Timbuktu's Scholar-Prince and the Fall of Songhai

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the dramatic story of Askia Ishaq II, the last great emperor of Songhai, whose disastrous military decisions led to the empire's collapse at the Battle of Tondibi in 1591. They discuss the Saadian invasion from Morocco, the technological disparity between Moroccan arquebusiers and Songhai's cavalry, and the internal political strife that weakened the empire. Lucas explains how Ishaq's refusal to adopt gunpowder weapons, despite warnings, sealed Songhai's fate. The episode also touches on the aftermath: the sacking of Timbuktu, the deportation of scholars like Ahmad Baba, and the lasting impact on West African intellectual traditions. Listeners learn about key figures like Judar Pasha, the eunuch general who led the Saadian forces, and the role of the salt mines of Taghaza in triggering the conflict. This episode offers a fresh perspective on a pivotal moment often overshadowed by the earlier Mali Empire. #SonghaiEmpire #BattleOfTondibi #AskiaIshaqII #JudarPasha #SaadianInvasion #Timbuktu #WestAfricanHistory #GunpowderEmpires #AhmadAlMansur #Taghaza #Gao #NigerRiver #16thCentury #MilitaryHistory #AfricanEmpires #History #FexingoHistory #MoroccanHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo