Essay Questions

Decline of Songhay Empire [25]

Succession crisis

• dispute after succession of Askia Dawud (al-Hajj succeeding from bankaru), Askia Bani executed brothers in 1586, Ishaq and al-Sadiq battle killing military commanders

• BUT Ishaq maintained some stability and support, Dawud had stability during his reign, not a constant issue but hugely weakened songhay

Large diverse empire

• huge empire, larger than Europe, stretched from Niger bend to Sahara, ethnically diverse and often divided (e.g. Muslim Timbuktu supporting Sadiq versus traditional Gao supporting Ishaq), lost control of outer empire areas such as Taghaza salt mines 1561-1566,

• most expansion happened under successful rulers, little expansion after Dawud, natural imperial cycle

Moroccan Invasion

• military techniques of Songhay backfired, help from Europe, sacked cities

• moments of good relationships between groups, final army sent by morocco lost, it was internal divisions worsened by the war that eventually destroyed songhay

Rise of Songhay Empire [25]

• collapse of Mali: root cause, Gao princes escaped under Mansa Musa, recaptured Gao, imperial cycle, left a power vacuum which could be filled by Songhay

  BUT

  lots of other competing forces in that area meaning it wasn’t necessarily Songhay that rose as the next empire

• military: accelerating factor, had a cavalry using horses from Hausa states and Maghrib trade, naval power based around a riverboat flotilla and the native Sorko people, Songhay expanded to be 1.4m+ sq km at its peak, 30,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry

  BUT

  horses were dependent on seasons, suitable terrain and avoidance of the tsetse fly, could only be used half the year, refused to use guns and even threw muskets in the Niger river

• Sonni Ali as a leader: main cause, strong military leader, reputation as an ‘empire builder’, takeover of Timbuktu (1469) and Djenne (1473), military improvements (30,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry, role of hi-koi and naval fleet), improved general administration

  BUT

  was so militant in his conquests he caused thousands from Timbuktu to flee and murdered some Muslim scholars, expanded empire but without subjects

Development of Songhay Empire [25]

• administration: development of positions such as chancellor, kanfari, ali folon as the Askia’s adviser, 8 provincial areas governed by kio, qadis also supported administration e.g. through legal framework and political support

  BUT

  no matter the administrative success there were still succession crises and periodic civil wars, had 471 children, Askia Mohammed succeeded by Musa who imrpisoned him on a mosquito infested island, conflict between Musa and other sons, all but one subsequent Songhay leaders were the children of concubines

• Timbuktu: grew to be a prosperous area, re-encouraged settlement of Muslim scholars, role of Qadis in administration and laws, Sankore university rebuilt with 25,000 pupils, 180 institutes of learning developed with 20,000 pupils

  BUT

  went on to change power dynamics with the rest of Songhay especially Gao

• Military: expanded Songhay successfully to important trade points such as Taghaza and Takkeda, empire grew to be the size of Europe under Askia Mohammed, used slaves in army

  BUT

  split into two, divided between Gao and Timbuktu, less expansion under Askia Mohammed, limited development in the military such as refusing to adopt guns

‘Development of religious scholarship was the most important achievement of the Askia Dynasty’

• importance of religious scholarship: set up 180 Islamic schools with 20,000 pupils attending, university of Sankore with 25,000 pupils, Muslims at Timbuktu were literate, benefitted trade etc.

  BUT

  whilst most Askias supported religious scholarship, Askia Musa, who briefly succeeded Mohammed resisted it and massacred Muslim scholars, decline in relationship with religious scholars during reign of Askia Ishaq I

• administration: expanded administration hugely, created a range of roles, furthered role of Hi-Koi, created role of chancellor, aided by chief eunuch Ali Folon, Muslim Qadis supported administration and the legal framework (religious scholarship)

  BUT

  had 471 children, succession crisis, only one future ruler of Askia dynasty wasn’t the son of a concubine, successor challenged by Bonkama

• economic success: secured control over trade in Takkeda and Taghaza, expansion to Tuareg regions, increasing naval trade via canal systems, salt and copper, became hugely wealthy particularly in areas like Timbuktu

  BUT

  remained isolated from North Africa because Mossi states acted as an interruption and they were not muslim so no friendly developments were reached

“Relations with the ulema was the most important reason for the success of the Songhai Empire.” To what extent do you agree with this view?

To what extent was the role of Timbuktu most important to the success of the Songhay Empire

• administration: development of positions such as chancellor, kanfari, ali folon as the Askia’s adviser, 8 provincial areas governed by kio, qadis also supported administration e.g. through legal framework and political support

  BUT

  no matter the administrative success there were still succession crises and periodic civil wars, had 471 children, Askia Mohammed succeeded by Musa who imrpisoned him on a mosquito infested island, conflict between Musa and other sons, all but one subsequent Songhay leaders were the children of concubines

• Timbuktu: grew to be a prosperous area, re-encouraged settlement of Muslim scholars, role of Qadis in administration and laws, Sankore university rebuilt with 25,000 pupils, 180 institutes of learning developed with 20,000 pupils

  BUT

  went on to change power dynamics with the rest of Songhay especially Gao

• Military: expanded Songhay successfully to important trade points such as Taghaza and Takkeda, empire grew to be the size of Europe under Askia Mohammed, used slaves in army

  BUT

  split into two, divided between Gao and Timbuktu, less expansion under Askia Mohammed, limited development in the military such as refusing to adopt guns

To what extent was the leadership of Sonni Ali the main reason for the rise of the Songhay Empire?

• collapse of Mali: root cause, Gao princes escaped under Mansa Musa, recaptured Gao, imperial cycle, left a power vacuum which could be filled by Songhay

  BUT

  lots of other competing forces in that area meaning it wasn’t necessarily Songhay that rose as the next empire

• military: accelerating factor, had a cavalry using horses from Hausa states and Maghrib trade, naval power based around a riverboat flotilla and the native Sorko people, Songhay expanded to be 1.4m+ sq km at its peak, 30,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry

  BUT

  horses were dependent on seasons, suitable terrain and avoidance of the tsetse fly, could only be used half the year, refused to use guns and even threw muskets in the Niger river

• Sonni Ali as a leader: main cause, strong military leader, reputation as an ‘empire builder’, takeover of Timbuktu (1469) and Djenne (1473), military improvements (30,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry, role of hi-koi and naval fleet), improved general administration

  BUT

  was so militant in his conquests he caused thousands from Timbuktu to flee and murdered some Muslim scholars, expanded empire but without subjects

To what extent was the Askia dynasty able to improve upon the mistakes of the Sonni dynasty?

• military

• administration: built

• religious: biggest success that they improved upon, much more Islamic, promoted resettlement into Timbuktu, relationship with Qadis, Sankore university, 25,000 pupils

  BUT

  Sonni Ali had some successes regarding religion and managed to successfully promote syncretism, increasing power of Timbuktu disrupted balance across Songhay