Middle School History: Age of Empires—Semester B

The Empires Strike Back.

  • Course Length: 18 weeks
  • Course Type: Basic
  • Category:
    • History and Social Science
    • Middle School

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Empires: they come in all shapes and sizes, like people. Every one is a special, imperial snowflake. For example, medieval Japan may have largely kept to itself and its archipelagic borders, rather than fee fie foe-ing all over Asia like some other empires (*cough* the Mongols *cough* *cough*). But it had a series of emperors (in fact, Japan still has one today), and that does an empire make.

Speaking of empires: in this second semester of Shmoop's Age of Empires, we'll look all over the world—from the Aztec Empire, to the empires and kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay, to imperial Japan. None of these were as wide-reaching as the Ottoman Empire, or as travel-happy as the Mongol Empire, but they were no less fascinating, or full of opportunities for pun (what you Ghana do?).

We'll also look at a new age of imperialism for Europe, one jet-set by the Age of Exploration. Whereas Rome and company just took over territories as they trotted along, now Europe was popping up in places that had never heard of it, and planting its colonialist flag.

In this course, we'll

  • organize different civilizations around the world into charts and diagrams, if only so that we can keep them straight. Geez, this stuff gets confusing.
  • explore how the Renaissance encouraged the Reformation, which, in turn, led to the Scientific Revolution.
  • create travel brochures for far-away cities along the Silk Road trade routes and in the Americas.

Seize the nearest astrolabe and pack a sextant: we're setting of on a new Age of Exploration. But please, try to avoid colonizing territories along the way.


Unit Breakdown

6 Middle School History: Age of Empires—Semester B - The Little Archipelago That Could: Medieval Japan

In this unit, we'll start off with the mythical origins of Japan, and move on to historical deets about the medieval period, from the code of the samurai, to the rise of the shogun and shogunate, to a breakdown of Japanese art, architecture, literature, and religion. We'll even follow the Mongols on their two bumbling attempts to invade Japan. Foiled by divine winds? Ooh, that's gotta sting.

7 Middle School History: Age of Empires—Semester B - Deserting the Desert: Sub-Saharan African Kingdoms

In this unit, we're Ghana shift gears (and continents), and trek on over to the medieval kingdoms of West Africa—Mali, Songhay, and Ghana. You'll get a crash course on African geography, vegetation, and climate, compare pre-Islamic and post-Islamic West Africa (drawing from your Unit 3 knowhow), and learn about West Africa's key role in global trade. It's Ghana be good.

8 Middle School History: Age of Empires—Semester B - Rebirth, Reform, Revolve (Around the Sun, That Is)

All work and no plague—sounds like a good way to kick of a new era of science, philosophy, and literary thought. You'll consider how interactions with the more scientifically advanced Islamic civilizations (a la the Crusades) helped Europe enter the Renaissance. You'll compare Classical, Medieval, and Renaissance art, mull over the principles of Humanism, and get the skinny on the Reformation.

9 Middle School History: Age of Empires—Semester B - Mess O' America

In this unit, we'll take a close look at the Mesoamerican and Andean civilizations before European conquest messed everything up. We'll study primary sources in order to draw conclusions about the Olmec and the Maya, track the rise of the Aztec Empire, and challenge the notion that a culture needs a written language or records to qualify as a "civilization" (we got your back, Incas).

10 Middle School History: Age of Empires—Semester B - Enlightenment-Era Thought and Unenlightened Actions

In this final unit, we'll look at how the Age of Exploration bridged all of the cultures we've studied so far—sometimes for the better, but usually for the worse. We'll study the changing maps of the time, revisit Mesoamerica post-European arrival, and examine how Africa got looped into the triangular trade. Okay, so the Enlightenment also happened during this time, and that was pretty rad. But oof…Europe, you really cancelled out any human progress with brutal colonization.


