Reading Questions
Explain how rulers used a variety of methods to legitimize and consolidate their power in land-based empires from 1450 to 1750.
Explain how rulers used a variety of methods to legitimize and consolidate their power in land-based empires from 1450 to 1750.
- How did the Songahi emperors use religion to legitimize their rule?
- What other methods did Askia Muhamad use to consolidate power?
- What were the causes and consequences of the rivalry between Songhai and Morocco?
What was the Songhai Empire
The Songhai empire rose after the Mali empire under the leadership of Sunni Ali. It came to tis height around 1500 under Askia Muhammad. He increased the size of the military, encouraged new ideas in math and science, and invited scholars to Songhai. All of the Songhai emperors continued to promote build mosques, promoting Islam to legitimize their rule. The government was ruled using Sharia Law. Due to this connection with the rest of the Islam world and gold, Songhai grew to be the most powerful of the west African kingdoms.
Although Islam was a growing faith, it remained an urban elite religion. The majority of people continued their traditional practices. Songhai, like Mali before it, remained a center of learning for the Muslim world. People from all over the world traveled to Timbuktu to study. Problems with succession of rule weakened the empire making it easy pickings for the Moroccan Saadi dynasty to the north of the Sahara. |
Rivalry with Morocco and Fall |
The Moroccans defeated the Portuguese in 1578 and their treasury was depleted. Additionally, they made an alliance with the English to defeat the Spanish empire. By 1591 Saadi Sultanate, another Muslim nation, invaded Songhai looking to control the gold mines to fund their plans. Using gunpowder weapons, the Moroccan army defeated the larger Songhai army at the Battle of Tondibi. The Moroccans were unable to keep control of the region largely because the Moroccan homeland was across the Sahara. The Songhai empire collapsed and was divided into smaller states. |