Songhai Empire Essay Example

Songhai Empire Paper Beffa 4 The Songhai Empire Alex Beffa Global History April 9, 2012 Beffa 3 The Songhai, also known as the Songhay, was not only the last, but also the largest and greatest empire of western Africa between 1000 and 1600 ce. i The previous empire was the Mali empire. Songhai was just a client state at the port of Gao, which was a major trading port for trans-Saharan trade especially since it is located on the Niger river. When the Mali empire started to decline in the 14 th century, the Songhai king declared independence. i The Songhai empire was the most thriving west African empire for many reasons but major ones are: the kings Sunni Ali and Muhammad Ture as well as the conquering of the city of Timbuktu. Sunni Ali became ruler in 1464. He did not waste any time waiting to begin expanding. Shortly after coming to power, he went to conquer the great trading port of Timbuktu from the Tuareg raiders. After Timbuktu was his, Sunni Alis armies went south to the port of Jenne. In 1480, he attacked the Mossi states south of the Niger river. He had a strong military background which helped him become one of the best conquerers and leaders in African empire history until this point. His best asset was his naval skills which is mostly likely why he typically conquered ports along the Niger river. One of his major advancements was the the creation of a bureaucracy. This allowed the Songhai to be a more centralized empire than the previous empires of Ghana and Mali. To help get the Muslim support, Sunni Ali claimed to be a Muslim, though he never truly left the old traditional religions supposedly due to the belief that it was the source of his supernatural powers in battle. We will write a custom essay sample on Songhai Empire specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Songhai Empire specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Songhai Empire specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In 1492, after a successful conquest, according to some oral traditions, Sunni Ali drowned while crossing the Niger river. Still others refuse to accept this theory, insisting that he died in battle. His reign was from 1464-1492. When Sunni Ali died, one of his sons named Sunni Barou took over. iii Unfortunately, unlike his father, Sunni Barou did not claim to be Muslim but rather embraced the old tradition. This did not go over very well with the Muslim community in the empire. Not long after taking the throne, Sunni Barou was overthrown by a very faithful muslim named Muhammad Ture. Born around 1440, he was a very ruthless Beffa 4 killer. He even want so far as to eliminate the rest of Sunni Alis family members. As for his way of governing, the Islamic religion played a big role. He believed that the spread of islam was very important for two reasons. One, he was a devout muslim and felt that everyone should be. And second, he saw Islam as a way to unify the empire. He organized his own bureaucracy with 10 providences and an administrator for each. This allowed him to rule very effectively over a vast empire. To lower chances of a rebellion, Muhammad Ture would not allow the kings of the conquered to keep their power but instead he would replace them with members of his own family. In 1495, Muhammad decided to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike other rulers, he was able to leave for long periods of time due to how incredibly stable his government was. After his journey, he felt the need to expand the empire. When Sunni Ali had died, a good number of the states Sunni Ali had conquered had declared independence. It was up to muhammad to reassert the Songhai’s control over these territories. He had no problem with going on an almost continuous military conquest for close to two decades. Like Sunni Ali, Muhammad Ture also expanded the navy. After a military life like that, he was lucky to be around to experience old age. In 1528 Muhammad was so well aged that he had lost the drive to continue the conquests. Also he began to go blind, so his son Farimundyo Musa took over. Farimundyo Musa changed his name to Askia Musa which is where the Askia dynasty comes from. Askia Musa was assassinated in 1531 by one of his brothers. Since Muhammad Ture was Islamic and education is a big part of Islam, Muhammad obviously supported education. The University of Timbuktu was one of the first universities in all of Africa. It attracted many scholars, mainly Islamic. Trade helped bring prosperity to the Songhai Empire as well as these other advances. iv Timbuktu was not only, a major trading spot, but also an educational capital. It had a big effect on the Songhai empire. By conquering this major port early on in the Songhai empires life, it established a sort of foundation. By controlling this port along with a few other key cities, they basically dominated the trans-Saharan trade. Timbuktu Beffa 3 was founded by nomads of the Tuareg in the early 12 th century. In its early days, Timbuktu was thought to be inferior to other major trading ports for trans-Saharan trade such as the cities of Ghana or Walata because they were more impressive. It did not take long to change peoples minds. Timbuktu and its sister city Jenne, which was also soon conquered by the Songhai, were in much better position to the gold field than Walata. Another factor in the rise of timbuktu was the nomad arabs that had been raiding caravans along the western routes. In turn, more people had been taking the eastern routes through Timbuktu. Finally, probably the most signif icant reason timbuktu was such a major port, Timbuktu was on a point where three major trans-Saharan routes went: the Mauritanian, Taghaza salt road, and