The Mali and
Songhai Empires
By: Jeremy, Fernando, and
Hailey
Geography
Situated in west Africa, the Mali,
and later the Songhai, had access
to many resources
Minerals, the Sahara, and the
Niger river(used for fertilization
and transportation) were their
main geographical reasons for
success
Society
The Songhai leaders were Islamic, with a highly structured
social system
Flexible caste system
Artisans and other intellectual citizens were valued
History
Mali rose to power on the wealth from their extensive
trade routes, but peaked in the early 15th century
The Songhai were perhaps even more wealthy than the
Mali, but infighting destabilized the empire just as it
entered the 16th century
Important Leaders
Sunni Ali- (d. 1492) Strong military expansionist, united
the West African area
Muhammad Ture- continued expansion, consolidated
Why they will/won’t be Successful
Very wealthy, strong
resources, protection
from the Sahara,
centers of learning
Mali on the decline,
corruption of wealth,
civil war, threat from
Morocco