Factors that Led to the Fall of the Ancient Songhai Empire: External Factors

Week 10

TOPIC: Factors that Led to the Fall of the Ancient Songhai Empire: External Factors

The Moroccan Conquest: The defeat of Songhai by the armies of Morocco brought an end to the empire. The Songhai Empire was very vast, and its trade cities were the envy of many kingdoms; thus, rulers of other empires sought to capture Songhai. The Moroccans in October 1590, led by Judar Pashar, took the cities of Gao, Djenne and Timbuktu. They went further to burn farmlands in the empire.

Many historians record that the Moroccan forces were supported by the British government under Queen Elizabeth I. They provided the Moroccans with firearms and artillery, which outflanked the iron weapons of the Songhai army. Thus,…