3
Songhai Empire at the turn of the 15th century, bringing their shared language and culture
together. Askia Muhammad I, who enlarged the empire's territory and implemented numerous
reforms, brought the empire to its zenith in the 16th century.
However, a multitude of local and global factors—both domestic and international—led
to the empire's decline in the late 16th century. A significant factor in the collapse of the empire
was corruption at the highest levels of administration. The ruling class's corruption and hunger
for power only grew worse as the empire grew. The stability of the empire was compromised by
the internal strife of the ruling class. The governing class also started abusing the populace,
which sparked upheavals and rebellions across the empire. Tensions related to religion were a
factor in the collapse of the empire. Only a few of the several religions practiced inside the
empire's borders were Christianity, Islam, and native African ones. Tensions between the
empire's numerous religions intensified as its people became more diverse. The attempt to
convert the populace to the faith of the ruling class only made the problem worse. Last but not
least, the empire's demise was accelerated by financial issues. Agriculture was a major source of
the empire's riches, and when a series of droughts struck in the late 16th century, this industry
was severely harmed. This caused widespread starvation and economic hardship, which
ultimately further damaged the empire. An intersection of domestic and external circumstances
led to the demise of the Songhai Empire in the early 17th century. The empire was weakened and
more open to invasion due to internal issues such administrative corruption, religious instability,
and economic collapse. In addition, the empire was under siege from a host of strong rivals,
including the Moroccans and the Ottomans. These wars were a major factor in the empire's
collapse.
INDIVIDUALS EVENTS THAT ARE CENTRAL TO THE TOPIC
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The death of Askia Muhammad Ture, the great ruler, in 1528. Lead was another issue that
contributed to the Songhai dynasty's downfall and eventual demise. The death of Muhammad
Ture, often recognized as the greatest emperor of all time, signaled the end of an era. The
empire's decline, which had already begun when he died, was hastened by his death, but it had
already begun. Askia the Great's son was Muhammad Ture. Askia the Great established the
Songhai Empire. In general, he was a strong leader and manager. He increased the empire's
territory and military power, driving it to the forefront of Africa's great empires. Despite this, he
was unable to keep the empire going, and after his death, its quality began to deteriorate. When
Muhammad Ture was deposed, the Songhai Empire suffered a significant defeat. The empire is
currently without a competent ruler as a result of Muhammad Ture's death. His death hastened
the empire's downfall, which had already begun before his death. His death caused the empire
unable to revive, ultimately leading to its demise.
As the Songhai Empire grew in size, the empire's ruling class became increasingly
contaminated by corruption. Because of this corruption, the elite splintered and fought amongst
themselves, making the empire less stable. Furthermore, the empire's ruling class began to abuse
the empire's citizens, resulting in riots and revolutions. The extent of corruption within the ruling
elite was one of the key reasons for the Songhai Empire's demise. As the empire grew, the elite
began to compete for more power and status inside it, resulting in intra-elite strife. Internal
insecurity afflicted the empire, making it more vulnerable to invasion from outside forces. The
ruling class began to take advantage of the empire's population, sparking a series of revolts. The
governing class oppressed the empire's population by imposing punishing taxes on them, forcing
them to work in mines, and enlisting them in the army. A convergence of these events eventually
brought the Songhai Empire to its knees.
5
Another key element to the empire's downfall and destruction was the rivalry between
two of the kingdom's most powerful monarchs, Askia Ishaq II and Askia Daoud. This rivalry led
to the commencement of a civil war, which weakened the empire and made it more susceptible to
invasion. Moroccans launched an attack on Songhai in 1591 and swiftly ascended to power
inside the empire. The main reason for their hostility was because Askia Ishaq II and Askia
Daoud were fighting for power over one another. Ishaq II was meant to be the true heir to the
throne, but Daoud took it instead. Because of their disagreement, the two men became embroiled
in a civil war, making the empire more vulnerable to invasion. Moroccans launched an attack on
Songhai in 1591 and swiftly ascended to power inside the empire. The battle between Ishaq II
and Daoud is one example of the internal instability that afflicted the Songhai Empire in its final
years. This battle, combined with the empire's growing vulnerability to invasions from foreign
forces, eventually led to the empire's demise.
Religion-based rivalries were another factor in the empire's downfall and demise. People
inside the empire practiced a diverse range of religious traditions, including Christianity, Islam,
and indigenous African beliefs. As the empire's population became more diversified, the number
of violent religious confrontations increased. The imperial government's efforts to impose its
particular religious views on the general populace exacerbated the religious turmoil that already
existed throughout the empire. Those who did not share the ruling class's religious beliefs
reported feeling oppressed. As a result, people in positions of control felt a yearning as well as a
rage for independence. These occurrences eventually contributed to the empire's demise.
