Shaayaan Sayed, Sundus Sheraz, Jackson Schroeder: Purple

SONGHAI EMPIRE: SPREAD OF ISLAM

• Lasted From the 1430s to 1591

• Located in Eastern Africa along what is now the Niger River

• Known as one of Africa’s greatest and largest empires

THE SONGHAI EMPIRE

• Songhai states emerged as early as 800 CE in a city named Gao located in Eastern Mali

• First dynasty was the Dia followed by most prominent Sunni Dynasty (18 Kings)—Established soon after the decline of the Mali Empire

• The Songhai made their capital Gao and started expanding

• The Songhai Empire collapses when Moorish soldiers conquered major cities such as Gao and Timbuktu, and took over trade routes.

BEGINNING AND END

TIMBUKTU/GAO

Timbuktu

Gao

SPREAD OF ISLAM

• First Emperor to accept Islam was Dia Kossoi of the Dia Dynasty in 1010 A.D—Responsible for early Songhay Civilization

• Spread of Islam Facilitated mainly though the African Gold Trade

ISLAM IN THE SONGHAY EMPIRE

• Mali area in East Africa was rich with gold mines and salt deposits

• Mali was known as the “Land of the Gold” for this reason

• Major trading hubs include Goa (capital city) and Timbuktu

• Mostly traded with the Akan state in Guinea

TRADE: WHAT AND WHERE?

SONGHAY EMPIRE

• Songhay empire controlled the major caravan routes

• African gold trade mobilized thousands of Africans to join in

• Trading caused interaction of people and different cultures

• Many people converted to Islam after seeing the prosperity and success of the Songhay Empire

• The gold trade increased exponentially under the reign of the Askia dynasty (Askia Muhammad II, Askia Ismail, Askia Ishaq)

TRADE AND SPREAD OF ISLAM

IMPACTS AND EFFECTS

• Social conflict erupted between civilians and Muslim scholars

• Many people practiced a lifestyle of Islam merged with pagan beliefs

• Muslim clerics and jurists wanted stricter laws based off of the teachings of the Qur'an and the Hadith

SOCIAL

• Songhay Empire soon adopted Sharia Law which mainly included aspects of Criminal Justice

• Qadis or judges were appointed to maintain justice and enforce the law

• Sharia is a code of conduct and religious law in accordance to the teachings of Islam

INTELLECTUAL

• As the Songhay Empire stretched further and further, Islam united a vast empire

• This made it easier to facilitate trade creating more revenue and thus bringing economical benefits

• Trade drastically increased under the religion of Islam

ECONOMICAL