Songhai Empire

Songhai Empire, West African trading state created by the Songhai people of the Middle Niger. Founded in the 700s and flourishing in the 1400s, Songhai was a powerful and wealthy empire in control of trans-Saharan trade. At the height of power, during the reign of Sunni Ali (1464–92) and that of Askia Muhammad (1493–1528), the Songhai Empire extended west to the Atlantic Ocean and encompassed roughly what is now Mali, Nigeria, and portions of Senegal. Gao, on the Niger River, was the capital. Most of the Songhai people farmed, fished, or were traders. Askia Muhammad was deposed by his 3 sons and by 1591 the empire was defeated by Moroccans at the Battle of Tondibi.