Songhay fingertip knowledge Flashcards
When did the Ghanaian empire rise?
C10
When was the empire of Mali founded and by who?
- Sunjata Keita
Why did Mali flourish?
Trans-saharan gold trade.
What was Djenne the meeting point for?
Gold trade
What was Taghaza the meeting point for?
Salt trade
When did Mansa Musa do a pilgrimage to Mecca?
1321
When did the power of Mali begin to wane and where did power shift to?
C15, to Gao
When did Songhay begin to break away from Mali and why?
1430s. Because of escape of the Gao princes.
What did the Tuaregs do to weaken Mali and when?
They seized control of Timbuktu in 1433-34
What did Sonni Ali’s predecessors do to weaken Mali?
Early 1400s Sonni Muhammad Da’o led an expedition vs Mali.
Sonni Madawu sacked Niani.
1460 Sonni Sulayman Dama destroyed Mema.
When did Sonni Ali come into power?
1464.
When did Sonni Ali conquer Djenne and after how long?
- After 7 years, 7 months and 7 days.
When did Sonni Ali conquer Timbuktu?
1468.
What are the two quotes relating to Sonni Ali?
“Always the conqueror, never the conquered”
“Empire builder”
What dates did the harsh oppression of Muslim scholars (Ulema) occur in?
1468-73.
Why did Sonni Ali oppress Ulemas?
They supported Tuaregs.
Did Sonni Ali have any ties to Islam?
Weak ties. He had indigenous beliefs.
How was the military controlled?
Each provincial governor controlled the forces in his own region.
What equipment did soldiers have?
Soldiers had breastplates, knives, sabres, lances, bows and arrows.
Elite cavalry and battle canoes.
When did Sonni Ali die?
1492.
When did Songhay collape?
1591
Who took over after Sonni Ali?
Sonni Baru
Who opposed Sonni Baru?
Mohammad Toure. Leader of a Muslim faction.
When did Mohammad Toure take leadership of Songhay?
2nd April 1493 after the battle of Angao.
What name did Mohammad take and what did it symbolise?
Askia, symbolised a change in direction and ideology.
What had Askia Mohammad’s role been previously in the kingdom?
Governor of the Bandiagara province.
When did Askia Mohammad take a pilgrimage to Mecca and what was he named?
- Named Caliph of Western Sudan which confirms his power.
Where and when did Askia Mohammad expand Songhay?
Agades - 1501 and 1515.
Katsia and Kano - 1514
Borgu 1505-06
Air and Tindirma 1500-1
Kebbi - 1517-18
What was Askia Mohammad’s relationship like with the Ulemas?
Improved their treatment.
When did Askia Dawud rule from?
1548-82.
What preceded and followed Askia Dawud’s reign?
Violent civil strife.
How many provinces did Sonni Ali divide Songhay into and who ruled them?
8, chiefs who recognised his authority.
What did Sonni Ali do in terms of travelling?
He travelled around the kingdom often, making himself seen and admired.
Where was the central administration of Songhay?
Gao
What was the sounna?
Imperial council of military leaders.
What was the role of a farma?
Governor
What was the role of a Fari-Mondiyo?
Overseer of royal estates and taxes. Mohammad also gave them the responsibility of collecting harvest and distributing to the poor.
What was the role of a Jenne-Mondiyo?
Administrator of Djenne.
What was the role of a Yubu-Koi?
Chief of the market.
What was the role of a Goima-Koi?
Harbourmaster.
What was the role of a Hi-Koi?
Chief of boats.
What was the role of a Rabb al-tariq?
Commander of foot soldiers.
What was the role of a Baray-koi?
Commander of cavalry.
What further administrative changes did Askia Mohammad introduce?
Established the Kanfari- viceroy of western provinces (brother)
Sounna responsible for giving Askia power.
Chancellor to the Askia - diplomatic correspondence and imperial law executer.
Kallisa-Farma - treasurer of Askia.
Korei-Farma - relationships with Arab farmers
What form did taxes take in Songhay?
Livestock and harvests.
Who was taxed in Songhay?
Imports from the North.
Taghaza salt imports.
Imports and exports on Niger river.
Markets.
What did Askia Mohammad’s relationship with Ulema’s result in?
A more literate ruling class.
Where was Timbuktu in the Songhay kingdom and why was this important?
Center of the kingdom.
East of Gao so well placed to take advantage of growth in trade and resources.
What was the governor of Timbuktu called?
Timbuktu-Koi. Appointed directly by the Askia. Also had a tax collector and military commander,
What was Timbuktu’s strength based on?
Key links with Islam and long-distance commerce. Islam was a transnational religion of trade.
How many slaves were sent from Songhay to North Africa per year by C15? Why was it necessary?
800-1000 yearly.
Necessary to harness the agricultural potential of teh empire, feed troops and supply grain to growing areas.
Who defeated Songhay and where?
Morocco in 1591 at the battle of Tondibi and Gurma.
What happened in the 1530s to destabilise Songhay?
A succession crisis with 3 shortlived Askias (Musa, Bonkama and Ismail)
Who restored stability to the succession crisis temporarily?
Dawud, but it returned after him.
When was there a civil war between rival factions?
1586-88.
Whose rise to power temporarily stopped civil war?
Ishaq 2.
What did Mulay Ahmed from Morocco ask Ishaq 2 to do? What was the response?
Asked for taxes he paid on salt at Taghaza to be lifted. It was denied.
When did Mulay Ahmed dispatch an army to Songhay?
1590
When did the Moroccan army arrive on the banks of the Niger river?
February 1591
