Latest / The Songhai Empire: Africa's Powerful Forgotten Kingdom — Fexingo History
The Songhai–Portuguese Alliance That Never Was
In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the Songhai Empire under Askia Muhammad and his successors faced a new threat from the south: the expanding Portuguese Empire along the West African coast. While Portugal had initially focused on the Gold Coast and Benin, their presence disrupted trans-Saharan trade routes that were the lifeblood of Songhai. This episode explores the fascinating 'what if' of diplomacy between Askia Muhammad and King Manuel I of Portugal, including a proposed alliance against the Mossi and the Hausa states. We delve into the letters exchanged, the Portuguese…
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