Final answer:
The Songhai Empire was larger than the Ghana and Mali empires, influenced by its military conquests and geographic factors. Centralized control and economic considerations, including trade, also had significant impacts on the size and territorial orientation of these empires.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing the territory of Songhai to that of Ghana and Mali, it becomes apparent that the Songhai Empire was one of the largest in African history. It absorbed territories of the previous Ghana and Mali empires and expanded them further east and north. The Mali Empire was affluent, thriving on trade and becoming a center for Islamic learning, but it experienced succession problems that weakened its structure. The Ghana Empire, considered to be the earliest of the three, dominated the region between western Mali and southeastern Mauritania, enriched by its control over salt and gold trade routes and the advent of camel transportation.
Geographic factors and military conquests were critical in shaping the sizes and orientations of these empires. The Songhai Empire's dominance was facilitated by its mounted horsemen armies, which allowed it to conquer cities and extend its influence. This military prowess, along with the strategic appointment of governors by the emperors to newly conquered lands, ensured a more centralized control than what Mali had established. Moreover, the integration of Mali into the Muslim-dominated trade networks and the prosperity Songhai experienced by controlling trans-Saharan trade routes also point to economic considerations as a key influence on empire size and territorial orientation.