Multiple battles were also started as a result of the religious turmoil that raged throughout the
empire. These wars depleted the empire's resources, hastening its collapse and finally leading to
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its demise. In the end, the doctrinal divisions that existed inside the empire caused the people
living there to lose faith in one another and in their capacity to interact with one another. This,
along with the other elements discussed previously, had a role in the empire's decline (Taylor,
p.2)
It was impossible to exert effective authority over the empire due to its breadth. The empire had to put down uprisings and repel incursions from the countries that surrounded it. As a result, maintaining power over the empire's huge territory was incredibly difficult. Aside from these issues, the empire was beset by intrigues and coups. As a result of these internal disputes, the empire increasingly weakened, making it more difficult to assert authority over it and maintain it under control. The Songhai Empire eventually fell apart due to its declining population, internal turmoil, and vast geographic territory. The coup conducted by Askia Muhammad in 1528 was one instance of the internal conflicts that existed inside the empire. The previous monarch, Muhammad, was deposed by Muhammad, who then assumed power for himself. Muhammad overthrew Sonni Ali. As a result of the coup, the empire experienced a period of upheaval and internal strife. Furthermore, the empire was frequently assaulted by nations in its close proximity.
As an example, in 1591, the Moroccans launched an assault of the empire, wreaking destruction on Gao, the imperial capital. This invasion led to the empire's downfall, which eventually ended in its demise.
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Illustrations/ Maps
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Inequalities in power distribution were another key element to the monarchy's demise.
The conquest of North Africa was the most essential component of the Ottoman Empire's
growth. The Ottomans began conquest of Songhai territory in the 1580s, and by 1591, they had
taken control of Tripoli, the Songhai empire's capital city. As a direct consequence of this, the
Songhai capital of Gao was placed in risk by the Ottomans. The expanding might of the
Moroccan kingdom was one of the causes that contributed to the empire's downfall. In 1591,
Moroccans launched an assault on Songhai territory and successfully took possession of Fez.
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They soon took control of a number of further towns, including Gao, Songhai's capital. In 1610,
Moroccan warriors led by Ahmad al-Mansur invaded Timbuktu, which proved to be the pivotal
event in the empire's demise. The Songhai Empire suffered a terrible financial and psychological
damage as a result of this tragedy. The Moroccan invasions nearly destroyed the empire, and it
had not entirely recovered by the beginning of the 17th century (Bovill, p.136)
Numerous causes, particularly the empire's poor economic status, contributed to the
empire's demise. To begin with, the empire was unable to generate enough revenue to cover its
operating expenses as well as its military expenditures. As a result of this, the empire's ability to
keep control over its domain and people dwindled. Second, the empire's inability to invest in its
agricultural and industrial sectors resulted in a reduction in the nation's overall economic output.
Finally, the value of the empire's currency began to plummet further, which made it more
difficult for the empire to trade with other nations and pay back its commitments. As a result, the
empire's fragile economic situation was the most major reason to its demise.
The Songhai Empire's economic well-being was greatly dependent on its capacity to trade
with both North Africa and the Middle East. The Moroccan and Ottoman empires had a
monopoly on this particular commerce. In 1591, a Moroccan army attacked and eventually
gained control of the Songhai Empire. The fall of the Songhai Empire signaled the end of a
particularly rich period in West African history. The Songhai Empire relied significantly on trade
as its principal source of prosperity. The majority of the empire's land was dedicated to growing
grains such as millet and sorghum, which were largely transported to North African and Middle
Eastern countries. In addition to these items, the Songhai Empire traded gold, ivory, and enslaved
people. The Moroccan and Ottoman empires, who controlled the economic channels used by the
Songhai Empire, imposed hefty levies on goods bought and sold along those routes. As a result,
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the Songhai Empire struggled to compete economically with other empires. The Songhai
Empire's frequent wars with its neighboring powers exacerbated the empire's economic troubles.
The demise of the Songhai Empire was a step backward in West African history. Unrest in
politics and the economy has afflicted the region since the empire's fall, which had long been a
major regional force (Bovill, p.138)
The Songhai Empire's isolation from the rest of the world contributed to its failure to
adjust to changing climatic circumstances, which ultimately to the empire's downfall and demise.
