THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE AND THE ISLAMIC KINGDOM OF BORNO RELATIONSHIPS DURING THE REIGN OF EL MAY IDRIS ALOUMA (1571-1603) IN VIEW OF ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS

Abstract

The present study addresses the Ottoman Empire and kingdom of Borno relationships in the 16th century, aiming at figuring out the nature of these relationships, its aspects, and   impact on the future of the Sudan region. The study aims equally at denying the opinions saying that the existence of the Ottoman Empire was limited to the coastal areas, not far interior areas. This research paper relies on historical, descriptive, and analytical and comparative method by analyzing and describing documents then putting them in their historical and geographical context related to that period. It depends also on comparing historical sources upon their information and the accuracy of this information. Methods used in this regard are archives as the first source for investigating the circumstances of bilateral relationships besides historical sources that co-existed with the events from all parts, in addition to the historical sources and specialized reference investigation and interpretation processes. The study concluded that the existence of the Ottoman Empire is a real extension in Sudan and that the kingdom of Borno wad dependent nominally to the Ottoman Empire. The latter had a civilizational role in the Sudan region. Ancient and modern Moroccan literature is unfair in describing the relationship between the Ottoman Empire and kingdom of  Borno.