Songhai Empire

Songhai grew from the city of Gao on the Niger River. In the 15th century, as Mali weakened, the Songhai ruler Sunni Ali turned it into an empire, taking Timbuktu in 1468 and later the trading city of Djenné.

Askia Muhammad, who took power in 1493, reorganised the empire with provinces, governors and a professional army, and made the pilgrimage to Mecca. Under the Askias, Timbuktu's scholars and libraries flourished.

At its height Songhai stretched across much of the western Sahel, making it one of the largest empires in African history.

In 1591 a Moroccan army equipped with firearms crossed the Sahara and defeated Songhai at the Battle of Tondibi. The empire broke apart soon after.