Songhay fingertip knowledge

Question 1

When did the Ghanaian empire rise?

Answer 1

C10

Question 2

When was the empire of Mali founded and by who?

Answer 2

1235. Sunjata Keita

Question 3

Why did Mali flourish?

Answer 3

Trans-saharan gold trade.

Question 4

What was Djenne the meeting point for?

Answer 4

Gold trade

Question 5

What was Taghaza the meeting point for?

Answer 5

Salt trade

Question 6

When did Mansa Musa do a pilgrimage to Mecca?

Answer 6

1321

Question 7

When did the power of Mali begin to wane and where did power shift to?

Answer 7

C15, to Gao

Question 8

When did Songhay begin to break away from Mali and why?

Answer 8

1430s. Because of escape of the Gao princes.

Question 9

What did the Tuaregs do to weaken Mali and when?

Answer 9

They seized control of Timbuktu in 1433-34

Question 10

What did Sonni Ali’s predecessors do to weaken Mali?

Answer 10

Early 1400s Sonni Muhammad Da’o led an expedition vs Mali.
Sonni Madawu sacked Niani.
1460 Sonni Sulayman Dama destroyed Mema.

Question 11

When did Sonni Ali come into power?

Answer 11

1464.

Question 12

When did Sonni Ali conquer Djenne and after how long?

Answer 12

1472. After 7 years, 7 months and 7 days.

Question 13

When did Sonni Ali conquer Timbuktu?

Answer 13

1468.

Question 14

What are the two quotes relating to Sonni Ali?

Answer 14

“Always the conqueror, never the conquered”
“Empire builder”

Question 15

What dates did the harsh oppression of Muslim scholars (Ulema) occur in?

Answer 15

1468-73.

Question 16

Why did Sonni Ali oppress Ulemas?

Answer 16

They supported Tuaregs.

Question 17

Did Sonni Ali have any ties to Islam?

Answer 17

Weak ties. He had indigenous beliefs.

Question 18

How was the military controlled?

Answer 18

Each provincial governor controlled the forces in his own region.

Question 19

What equipment did soldiers have?

Answer 19

Soldiers had breastplates, knives, sabres, lances, bows and arrows.
Elite cavalry and battle canoes.

Question 20

When did Sonni Ali die?

Answer 20

1492.

Question 21

When did Songhay collape?

Answer 21

1591

Question 22

Who took over after Sonni Ali?

Answer 22

Sonni Baru

Question 23

Who opposed Sonni Baru?

Answer 23

Mohammad Toure. Leader of a Muslim faction.

Question 24

When did Mohammad Toure take leadership of Songhay?

Answer 24

2nd April 1493 after the battle of Angao.

Question 25

What name did Mohammad take and what did it symbolise?

Answer 25

Askia, symbolised a change in direction and ideology.

Question 26

What had Askia Mohammad's role been previously in the kingdom?

Answer 26

Governor of the Bandiagara province.

Question 27

When did Askia Mohammad take a pilgrimage to Mecca and what was he named?

Answer 27

1496. Named Caliph of Western Sudan which confirms his power.

Question 28

Where and when did Askia Mohammad expand Songhay?

Answer 28

Agades - 1501 and 1515. Katsia and Kano - 1514 Borgu 1505-06 Air and Tindirma 1500-1 Kebbi - 1517-18

Question 29

What was Askia Mohammad's relationship like with the Ulemas?

Answer 29

Improved their treatment.

Question 30

When did Askia Dawud rule from?

Answer 30

1548-82.

Question 31

What preceded and followed Askia Dawud's reign?

Answer 31

Violent civil strife.

Question 32

How many provinces did Sonni Ali divide Songhay into and who ruled them?

Answer 32

8, chiefs who recognised his authority.

Question 33

What did Sonni Ali do in terms of travelling?

Answer 33

He travelled around the kingdom often, making himself seen and admired.

Question 34

Where was the central administration of Songhay?

Answer 34

Gao

Question 35

What was the sounna?

Answer 35

Imperial council of military leaders.

Question 36

What was the role of a farma?

Answer 36

Governor

Question 37

What was the role of a Fari-Mondiyo?

Answer 37

Overseer of royal estates and taxes. Mohammad also gave them the responsibility of collecting harvest and distributing to the poor.

Question 38

What was the role of a Jenne-Mondiyo?

Answer 38

Administrator of Djenne.

Question 39

What was the role of a Yubu-Koi?

Answer 39

Chief of the market.

Question 40

What was the role of a Goima-Koi?

Answer 40

Harbourmaster.

Question 41

What was the role of a Hi-Koi?

Answer 41

Chief of boats.

Question 42

What was the role of a Rabb al-tariq?

Answer 42

Commander of foot soldiers.

Question 43

What was the role of a Baray-koi?

Answer 43

Commander of cavalry.

Question 44

What further administrative changes did Askia Mohammad introduce?

Answer 44

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

Question 45

What form did taxes take in Songhay?

Answer 45

Livestock and harvests.

Question 46

Who was taxed in Songhay?

Answer 46

Imports from the North. Taghaza salt imports. Imports and exports on Niger river. Markets.

Question 47

What did Askia Mohammad's relationship with Ulema's result in?

Answer 47

A more literate ruling class.

Question 48

Where was Timbuktu in the Songhay kingdom and why was this important?

Answer 48

Center of the kingdom. East of Gao so well placed to take advantage of growth in trade and resources.

Question 49

What was the governor of Timbuktu called?

Answer 49

Timbuktu-Koi. Appointed directly by the Askia. Also had a tax collector and military commander,

Question 50

What was Timbuktu's strength based on?

Answer 50

Key links with Islam and long-distance commerce. Islam was a transnational religion of trade.

Question 51

How many slaves were sent from Songhay to North Africa per year by C15? Why was it necessary?

Answer 51

800-1000 yearly. Necessary to harness the agricultural potential of teh empire, feed troops and supply grain to growing areas.

Question 52

Who defeated Songhay and where?

Answer 52

Morocco in 1591 at the battle of Tondibi and Gurma.

Question 53

What happened in the 1530s to destabilise Songhay?

Answer 53

A succession crisis with 3 shortlived Askias (Musa, Bonkama and Ismail)

Question 54

Who restored stability to the succession crisis temporarily?

Answer 54

Dawud, but it returned after him.

Question 55

When was there a civil war between rival factions?

Answer 55

1586-88.

Question 56

Whose rise to power temporarily stopped civil war?

Answer 56

Ishaq 2.

Question 57

What did Mulay Ahmed from Morocco ask Ishaq 2 to do? What was the response?

Answer 57

Asked for taxes he paid on salt at Taghaza to be lifted. It was denied.

Question 58

When did Mulay Ahmed dispatch an army to Songhay?

Answer 58

1590

Question 59

When did the Moroccan army arrive on the banks of the Niger river?

Answer 59

February 1591