the route to In Salah by way of Arawan. Two of the most important major imports and exports of the Songhai empire were salt and gold, but other items included slaves, ivory, cotton fabrics, grains, and ostrich feathers. vi To Timbuktu in particular, the major ones were gold, salt, slaves, and kola nuts. The salt came from the salt mines in the Sahara. The gold came from Bure, Bambuk, and Akan. The others, kola nuts and slaves were kinda of wide spread, coming from several p laces and in demand at many more. Naturally as a major trading port, Timbuktu had cultural diffusion. Islamic ideas were passed around especially when Muhammad Ture was in power. vii In 1591 a Moroccan force overthrew the last king of the Songhai empire, thus ending the reign of the greatest western African empire between 1100 and 1600. viii They took the capital at Gao and then moved on to timbuktu. ix It would make sense that trade would be the Songhais forte since when the Mali empire was still in power, the Songhai was a major trading spot at the city of Gao. And the big emphasis on having a great navy would also make sense considering they are located on the Niger river. The major reasons for such an enormous and thriving empire were the well-organized government, combined with outstanding kings, and never having a financial crisis since they conquered cities like Timbuktu and Jenne right from the beginning. Beffa 4 Bibliography Fritze, Ronald. Timbuktu. In World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2004-. Accessed April 16, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. Insoll, Timothy A. â€Å"Trade Empire. † Archeaology 53, no. 6 (november 2000): 48 MAS Ultra-School Edition, Ebscohost (accessed February 5, 2012). Page, Willie F. Encyclopedia of African History and Culture. USA: A Learning Source Book, 2001 William, Oscar. â€Å"Songhai Empire. † In World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABCCLIO, 2004-. Accessed February 5, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abcclio. com/search/display/601432? terms=songhai World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. â€Å"Africa, 3000 BCE-1500 BCE,† ac cessed February 4, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abcclio. com/search/display/588506? terms=medieval+africa+songhai World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Askia dynasty, accessed April 16, 2012. http://ancienthistory. bc-clio. com/. World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Muhammad Ture, accessed April 15, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Sunni Ali, accessed April 8, http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. 2012. i Oscar William. â€Å"Songhai Empire. † In World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC- CLIO, 2004-. Accessed February 5 , 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/search/display/601432? terms=songhai ii World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Sunni Ali, accessed April 15, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. om/. iii World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Sunni Ali,† iv World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Muhammad Ture, accessed April 15, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. v Ronald Fritze. Timbuktu. In World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2004-. Accessed April 16, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. vi World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Muhammad Ture,† vii Fritze viii World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Askia dynasty, accessed April 16, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. ix Fritze

Brick Wall Strategies for Finding Your Ancestors

Brick Wall Strategies for Finding Your Ancestors When it comes to family trees things are rarely straightforward. Families often disappear between one census and the next; records are lost or destroyed through mishandling, fire, war, and flood; and sometimes the facts you do find just dont make sense. When your family history research hits a dead-end, organize your facts and try one of these popular brick wall-busting tactics. Review What You Already Have I know. It seems basic. But I cant stress enough how many brick walls are breached with information that the researcher already has tucked away in notes, files, boxes or on the computer. Information that you found a few years ago may include names, dates or other details that now provide clues given new facts that youve since uncovered. Organizing your files and reviewing your information and evidence may uncover just the clue youre looking for. Go Back to the Original Source Many of us are guilty when transcribing information or recording notes of only including the information we deem important at the time. You may have kept the names and dates from that old census record, but did you also keep track of other information such as years of marriage and country of parents origin? Did you record the names of the neighbors? Or, perhaps, you misread a name or misinterpreted a relationship? If you havent already, be sure to go back to the original records, making complete copies and transcriptions and recording all clues - however unimportant they may seem right now. Broaden Your Search When youre stuck on a particular ancestor, a good strategy is to extend your search to family members and neighbors. When you cant find a birth record for your ancestor that lists his/her parents, maybe you can locate one for a sibling. Or, when youve lost a family between census years, try looking for their neighbors. You may be able to identify a migration pattern, or a mis-indexed census entry that way. Often referred to as cluster genealogy, this