Songhai Empire

1464-15911.4 million km2Sonni Ali

RegionWest Africa

Period1464-1591

Peak Size1.4 million km2

Founded BySonni Ali

About Songhai Empire

The largest empire in African history. Controlled the trans-Saharan trade routes in gold and salt. Askia Muhammad reformed the government along Islamic lines. Timbuktu and Djenne were major cities of learning. Fell when Morocco invaded with firearms in 1591.

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