WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Songhai Empire (also transliterated as Songhay) was a state located in the western part of the Sahel during the 15th and 16th centuries. At its peak, it was one of the largest African empires in history.

Detailed explanation-2: -Founded in 1464 out of the ruins of the Malian Empire, Songhay was the largest of the indigenous empires in Africa. At its zenith, it covered around 540, 000 square miles, stretching east-west for 1, 200 miles along the River Niger with the Sahara to the north and the Sudan savannah to the south.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Songhai Empire (aka Songhay, c. 1460-c. 1591) covered what is today southern Mauritania and Mali. It replaced the Mali Empire (1240-1645) as the most important state in West Africa.

Detailed explanation-4: -Songhai became independent of Mali, and rivalled it as the leading power in West Africa. The Songhai had settled on both banks of the middle Niger River. They established a state in the 15th century, which unified a large part of the western Sudan and developed into a brilliant civilisation.

Detailed explanation-5: -First, the Songhai Empire was much larger than the Mali Empire. Second, the Songhai Empire was centered around its capital city of, Gao, while the Mali Empire lacked central cities and had numerous small towns and villages.