research process can often get you past tough brick walls. Question and Verify Many brick walls are built from incorrect data. In other words, your sources may be leading you in the wrong direction through their inaccuracy. Published sources often contain transcription errors, while even original documents may contain misinformation, whether purposefully or accidentally given. Try to find at least three records to verify any facts that you already know and judge the quality of your data based on the weight of the evidence. Check Name Variations Your brick wall may just be something as simple as looking for the wrong name. Variations of last names can make research complicated, but be sure to check all spelling options. Soundex is a first step, but you cant count on it entirely - some name variations can actually result in different soundex codes. Not only can the surnames be different, but the given name may be different as well. Ive found records recorded under initials, middle names, nicknames, etc. Get creative with name spellings and variations and cover all the possibilities. Learn Your Boundaries Even though you know that your ancestor lived on the same farm, you may still be looking in the wrong jurisdiction for your ancestor. Town, county, state, and even country boundaries have changed over time as populations grew or political authority changed hands. Records were also not always registered in the locality where your ancestors lived. In Pennsylvania, for example, births and deaths can be registered in any county, and many of my Cambria county ancestors records were actually located in neighboring Clearfield county because they lived closer to that county seat and found it a more convenient trip. So, bone up on your historical geography and you just may find a new route around your brick wall. Ask for Help Fresh eyes can often see beyond brick walls, so try bouncing your theories off other researchers. Post a query to a Web site or mailing list which focuses on the locality in which the family lived, check with members of the local historical or genealogical society, or just talk through it with someone else who loves family history research. Be sure to include what you already know, as well as what youd like to know and which tactics youve already tried.

Sukuk and Screening of Stocks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sukuk and Screening of Stocks - Essay Example The challenge lies in adapting instruments such a Sukuk in these mediums without compromising on the dictates of the Shariah. Of all the financial certificates transacted in banks outside the Islamic world, bonds are most amenable to the requisites of Shariah. Already many Islamic banks are issuing a variety of Sukuk (not all of which are Shariah compliant); but the best option of satisfying Islamic principles while also being able to integrate into global markets is through Sukuks issued as bonds. Presently Islamic banks employ three mechanisms to showcase the compatibility of their Sukuks with conventional bonds. Firstly, the bond holders' ownership of Enterprise Assets clearly distinguish these Sukuks from interest-based bonds. The second mechanism is the distribution of profits generated by these enterprises at fixed percentages as per prevailing interest rates. The third mechanism is the assurance of capital protection, meaning that at least the principal will be returned to the investor. In order for these Sukuk's to be Shariah compliant they have to answer some key questions. First, is the stipulated amount â€Å"in excess of the price of interest for the manager of the enterprise under the pretense that this is an incentive for good management?† Also, will the manager purchase the assets that is nominated in the Sukuk at its face value and not at its going-rate in the markets at the time of its redemption? If the answer to any such question is in the negative then the Sukuk is considered to have breached the Shariah rules. In this respect the guidelines and deliberations given by the Shariah committee is a useful resource. Author Muhammad Taqi Usmani goes on to talk about how many banks in the Islamic world have failed in upkeeping the tradition of Shariah in order to attract investors. Presently there are loopholes in the system, exploiting which bank managers project a Sukuk as genuinely Shariah compliant, whereas in reality they are only nomin ally so. It is imperative that managers do not indulge in such practices. The paper prepared by Nizam Yaquby titled 'Participation and Trading in Equities of Companies whose Main Business is Primarily Lawful But Fraught With Some Prohibited Transaction' highlights some of the tendencies on part of Islamic banks to neglect Shariah mandates in their pursuit for greater revenues. The ubiquitousness of Joint Stock Companies and the dealing of their stocks by banks throws open several dilemmas. With the Internet making purchase, holding and selling of such stocks quite easy, many banks in the Islamic world are indirectly trading in financial instruments that do not conform to the Shariah code. Trading in stocks of Joint Stock Companies, also called Public Limited Companies, has elicited mixed reactions among Islamic scholars. One group views this practice as permissible provided â€Å"that the profits earned should be purged from unlawful gains†; while the other group finds it obj ectionable. Citing several legal maxims, scholars have either supported or opposed this practice. Some of these maxims are â€Å"The General need Takes the rule of specific Necessity; Mixture of Negligible Unlawful Part with Lawful Major Part; Majority Has the Ruling of the Whole, or the Majority Counts ; and What is Inescapable is tolerable†