Songhai Falls to Morocco

By: Alexis, Bisma, and Frank

Please Take Notes!!!!

Moroccan troops wanted to invade Songhai to control the Saharan salt mines. They needed money.

But before the Moroccans set out for Songhai, Spanish and Portuguese armies fought the Moroccans. When the armies surrendered, the Moroccan ruler then decided that they would invade Songhai for the salt and gold.

The Moroccan troops set out to attack Songhai in 1591. Not all the troops were Moroccan. Some were Spanish and Portuguese prisoners who agreed to fight rather than spend more time in prison.

The Moroccans had many weapons. They also brought the arquebus, a terrible new weapon that was an early form of a gun. In addition, they brought a few small cannons.

The troops attacked Timbuktu and Gao, and the damage they caused was never recovered as well as the income they produced. This resulted to Songhai’s fall.

Quiz Questions: 1. Who were the people that invaded Songhai and

why?2. What did the Moroccans bring with them to

Songhai that brought disaster? 3. What year did the Moroccans set out for Songhai?4. What if the Moroccans were already rich with salt

and gold?5. What if the Moroccans still attacked Songhai, but

Songhai won?

ReviewFrom this PowerPoint, you should be able to recognize what caused Songhai’s fall; identify what an Arquebus is; and describe Moroccan troops.

Thank You!!!