The level of influence and control in the field in the Sudanese Islamic kingdoms: Songhay state model

Abstract

One of the middle Ages African state types was political entities with a large territory and a multi-ethnic population. This was the case for Songhai at the height of its development, This differs from states characterized by a population composed of a single ethnic group, or having a politically and numerically dominant ethnic group, possessing a small territory and a dense population, this type of state -large and populated by different ethnicities- was often called “an empire" in historical research and in political science, in order to designate a political alliance, in which, a central state dominating other states, Mainly by military, political and ideological means. The article questions the level of influence and control of Songhai over the lands it occupied, and the role Islam played in asserting the legitimacy of political power in this country.