Senegal has a long history of colonialism. In 1444, Portuguese traders reached what is now the country of Cape Verde, formerly a part of Senegal. There, they established trading factories along the southern Atlantic coast and at the mouth of the Sénégal, a nearby river.  In the 16th century, their influence was overcome by that of the Dutch and French. Through the 1580s−1670s, Senegal became a major slave labor territory. The rapidly expanding French economy was briefly halted by the Seven Year's War, in which Britain acquired the majority of France's African territory. The lost land was returned by 1816, after which France rapidly expanded its holdings, gaining the entirety of Senegal− which at the time was much of West Africa.

Senegal provided resources for the slave labor market, as well as being plentiful in gold and gum arabic (an emulsifier). Additionally, Senegal is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, which made it an optimal location for trading and transportation through ships. 

During the colonial period, Senegal was governed through direct rule, which was typical for France's territories. Direct rule encouraged assimilation into European culture, focused on "civilizing" their subjects to appear more European, and relied on the authority of colonizers instead of indigenous peoples. This brutal yet effective method undermined traditional ways of leadership and sparked a belief of "education", where colonizers attempted to force European culture and beliefs on to the natives. Direct rule was also essential to France's intentions at the time, which were to meet production quotas and eliminate unemployment in their home country. 

French culture had an immense impact on the people and culture of Senegal that can still be seen today. Colonizers in the 19th century attempted to emphasize the "superiority" of France by eroding native beliefs and customs. Through education and enforcing of French culture, Senegal became much more euro−centric in its language and traditions. To this day, French remains the official language of Senegal, although only 20% of people understand it.