The Songhai Empire - Africa's Age of Gold

The Songhai Empire arose in the 15th century, in what is now Mali, and quickly ascended as one of the most powerful empires in African history. Under the leadership of rulers like Sonni Ali and Askia Muhammad I, the Songhai Empire expanded its control over a vast region, stretching from the Atlantic coast to present-day Nigeria. It became a center of Islamic scholarship and trade, earning its moniker as Africa's "Age of Gold." Timbuktu, a city within the empire, was renowned for its intellectual and cultural achievements, with famed universities and libraries attracting scholars from across the world. The Songhai Empire's economic prosperity derived from its control over trans-Saharan trade routes, as well as its abundant natural resources, including gold and salt. However, a decline in trade and internal conflicts eventually weakened the empire, and it succumbed to Moroccan forces in the 16th century.

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