The Songhai Empire was unable to capitalize on breakthrough innovations and ideas developed
elsewhere in the globe. Because it was unable to adapt to changing circumstances, the empire
gradually lagged behind other civilisations. Some of the time's evolving concepts and
technologies included the development of new types of weapons, the invention of the printing
press, and the development of new navigational methods. The Songhai Empire was unable to use
these innovative concepts and technologies because they were developed in other parts of the
world. Although the empire's discoveries and ideologies kept it ahead of other civilizations and
delayed its decline, the empire was unable to adapt to changing circumstances and was
eventually bound to fail.
In terms of military technology and training, the Songhai Empire's army lagged behind
that of Morocco. Moroccan fighters were well-equipped with superior weaponry and artillery.
Spears and shields were the most common types of weapons under the Songhai Empire. The
Moroccan forces were more coordinated and disciplined than the Songhai infantry. In
comparison, the Songhai Empire was far smaller in size than the Moroccan Empire. The
Moroccan Empire was better able to defend itself against an attack since it had a greater
population and more resources. During the Battle of Tondibi in 1591, the Moroccan army
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decisively destroyed the soldiers of the Songhai Empire. Following it, the Moroccan army
conquered Gao, the Songhai nation's capital. Following the fall of the Songhai Empire, the
region experienced a period of political unrest. The Moroccan army's superior military expertise
and weaponry played a crucial role in the Songhai Empire's downfall and death. The Songhai
Empire lagged behind in terms of both technology and education. The Moroccan army possessed
better weapons and more experienced soldiers overall. In the 16th century, the Songhai Empire
was defeated when it was unable to withstand the attack of the Moroccan army. This resulted in
the empire's demise (Ibrahim, p.24)
The empire was well-known for having a powerful central administration, a thriving
economy, and a rich cultural legacy. However, as the Sahel region became more arid and difficult
to farm, the empire began to face environmental concerns. As a result of these issues, the empire,
which was dependent on slave labor, finally crumbled. The Songhai Empire was based in the
Sahel region, which is known for its low annual precipitation levels. The drop in agricultural
productivity can be linked to the fact that a lack of rainfall makes crop cultivation more difficult.
Furthermore, the empire relied on slave labor, which became increasingly difficult to obtain as
the empire declined. The Songhai Empire was eventually brought to its knees as a result of these
two factors (
Ibrahim, p.24)
SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION
The Songhai Empire was one of the most powerful kingdoms in the annals of African
history. The bounds of the empire stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Niger River, as well
as from the Sahara Desert to the rainforests on the Guinean coast. At the turn of the 15th century,
a ruler named Sonni Ali acquired control over the Songhai Empire in West Africa. Askia
Muhammad Ture, who came to power in 1493 and ruled during the empire's most prosperous
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time, is credited with its greatest achievements. Under Ture's direction, the Songhai Empire
flourished as a center of commerce and learning during its history. The city of Gao, which served
as the seat of the empire, was a thriving metropolis home to more than 100,000 people. The
Songhai Empire was a large producer of salt, gold, and other commodities, among other things.
Agriculture, fishing, and trade were the three primary economic activities that supported the
empire. Irrigation was an essential part of crop production for Songhai farmers working in the
arid Sahara Desert. As a means of transportation along the Niger River, the fishermen of the
empire frequently used canoes. The Songhai Empire was an important commercial crossroads
throughout its time. The Songhai traders had to go through the Sahara Desert to conduct business
with merchants from North Africa and the Arab world. At the end of the 15th century, European
colonists established themselves in West Africa and began engaging in commercial activity with
the locals there. Beginning in the latter half of the 16th century, the Songhai Empire began to fall
apart. The empire's decline can be attributed to internal strife and Moroccan invasions. The
Songhai Dynasty finally ended when the Moroccans took Gao, the imperial capital of the
Songhai Empire. Following the collapse of the Songhai Empire, West Africa went through a
turbulent time on both the political and economic fronts (
Neumark, p.2)
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WORK CITED
Amoah‐Boampong, Cyrelene. "Songhai Empire."
The Encyclopedia of Empire
(2016): 1-5.
Bovill, E. W. "The Rise and fall of the Songhai Empire."
The Golden Trade of the Moors: West
African Kingdoms in the Fourteenth Century
(1995): 132-206.
Ibrahim, K. O. N. E. "What can the Maritime Silk Road learn from the rise and fall of the
Songhai Empire?"
Journal of East China Normal University (Natural Science)
2020.S1
(2020): 24.
Kintiba, George. "The Empire of Songhay, 1375-1591: Memory and Heritage of a Glorious Past
[A Historiographical Essay]."
Neumark, Daniel S. "Trans-Saharan trade in the middle ages."
An Economic History of Tropical
Africa: The Pre-Colonial Period
1 (1977).
Taylor, Andrew.
The Rise and fall of the great empire
. No. 909 T238r. Quercus, 2008.