Realm · 1463–1591
Songhai Empire
Songhai Empire appears on the map from 1463 to 1591. At its greatest recorded extent, in 1564, it covered about 665,730 km².
The Songhai people had long been based around Gao on the Niger River, for a time as tributaries of the Mali Empire. Sonni Ali, ruling from 1464, broke free and conquered Timbuktu in 1468 and then Djenné with powerful cavalry and a river fleet, building one of the largest empires in African history. His successor Askia Muhammad, a devout Muslim, seized the throne in 1493, made the pilgrimage to Mecca and organised provinces under appointed governors, with a professional army and standard weights and measures. More about Songhai Empire.
See Songhai Empire on the map in 1564
- On the map
- 1463–1591
- Greatest extent
- 1564, about 665,730 km²
- Read more
- Wikipedia: Songhai Empire · Wikidata Q202687
Territory through time
| Years | Area drawn |
|---|---|
| 1463–1467 | 116,860 km² |
| 1468–1474 | 251,495 km² |
| 1475–1496 | 629,260 km² |
| 1497–1563 | 629,260 km² |
| 1564–1591 | 665,730 km² |
Related
- Songhai Empire empire