Sample Lesson - Introduction

Lesson 7.11: A Bigger, Better Songhai

A group of people reading texts in Arabic.
Under Askia the Great, religious study and learning experienced a rebirth. Learning was serious business; nobody even thought about hiding a comic book inside those texts.
(Source)

We're still in the Songhai Empire, you'll notice. That's because things changed a lot for the empire after Sunni Ali's death.

You read that Sunni Ali died in 1492. So around the time that Christopher Columbus was sailing the ocean blue, Songhai was in a time of transition. It's hard to imagine that going from one leader to another would bring evident changes, but it's a different story when leadership is determined both by rules of hereditary succession and military might.

Sunni Ali grew Songhai from a small kingdom into a powerful West African empire. He fought to expand and protect Songhai. When he died, his empire was powerful and prosperous. Sunni Ali's son, Sunni Baru, took the throne from his father and promptly lost it. Like his father, Sunni Baru wouldn't commit to Islam. His lack of conviction opened the door for a challenger to the throne. Enter Muhammad Ture, better known as Askia the Great. Before he could be Great, Muhammad Ture had to defeat Sunni Baru in order to assert himself as emperor of Songhai.

Muhammad Ture had no business challenging the emperor for the throne. Against all odds, Ture unseated Sunni Baru and became emperor of Songhai. As emperor, Ture made Songhai his business, much like Sunni Ali made Songhai his focus. This lesson is about how Muhammad Ture became Askia the Great.

There's a lot of pressure when "the Great" is part of your name.

We'll talk about the ways Askia the Great lived up to his name, and then some. Askia the Great took an already thriving Songhai and made it into the biggest and best of the early West African empires. The list of major figures in early West African history is filled with big names: Sundiata Keita, Mansa Musa, Sunni Ali, and Askia the Great. If you Askia us, we saved the best for last.


Sample Lesson - Reading

Reading 7.7.11: He Didn't Start Out "Great"

We said that expectations are high when you add "the Great" to your name. People expect you to live up to your chosen adjective. Had he changed his name to Askia the Average or Askia the Next Guy in Charge of Songhai, we probably wouldn't bother with this lesson. Luckily, the man who started life as Muhammad Ture exceeded the expectations that came along with his new name.

As a general under Sunni Ali, Muhammad Ture had a front row seat to the workings of the Songhai military. He saw how Sunni Ali ruled—often astride a horse on a campaign to expand the empire, sometimes astride a horse in defense of the empire—and found there to be both positives and negatives to his approach. By challenging Sunni Baru, Muhammad Ture effectively said, "Hey, Emperor! You know who can do what you're doing, but better? This guy." (Then he used both thumbs to point to himself, we imagine.)

For everything that Sunni Ali did to expand Songhai, it seemed that he never really had a plan for the empire other than to make it bigger and to keep enemies in check. He ruled by acting and reacting. Sunni Ali ruled like a warrior, which is understandable since he was a warrior. Muhammad Ture was a military general, but he had a mind for politics that made him stick his neck out and challenge Sunni Baru for the throne.

For a quick refresher about the Songhai Empire, go here.

Then, for an overview of Askia's life, check out this site:

As you read, here are some things to focus on:

  • Muhammad Ture's rise to power as Askia the Great
  • Askia's vision for the Songhai Empire
  • The importance of unity in the empire—especially religious unity
  • The focus on education and scholarship
  • How the army evolved and grew
  • Growth and expansion of Songhai 
  • How Askia governed and maintained organization within Songhai's borders

An Innovator

Muhammad Ture took control in Songhai and took the name Askia. Askia means "forceful," and it's an ideal name for a leader who forced his way to power. It's also an accurate name for a leader who exerted his will with force and focus in order to make improvements to the Songhai Empire.

Under Sunni Ali, local governors loosely controlled Songhai. Askia instituted governmental systems that made the empire run smoothly. Polygamy was a common practice in West Africa, and Askia used it to his political advantage. He married the daughters of his high-ranking officials. He also married his own daughters to men with important titles.

