Songhai's Salt War: The Taghaza Campaign of Askia Muhammad

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the 1498 Taghaza campaign, where Askia Muhammad the Great marched his army into the Sahara to seize control of the world's most valuable commodity: salt. They explore the strategic importance of Taghaza's salt mines, the brutal conditions of the desert march, the clever ruse that fooled the Tuareg defenders, and how this victory transformed Songhai into the dominant economic power in West Africa. Learn about the logistical challenges of supplying an army across hundreds of miles of sand, the role of the farari cavalry and Sorko river scouts, and the diplomatic aftermath that saw the Tuareg submit without a pitched battle. The episode also touches on the environmental and human costs of the salt trade, contrasting Songhai's control with later Moroccan ambitions. A focused look at a pivotal military campaign that secured Songhai's golden age. #SonghaiEmpire #AskiaMuhammad #Taghaza #SaltMines #SaharaTrade #Timbuktu #NigerRiver #Farari #Sorko #Tuareg #Sahel #WestAfricanHistory #MedievalAfrica #TransSaharanTrade #SaltWar #FexingoHistory #History #MilitaryHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo