In this episode, Grade 12 student - Dani Taylor explores the Songhai Empire and the impact of European Colonization on its downfall. The Songhai Empire, flourishing in the western Sahel from the 15th to 16th centuries, was one of the largest empires in African history, succeeding Mali as the dominant power. Its strategic location along trans-Saharan trade routes, controlling gold and salt, fueled its wealth and cultural centers like Timbuktu and Gao. However, the rise of European maritime trade along the Atlantic coast in the late 15th century gradually diminished the importance of these overland routes, weakening Songhai's economic base. This decline, coupled with internal strife, made the empire vulnerable to external forces. In 1591, the Moroccan invasion, equipped with firearms, decisively defeated the Songhai army, leading to the empire's collapse and fragmentation, marking a significant turning point as European influence began to reshape West Africa. --- L'empire Songhaï, qui a prospéré dans le Sahel occidental du XVe au XVIe siècle, fut l'un des plus grands empires de l'histoire africaine, succédant au Mali comme puissance dominante. Sa situation stratégique le long des routes commerciales transsahariennes, contrôlant l'or et le sel, a alimenté sa richesse et ses centres culturels comme Tombouctou et Gao. Cependant, l'essor du commerce maritime européen le long de la côte atlantique à la fin du XVe siècle a progressivement diminué l'importance de ces routes terrestres, affaiblissant la base économique du Songhaï. Ce déclin, conjugué aux luttes internes, a rendu l'empire vulnérable aux forces extérieures. En 1591, l'invasion marocaine, équipée d'armes à feu, a vaincu de manière décisive l'armée Songhaï, entraînant l'effondrement et la fragmentation de l'empire, marquant un tournant important alors que l'influence européenne commençait à remodeler l'Afrique de l'Ouest.