Home Region: West Africa (Africa)

Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty

1493 CE 1591 CE

D G SC WF R CC

EQ 2020 ml_songhai_2 / MlSong2

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

[continuity; Songhai Empire - Sonni Dynasty] [continuity] Update here

Succeeding Entity:

No Polity found. Add one here.

Displayed:

Learn more about polity border choices. Map Modern Map only Opacity Year Play rate (y/s)
Hit enter after changing the year or setting the play rate.

General Description

Third of the great West African empires, the Songhay Empire emerged from a small kingdom based in the Gao region, which was a tributary to the Mali Empire until it started to gain autonomy in the late 14th century CE. ^[1] A Songhay leader named Sonyi Ali Beeri was responsible for transforming this polity into an expansionary empire from the late 15th century onwards. ^[2] The heyday of the Songhay Empire was under the Askiya (or Askia) dynasty, 1493‒1591. These kings consolidated Songhay power by building on the legacy of their Malinke predecessors and took control of more territories, extending their reach over the Niger Inland Delta, westward to the Atlantic ocean, northward to the salt pans of Taghaza, and eastward to the Tuareg kingdom of Agadez. ^[3] ^[4] ^[5] However, the empire was brought to an abrupt end in the late 16th century: after a succession crisis which sparked a civil war, the Sultan of Morocco invaded in 1591. ^[6] ^[7]
Population and political organization
Unlike the preceding Ghana and Mali Empires, Songhay operated as a centralized unitary state. ^[7] The king was a revered figure but his authority was tempered by the precepts of Islam from the 11th century, and this religion became increasingly prevalent under the Askiya dynasty. ^[7] The imperial council coordinated the activities of the central government, which was divided into ministries including those of agriculture, finance, the army and the naval fleet. ^[8] The two major provinces, Kurmina in the west and Dendi in the southeast, were ruled by princes who were responsible for their own armies. ^[9] Thriving trading towns like Jenné, Timbuktu, Teghazza and Walata enjoyed a certain degree of autonomy due to the power of guilds and local chiefs, but had to report to a superintendent, tax inspectors, customs officials and other state appointees. ^[9] Vassal and tributary countries also bowed before the power of the Askiya when disputes arose. ^[9]
The Songhay empire is associated with the establishment of high centres of learning in Jenné, Dia, Gao and Timbuktu. The latter in particular was famed for its university, holy men, doctors and teachers, who contributed to the spread of Islamic humanism among the urban elite in the region from the 15th century. ^[10] The rural Songhay continued to venerate a pantheon of divinities and local spirits until Islam penetrated the countryside via the peaceful incursions of traders and government-sponsored marabouts. ^[11]
It is difficult to find substantiated population estimates for the Songhay Empire, but one scholar believes there could have been 70,000 people living in the city of Timbuktu by 1580 under Askiya Daoud. ^[12]

[1]: (Conrad 2005, 12) David C. Conrad. 2005. Empires of Medieval West Africa: Ghana, Mali, and Songhay. New York: Facts On File.

[2]: (Conrad 2005, 13) David C. Conrad. 2005. Empires of Medieval West Africa: Ghana, Mali, and Songhay. New York: Facts On File.

[3]: (Oliver and Atmore 2001, 68) Roland Anthony Oliver and Anthony Atmore. 2001. Medieval Africa, 1250-1800. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[4]: (Conrad 2010, 66) David C. Conrad. 2010. Empires of Medieval West Africa: Ghana, Mali, and Songhay. Revised Edition. New York: Chelsea House Publishers.

[5]: (Diop 1987, 95) Cheikh Anta Diop. 1987. Precolonial Black Africa, translated by Harold Salemson. Chicago: Lawrence Hill Books.

[6]: (Conrad 2010, 17) David C. Conrad. 2010. Empires of Medieval West Africa: Ghana, Mali, and Songhay. Revised Edition. New York: Chelsea House Publishers.

[7]: (Cissoko 1984, 196) Sékéné Mody Cissoko. 1984. ’The Songhay from the 12th to the 16th Century’, in General History of Africa, Vol. 4: Africa from the Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century, edited by D. T. Niane, 187-210. Paris: UNESCO.

[8]: (Cissoko 1984, 197) Sékéné Mody Cissoko. 1984. ’The Songhay from the 12th to the 16th Century’, in General History of Africa, Vol. 4: Africa from the Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century, edited by D. T. Niane, 187-210. Paris: UNESCO.

[9]: (Cissoko 1984, 199) Sékéné Mody Cissoko. 1984. ’The Songhay from the 12th to the 16th Century’, in General History of Africa, Vol. 4: Africa from the Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century, edited by D. T. Niane, 187-210. Paris: UNESCO.

