The Zulu Wars, fought between 1879 and 1880, were a series of conflicts between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom in present-day South Africa. The primary cause was British expansionist policies and the desire to control more territory. The war is notable for the British defeat at the Battle of Isandlwana, where Zulu forces achieved a significant victory against a well-armed British army. The conflict included several key battles, such as the famous defense of Rorke's Drift, where a small British garrison successfully held off a much larger Zulu force. Ultimately, the British regrouped and defeated the Zulus, leading to the annexation of the Zulu Kingdom and further British control in the region.