Final answer:
Sunni Ali unified the Songhai Empire through military conquests and control of key trade routes, expanding its territory to include economic resources such as salt, cloth, and gold. His rule, although contested by some due to his actions against Muslim forces, is remembered as foundational in the creation and enrichment of the empire.
Step-by-step explanation:
Unification of the Songhai Empire under Sunni Ali
Sunni Ali was the architect behind the unification of the Songhai Empire, successfully annexing territories previously under the Mali Empire. Through military conquests, he captured Timbuktu in 1468 and later seized Djenné in 1473, which were crucial economic and scholarly centers under Mali. Despite being a Muslim, Sunni Ali often campaigned against other Muslim forces, which led to criticism from Arabic historians, yet in Songhai oral tradition, he is celebrated as a conquering hero and credited with founding the empire. He buttressed his rule by controlling major trade routes and urban areas, such as Timbuktu and Djenné, enhancing the kingdom's wealth and power.
Under his leadership, Sunni Ali expanded Songhai's territory to encompass areas that held significant economic value, including salt, cloth, and gold resources. Growth continued under his successors, with notable advances under Askia the Great, who leveraged Islam to consolidate control and initiate a golden age for Songhai as a center of trade and Islamic learning. However, it was Sunni Ali's military strategy and ability to dominate important trade routes that initially unified and enriched the empire, setting the stage for its subsequent prosperity.