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![Ignoring African History...
• From what you know of the Songhai Empire, is this
accurate?
• Why do you think Europeans in Africa have ignored
or downplayed things like the Songhai Empire?
Perhaps in the future there will be some African
history to teach. But at the present [1964] there is
none, or very little: there is only the history of
Europe in Africa. The rest is largely darkness.
-Hugh Trevor-Roper (historian)](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/thesonghaiempire-240207150301-ae675548/75/The-Songhai-Empire-pptx-10-2048.jpg)
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The Songhai Empire.pptx
- 1.
- 2. Introduction • The SonghaiEmpire was one of the greatest empires to exist in Africa
- 3. Trade • Trade wasone of the foundations of the Songhai Empire. • Its capital, Timbuktu was at the end of the camel caravan route linking North Africa, Sub- Saharan Africa and Arabia. • Merchants from various nations gathered here to buy and sell goods.
- 4. Sonni Ali andthe Rise of the Soghai Empire • The Songhai kingdom was originally a small state, but under Sonni Ali (who ruled from 1462 – 1492), it conquered several other West African states. • He took control of the trading towns of Jenne in 1473 and Timbuktu in 1488) which allowed him to control various trade routes. • Two of the most important items traded were gold and salt
- 5. • Read Page10 and 11 of your text-book and answer the following Questions: 1. Why was salt such an important trade item in West Africa? 2. What items did camel caravans bring to Songhai? 3. Traders from which two nations came to Songhai? 4. Why was the Songhai navy (which Sonni Ali created) so important?
- 6. The Songhai Army •Sonni Ali had a very well organized army. • He had over 30,000 infantry (foot soldiers), 1,000 cavalry (soldiers on horseback) and a navy of over 400 boats. • Only nobles could become cavalry because horses were so expensive. • The infantry were farmers and slaves who were armed with spears, shields, and bows and arrows.
- 7. The Rule ofSonni Ali • Songhai had a well organized central government. • He divided the empire into provinces, each with a governor. • The king’s power was considered sacred. • Conquered areas had to pay tax and provide soldiers to the army. They were allowed to keep their own religions and customs (Sonni Ali was a Muslim) • Government officials came from the general population and were chosen for merit and ability. • Society was highly structured, with the king and nobles at the top, followed by free citizens, craftsmen, poets, storytellers and slaves.
- 8. Culture and Learning •Sonni Ali was a Muslim but the majority of his people were followers of Traditional African religions. • Timbuktu was the spiritual capital of Islam in Africa. There were many school and universities for studying Islam. • People came from all over to study Maths, Science, Medicine, Astronomy, Law, Literature, Music and Religion • Because many people still followed traditional African religion, women were more free than in some other Muslim countries of the time.
- 9. The Timbuktu Manuscripts •Most of the learning of Timbuktu was recorded in a series of ancient letters, books and other written material. • Most was written in Arabic or in the Songhai language using Arabic writing.
- 10. Ignoring African History... •From what you know of the Songhai Empire, is this accurate? • Why do you think Europeans in Africa have ignored or downplayed things like the Songhai Empire? Perhaps in the future there will be some African history to teach. But at the present [1964] there is none, or very little: there is only the history of Europe in Africa. The rest is largely darkness. -Hugh Trevor-Roper (historian)
- 11. The Fall ofthe Songhai Empire • Sonni Ali died in 1492 and was replaced by one of his general, Aski Mohammed who banned African religion and made Islam the official religion. The empire remained stable and wealthy for many years. • Morocco attacked Songhai in 1591 to gain control of the gold trade and defeated the Songhai army. They took control of Timbuktu. • The Empire split up and never recovered.
- 12. Turn to Task1.2 in your text book (page 13) • Read “Source A” describing the origins of praise- singing in Songhai and answer questions (a) and (b) in your workbook
- 13. Task 1.2: Answers (a)(i) Women cared deeply for their husbands. Can also show that it was a male-dominated society and that women were submissive. (ii) Drums are part of traditional music (iii) There were wars. (iv) Goats were kept and kalabashes were grown as a crop (a) This is a primary source, so it would be reasonably reliable. Some aspects of the song may have changed as it was passed on from generation to generation
- 14. Fill in thesections relating to the Songhai Empire: Ming Songhai Mughal Europe Origins Travel & Trade Government System Women Technological Advances Culture Decline
- 15. Table (Songhai): Answers Origins •Founded by Sonni Ali • In area of old Mali Empire Travel and Trade • Controlled trans-Saharan trade and Niger river. • Main trade goods: salt and gold • Jenne and Timbuktu: main trade cities Government System • Ruled by the king. Rule was sacred • Divided into provinces ruled by governors • Officials were ordinary people.
- 16. Technological Advances • Advancesin maths, science, medicine. Women • Generally subservient to men, although had more freedom than women in some other Muslim countries. Culture • Religion: Islam and traditional African religion. • Traditional religion tolerated under Sonni Ali. Decline • Attack by Moroccan army: defeated and lost Timbuktu • Civil wars and empire broken up. Ruled by less competent leaders
- 17. Timbuktu in theNews...
- 18. Mail and Guardian(28 January 2013) French and Malian troops have sealed off Timbuktu after fleeing rebels torched buildings including a South African-funded prized manuscript library Timbuktu's mayor, Ousmane Halle, reported that fleeing Islamist fighters had torched a South African-funded library in the city containing thousands of priceless manuscripts. "The rebels set fire to the newly-constructed Ahmed Baba Institute built by the South Africans ... this happened four days ago," Halle Ousmane told Reuters by telephone from Bamako. With its cultural treasures, Timbuktu had previously been a destination for adventurous tourists and international scholars. The world was shocked by its capture on April 1 by Tuareg desert fighters whose separatist rebellion was later hijacked by Islamist radicals who imposed severe sharia law. Provoking international outrage, the Islamist militants who follow a more conservative Salafist branch of Islam destroyed dozens of ancient shrines in Timbuktu sacred to moderate Sufi Moslems, condemning them as idolatrous and un-Islamic. They also applied amputations for thieves and stoning of adulterers under sharia, while forcing women to go veiled.
- 19. Sky News (28Jan 2013) "Some of the documents date back to the 13th century," she said. "The town dates back to the 11th century and this was all the documentation they'd built up over centuries of life in Timbuktu - all either burnt by the Jihadists or they have disappeared." The city's mayor, Ousmane Halle, said: "They torched all the important ancient manuscripts. The ancient books of geography and science. It is the history of Timbuktu, of its people. It's truly alarming that this has happened." During their rule, the militants systematically destroyed UNESCO World Heritage sites in Timbuktu, long a hub of Islamic learning. A spokesman for the al Qaeda-linked militants has said the tombs of Sufi saints were destroyed because they contravened Islam, encouraging Muslims to venerate saints instead of God.
- 20. 1. What doyou think a separatist rebellion is? 2. What do we mean when we say something like a rebellion was hijacked? 3. Why do you think SA paid for the library to be built? 4. What do you think will happen to the manuscripts that were not destroyed but have disappeared? 5. The burnings were internationally condemned. Why do you think this is considered such a terrible disaster?