Final answer:
Gao was the capital of the Songhai Empire, once a significant trading hub in the Saharan trade network. It came to prominence during the 15th and 16th centuries under the Songhai that overtook the region from the Mali Empire.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gao was the capital and an important trading center of the Songhai Empire. Historically, Gao was a significant city due to its key location in the trans-Saharan gold and salt trade networks. It was originally associated with the Ghana Empire, later annexed by the Mali Empire around 1325, and flourished under their rule. However, its most prominent period came during the 15th and 16th centuries under the Songhai Empire, after Sunni Ali rose to power and broke away from Mali around 1375.
The Songhai capital at Gao became a bustling hub for trade and Islam, as the rulers were among the earliest converts to Islam in West Africa, elevating Gao's significance within the region. Despite being initially a tributary state to Mali, Gao's strategic importance in regional trade and its proximity to abundant resources helped the Songhai Empire become one of the greatest empires of medieval Africa. Sadly, this impressive era ended when Moroccan forces invaded in 1591, marking the fall of both Gao and the Songhai Empire.