The Anglo-Zulu War was a conflict that took place in 1879 between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom in present-day South Africa. The war was sparked by British expansionist policies and the desire to control the region. It began with a surprise attack by the Zulus on British forces at Isandlwana, leading to significant early victories for the Zulu warriors. However, the tide turned as the British regrouped and launched a series of counterattacks. Key battles included the famous defense of Rorke's Drift, where a small British garrison held off a much larger Zulu force. The war ultimately ended with the defeat of the Zulu Kingdom and the annexation of their territory by the British.