Thanks to this practice, Askia ensured that he was in charge and that the most important figures in the empire were tied to him thorough marriage. This inspired a sense of unity and loyalty in the leadership of Songhai.

Askia organized local government by making the empire a bureaucracy. This innovation marked a departure from the common practice of using religion as a tool of government. Instead, Askia used a variety of officials to oversee and govern small sections of government. By delegating power throughout the empire, Askia was able to exert more control over things. The idea that giving out a little power to a lot of people in order to end up getting more power probably doesn't make a lot of sense.

Think about it this way: as Emperor of Songhai, Askia had the final authority on all matters. He could give some power to, say, a navy admiral who was directly responsible for overseeing fleets of ships and his staff of sailors. The admiral reported to Askia because you always check in with the boss. The Songhai Empire got the benefit of a strong, standing navy with fleets of ship,s because Askia put control of that one part of the empire into capable hands. He didn't try to run every part of Songhai himself. Instead, he ran all of Songhai with the right help from the right people.

Military

We know that Sunni Ali was the first to establish a professional, standing military. Askia kept the military might of Sunni Ali. To the existing military, Askia added an armored cavalry, whose members policed the empire's trade routes. Protecting the trade routes helped trade in Songhai thrive and expand.

The scope of Songhai's trade reached into the Mediterranean, as well as into North Africa and the Middle East. Trade and commerce flourished in Songhai, thanks to military oversight and government regulation of taxes. By establishing systems that ensured consistency and accountability, Askia helped his empire thrive as a trading power in West Africa.

Islam and Education

Sunni Ali saw Islam as a threat; Askia the Great saw Islam as an opportunity to improve Songhai.

Under Askia's rule, religion and education became hallmarks of the empire. Askia established Islam as the Songhai's religion, and he sought advice from religious scholars. He unified Songhai under the teachings of Islam. By embracing Islam, Askia opened the door to the vast literary and intellectual traditions of the Arabic world.

Education was a focus in the empire. Askia placed a strong emphasis on scholarship, encouraging students to study abroad in Europe and the Middle East. Regardless of ethnic or religious loyalties, students were welcomed into the academic communities throughout Songhai.

Timbuktu returned to its former glory. Scholars returned to the city, their studies financed by the wealth of the empire. Askia helped Timbuktu reclaim its reputation as a center of spiritual and intellectual enrichment. The city became known as "Queen of the Sudan" for its remarkable rebirth.

A Unifying Statesman

In looking at Askia's reign, it is clear that his goal as a politician was to create harmony throughout his empire. In Songhai, Arabic became the official language. The Quran conveyed both the Word of God and the civil code of the empire. Askia made the teachings of Islam central to spiritual life, as well as to intellectual and civic life. With consistency in both religion and the government, the Songhai Empire was thoroughly unified.

Following in the Footsteps

Mansa Musa put the Mali Empire on the map. Askia did the same for the Songhai Empire. Under his rule, Songhai reached its peak: the empire was huge, prosperous, organized, and unified.

Askia the Great emulated both Mansa Musa and Sunni Ali. Like Mansa Musa, Askia had a clear vision for his empire and worked toward executing it. Also, Askia undertook a hajj that helped clarify and solidify the importance of Islam to Songhai. By embracing Islam, as Mansa Musa had done, Askia was able to put renewed focus on religion and education.

In the Mali Empire, a similar focus enabled knowledge to increase and for Timbuktu to become a center of Muslim faith and learning. Askia reinvigorated Timbuktu, and his desire for people to become educated shows a generosity not unlike that of Mansa Musa.

Askia the Great had a vision for Songhai that was unique. However, he also continued the focus on military organization that Sunni Ali established. Askia made the forces in Songhai strong and specialized. He focused on regulating trade as well as protecting trade routes, including the ports and harbors on the nearby Niger River. Songhai was strengthened by Askia's efforts to organize the leadership within the empire, and his work significantly improved the system of provincial government instituted by Sunni Ali.

