Africa

By TimelineLover94
  • Period: 1000 BCE to 1500

    The Bantu People

    The Bantu people were the people who spoke the language of Bantu and would later spread the language all across Africa. They are native to the area known as Cameroon today.
  • Period: 500 BCE to 1500

    Bantu Migration

  • Period: 300 to 1200

    Ghana

    It is believed that in the year 300 the people called the Soninke founded Ghana and it thrived until the year 1200. Ghana would become known for its rich culture, wealth, organization, and power. Ghana gained its wealth from the ¨Salt - Gold Trades¨ between North and West Africa. Ghana thrived until the mid 1200s until it started losing power from Muslim raiders that were attacking across the empire.
  • Period: 1100 to 1450

    Great Zimbabwe

    Great Zimbabwe was the capital of what was once the Kingdom of Zimbabwe. It spanned an area of 1,784 acres and at its peak could have housed 18,000 people. Great Zimbabwe help the royal palace for the Zimbabwean monarch and was the seat of political power. Eventually, the city was abandoned and left to become dilapidated.
  • Period: 1200 to 1400

    Mali

    In its beginning, Mali wasn´t able to control trade as Ghana was able to. A very greedy leader named Sumanguru who lead the Soso had control of the trade routes. Sundiata rallied the people of Mali against Sumanguru and in 1240 the two armies met in a fierce battle. Sundiata and the people of Mali won the battle and as a result, gained control of the trade routes through Sudan. Mali would grow to its greatest size under the rule of Mansa Musa. He would control the empire until his death.
  • Period: 1300 to

    Oyo Empire

    The Oyo Empire was a very powerful Yoruba state in what is modern-day Nigeria. Living in the West African north of the tropical forests, the Oyo were able to use horses. This allowed the empire to expand into further regions of what is now northern and western Nigeria. The empire grew during the 18th century caused of the slave trade. During the late 18th century the empire declined due to relying too much on the slave trade. Oyo income and authority dropped which cause some states to rebel.
  • Period: 1464 to

    Songhai

    The Songhai empire began on the rubble of the Mali empire. Ali-Ber began ruling the Songhai in 1464 and he expanded the empire to all of what was once the Mali and beyond. The Songhai divided its empire into 5 provinces each had its own way of running. Songhai grew rich through trade routes just like the Mali and Ghana. The Songhai collapsed in 1591 after the ruler of Morocco wanted the money. Soldiers from Morocco were sent to capture the Songhai and wiped them out. Songhai could not defend.
  • Period: to

    Asante Empire