[10]: (Cissoko 1984, 208) Sékéné Mody Cissoko. 1984. ’The Songhay from the 12th to the 16th Century’, in General History of Africa, Vol. 4: Africa from the Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century, edited by D. T. Niane, 187-210. Paris: UNESCO.

[11]: (Cissoko 1984, 207-08) Sékéné Mody Cissoko. 1984. ’The Songhay from the 12th to the 16th Century’, in General History of Africa, Vol. 4: Africa from the Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century, edited by D. T. Niane, 187-210. Paris: UNESCO.

[12]: (Niane 1975, 57) Djibril Tamsir Niane. 1975. Le Soudan Occidental au temps des grands empires XI-XVIe siècle. Paris: Présence africaine.

General Variables

Identity and Location

2 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

1 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

2 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Scale of Supracultural Interaction

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

1 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

2 Language

Religion

1 Religion Genus

1 Religion Family

1 Alternate Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

2 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

2 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

1 Occupational Complexity

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

1 Entertainment Building

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

2 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

2 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

2 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases

1 Crisis Consequence

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2) was in:
(1493 CE 1590 CE)	Niger Inland Delta

Home NGA: Niger Inland Delta

General Variables

Identity and Location Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	30 P	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Utm Zone	30 Q	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Original Name	Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Capital	Gao	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Askiya Dynasty	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Temporal Bounds Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	1550 CE
Loading...

Duration	[1493 CE ➜ 1591 CE]
Loading...

Political and Cultural Relations Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	alliance with [---]	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Supracultural Entity	Mande	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Supracultural Entity	Islamic	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Succeeding Entity	Saadi Dynasty	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Scale of Supracultural Interaction	[1,700,000 to 1,900,000] km²	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Preceding Entity	continuity; Songhai Empire - Sonni Dynasty [continuity] Update here
Loading...

Degree of Centralization	unitary state	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Language Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Songhay	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Language	Mande	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Language	Songhay	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Religion Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Religion Genus	Islam	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Religion Family	Sunni	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Alternate Religion	Uncoded Undecided	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	60,000 people	1512 CE
Loading...

Population of the Largest Settlement	70,000 people	1580 CE
Loading...

Polity Territory	[600,000 to 700,000] km²	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Polity Population	- Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Polity Population	[4,000,000 to 5,000,000] people	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Hierarchical Complexity Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	4	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Religious Level	3	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Military Level	[5 to 6]	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Administrative Level	[4 to 5]	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Professions Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Professional Priesthood	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Professional Military Officer	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Occupational Complexity	Uncoded Undecided	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Bureaucracy Characteristics Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Merit Promotion	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Full Time Bureaucrat	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Examination System	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Law Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Judge	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Formal Legal Code	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Court	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Specialized Buildings: polity owned Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Irrigation System	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Food Storage Site	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Drinking Water Supply System	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Entertainment Building	Uncoded Undecided	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Transport Infrastructure Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Port	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Canal	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Bridge	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Special-purpose Sites Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Information / Writing System Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Script	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Nonwritten Record	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Non Phonetic Writing	Absent Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Mnemonic Device	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Information / Kinds of Written Documents Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Sacred Text	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Religious Literature	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Practical Literature	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Philosophy	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Lists Tables and Classification	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

History	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Fiction	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Calendar	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Information / Money Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Precious Metal	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Paper Currency	Absent	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Indigenous Coin	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Foreign Coin	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Article	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Information / Postal System Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Uncoded Undecided	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

General Postal Service	Absent Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Courier	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Information / Measurement System Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Stone Walls Non Mortared	Absent	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Stone Walls Mortared	Absent	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Modern Fortification	Absent	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Moat	Present Uncertain	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Moat	Absent Uncertain	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Fortified Camp	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Earth Rampart	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Ditch	Unknown	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Complex Fortification	Absent	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Military use of Metals Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Iron	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Bronze	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Projectiles Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Sling Siege Engine	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Sling	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Self Bow	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Javelin	Present Uncertain	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Javelin	Absent Uncertain	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Handheld Firearm	Absent	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Crossbow	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Composite Bow	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Atlatl	Absent Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Handheld weapons Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Sword	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Spear	Present Uncertain	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Spear	Absent Uncertain	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Polearm	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Dagger	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Battle Axe	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Animals used in warfare Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Elephant	Absent	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Donkey	Absent	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Dog	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Camel	Absent	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Armor Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Shield	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Scaled Armor	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Plate Armor	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Limb Protection	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Leather Cloth	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Laminar Armor	Unknown Suspected	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Helmet	Present Inferred	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Chainmail	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Breastplate	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Naval technology Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Present	1493 CE 1591 CE
Loading...

Human Sacrifice Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty (ml_songhai_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More