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Conflict Africa

Moroccan Invasion of Songhai

1591 CE

A Moroccan army equipped with firearms crossed the Sahara and destroyed the Songhai Empire at the Battle of Tondibi, ending the last of the great West African medieval empires. Morocco gained control of the trans-Saharan gold trade and the fabled city of Timbuktu.

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Belligerents

The main peoples, kingdoms and states involved.

  • Saadian Morocco
  • Songhai Empire

Key moments

Defining events in the Moroccan Invasion of Songhai.

  1. 1591 Battle of Tondibi

Elsewhere in Africa at the time

Records whose own span overlaps this one, found by the same test the canvas draws with. The bar under each card is where it sits inside this one.

See the whole view

Landmark · Africa

Taï National Park

3000 BCE – still standing

Polity · Africa

Morocco

Founded 789 CE · attested to 2026 CE

Conflict · Africa

Kanem–Bornu Wars

700 CE – 1846 CE

Landmark · Africa

Rwenzori Mountains

3000 BCE – still standing

Polity · Africa

Ghana

Attested 800 CE – 2026 CE

Conflict · Africa

Great Zimbabwe & Mutapa Wars

1100 CE – 1629 CE

Landmark · Africa

Serengeti National Park

3000 BCE – still standing

Polity · Africa

Madagascar

Attested 1000 CE – 2026 CE

And in the rest of the world

Records running through the same years, on the other side of the map.

Grand Canyon Landmark · Americas 3000 BCE – still standing Tibet Polity · South Asia 1000 CE – 1960 CE Tea Horse Road Trade route · East Asia 700 CE – 1950 CE Sengoku Period (Japanese Warring States) Conflict · East Asia 1467 CE – 1615 CE Elizabeth I Figure · England 1533 CE – 1603 CE Great Barrier Reef Landmark · Oceania 3000 BCE – still standing
Image credits6 pictures from Wikimedia Commons