Final answer:
Timbuktu was the major trading center under Songhai rule, known for its trans-Saharan trade in commodities like gold and salt and as a center of Islamic learning.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under Songhai rule, the city of Timbuktu became a major trans-Saharan trading center for gold, copper, slaves, and salt. Timbuktu was the major trading center under Songhai rule, known for its trans-Saharan trade in commodities like gold and salt and as a center of Islamic learning. Timbuktu not only became prominent for its trade but also as a center of Islamic learning, attracting merchants and scholars alike.
The wealth of the Songhai Empire was built on the lucrative trans-Saharan trade, further enhanced by the rulers' smart use of Islam to unify and control vast territories including important trade centers like Gao and Djenné. As the empire prospered under leaders such as Askia the Great, Timbuktu flourished as a cosmopolitan hub of commerce and intellectual activity, contributing significantly to the cultural and economic landscape of West Africa.