The Songhai Empire during the 15th and 16th centuries was a kingdom that controlled the Western Sahel. It was one of the most important states in African history at its height. The state is known for its historiographic name, derived from the Songhai, it's leading ethnic group and the ruling elite. The Songhai Empire was located in the south of the Sahara Desert in Western Africa and along the River Niger. It reached the Atlantic Ocean at its peak well over 1,000 miles from the country in present-day Niger. The...