The Tomb of Askia is a large monument in Gao, in northeastern Mali, built as the burial place of Askia Mohammad I, the ruler of the Songhai Empire. He took power in the late fifteenth century and made a pilgrimage to Mecca, and he made Islam the basis of the state and brought the empire to its height. The tomb is a pyramid-shaped structure about seventeen metres high, built of mud and wood in the Sudano-Sahelian style, with wooden stakes projecting from the sides to serve as scaffolding for repairs. A mosque and a cemetery lie beside it. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2004, and listed as in danger in 2012 when armed groups took control of Gao.
Before and after
- 14 April 1494Construction of Frauenkirche
- 7 June 1494Treaty of Tordesillas
- 12 September 1494Birth of Francis I of France
- 6 November 1494Birth of Suleiman the Magnificent
- 1495Construction of Tomb of Askia
- 1496Introduction of złoty
- 1497Introduction of Spanish dollar
- 24 June 1497John Cabot reaches North America
- from 1498 to 1975Portuguese Mozambique
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- 622 CEConstruction of Prophet's Mosque
- from 800 CE to 1258Islamic Golden Age
- 1070Construction of Windsor Castle
- 1342Construction of Palace of Westminster
- from 1370 to 1789Construction of Bastille
- 1386Construction of Heidelberg University
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 15th century.