Pretty Great, Until He Wasn't

We feel like Askia the Great worked to live up to his name. He was successful in expanding and improving life in Songhai. His legacy was strong, but in his later years his vision was, literally, compromised. Askia went blind. He worked to keep his blindness a secret, but as he aged he was overthrown by one of his sons and sent into exile. A man with clear vision was sent away because he was old and perceived to be weak.

After some time in exile, another of Askia's sons rescued him and returned him to Songhai where he lived out his days in Gao, Songhai's capital. A remarkable life marked by military and political success ended in the seat of the Songhai Empire, West Africa's largest and, thanks to Askia, greatest.


Sample Lesson - Activity

Activity 7.11: Choosing Sides

Spend any time on the internet and you'll learn that people aren't shy about sharing (and over-sharing) their opinions. People are eager to praise great things and even more eager to criticize anything and everything. Often, the praise is lavish and the criticism is crazy harsh.

Still, we love that the internet allows people to have conversations and make comments. Talking and sharing ideas is a tremendous gift, and today you're getting a gift. (You didn't know Shmoop was so generous, did you?)

This activity is inspired by superheroes and Internet comments. Who doesn't love a superhero movie? They're thrilling and fun. And sometimes they make you choose sides: Batman vs. Superman, or Captain America vs. Iron Man. It's the second opposition—Cap against Iron Man—that's intriguing, because it's a civil war. It's Avenger versus Avenger, and the movie asks all of us to choose a side.

We're asking you to do something similar with the Songhai Empire. Whose side are you on? Sunni Ali or Askia the Great? It's time to choose.

Step One

This activity asks you to use the reading from our last lesson and the reading from this lesson in order to make a choice: Sunni Ali or Askia the Great. Decide which of the two emperors of Songhai you prefer, and collect specifics facts from the reading that support your choice.

Step Two

Armed with your facts and your opinion, it's time to explain your choice of leader.

You'll write two paragraphs of 100 – 125 words each. The first paragraph will be an argumentative response in support of your preferred emperor. Your paragraph will present facts about the emperor. You'll use the facts as the basis of your support. Tell us why you think Sunni Ali was the better emperor, or vice versa. The paragraph should be factually accurate, and your opinion should be based on the facts you include in your work.

Your second paragraph will be an argument against the other emperor. If you wrote about Sunni Ali in the first paragraph, you'll talk about Askia the Great in the second paragraph. In 100 – 125 words, provide us with facts that support your critical view of this emperor.

We're looking for constructive criticism, not angry words. What did this emperor do that seems peculiar or misguided? Like the first paragraph, we're looking for factually accurate work that anchors your opinion.

Step Three

Proofread your work. Your paragraphs should be written in complete sentences. Also, your paragraphs should include a lot of facts about each emperor. We want you to offer your opinion of the emperors based on those facts, like we did in this example.

Sunni Ali wasn't a nice guy. He killed people and waged wars. But he fought for a reason. Sunni Ali was driven to make Songhai a powerful force in West Africa. He defended his empire from raids and attacks, and he pushed to annex lands for power and protection. Sunni Ali turned nothing much—Songhai was a small kingdom when he took power—into something great and powerful. He expanded trade and he established a strong military. At the time of his death, Songhai was bigger, stronger, and better than when he took control of his native land. Sunni Ali was driven to succeed, and he did what needed to be done in order to make the Songhai Empire great.

We're impressed by Sunni Ali's commitment to Songhai. It amazing that he took a small kingdom from the former Mali Empire and turned it into a powerful empire. He changed West Africa. Our paragraph celebrates his focus. One of your paragraphs should do something similar; the other paragraph should be critical. Both paragraphs should be focused, factual, and offer your opinions of Sunni Ali and Askia the Great.

When you're done, upload your internet-comment-inspired paragraphs.