What was the deciding factor in the collapse of Songhai? A. It faced rivalries within the ruling family. B. It relied too heavily on the salt-gold trade. C. It was invaded by a foreign army with guns. D. It valued Islamic learning over military strength.

The correct answer is C. It was invaded by a foreign army with guns.<br /><br />The Songhai Empire, which was one of the largest and most powerful empires in West Africa during the 15th and 16th centuries, ultimately collapsed due to an invasion by a foreign army equipped with firearms.<br /><br />In 1591, the Songhai Empire was invaded by the Sultanate of Morocco, which had acquired firearms and artillery through trade with European powers. The Moroccan army, led by Judar Pasha, was able to defeat the Songhai forces, which were still using traditional weapons such as spears and bows.<br /><br />The Moroccan invasion was the final blow that led to the collapse of the Songhai Empire. The empire had already been weakened by internal conflicts and the decline of the trans-Saharan trade routes, which had been its economic backbone. The Moroccan invasion was the final event that shattered the Songhai state and led to its eventual disintegration.<br /><br />The other options are not the primary reasons for the collapse of the Songhai Empire:<br /><br />A. While there may have been rivalries within the ruling family, this was not the main factor in the empire's downfall.<br />B. The Songhai Empire did rely heavily on the salt-gold trade, but this was not the direct cause of its collapse.<br />D. The Songhai Empire did value Islamic learning, but this was not the reason for its collapse, as the empire was a Muslim state.<br /><br />Therefore, the correct answer is C. It was invaded by a foreign army with guns.