Songhai Empire

Songhai Empire was an empire in Sahara and Sahel (North and West Africa) that lasted from 1464 to 1591 CE, about 127 years. Its people spoke Nilo-Saharan languages (Kanuri, Songhai, Nubian, Luo, Maasai).

Largest empire in West African history, built by Sunni Ali and Askia Muhammad along the Niger. A Moroccan army with firearms routed it at Tondibi in 1591.

See Songhai Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

1464 to 1591 CE

Duration

127 years

Type

Empire

Region

Sahara and Sahel, North and West Africa

Language family

Nilo-Saharan

Capital

Gao

Came from

• Kingdom of Gao c. 800 to 1430 CE
• Mali Empire c. 1235 to 1670 CE

Became

• Pashalik of Timbuktu 1591 to 1833 CE
• Dendi Kingdom 1591 to 1901 CE

Events in North and West Africa during its time

• 1482 Portuguese build Elmina
• 1529 Battle of Shimbra Kure
• 1591 Battle of Tondibi

Neighbours in North and West Africa

• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE
• Mali Empire c. 1235 to 1670 CE
• Mamluk Sultanate 1250 to 1517 CE
• Kingdom of Benin c. 1180 to 1897 CE
• Bornu Empire c. 1387 to 1893 CE
• Oyo Empire c. 1400 to 1836 CE
• Hafsids 1229 to 1574 CE
• Funj Sultanate of Sennar 1504 to 1821 CE
• Regency of Algiers 1516 to 1830 CE
• Marinid Sultanate 1244 to 1465 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Ayutthaya Kingdom 1351 to 1767 CE, Southeast Asia
• Mughal Empire 1526 to 1857 CE, South Asia
• Portuguese Brazil 1500 to 1815 CE, South America

Questions