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Under the Rashidun Caliphate, a Muslim Army invaded Egypt.
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The first event on this timeline, the Siege of Alexandria was a military operation that granted Muslims control of Egypt.
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A brief civil war took place in 661. The Umayyad Caliphate continued the Muslim conquest, and eventually took Tripoli, Tunis, and Algiers.
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The Ghana Empire controlled major trade routes, which essentially granted them control of surrounding territories. Chiefs in these territories payed Ghana in the form of salt, gold, and gifts.. Unfortunately, Ghana fell to Almoravids in 1076.
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From 800 - 1700, Muslim merchants exported slaves from East Africa, along with gold, ivory, and salt. They would purchase the kidnapped slaves, and ship them to the Middle East, India, and even China
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From 1000 - 1500, various city-states, such as Benin, Hausa, and the Yoruba Kingdoms, were established.
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The Almoravids were a berber group who emerged in 1040. Through military conquest, they spread Islam to Marrakech in 1062, and Ghana in 1076
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Great Zimbabwe controlled the trade route which linked the gold fields to Sofala, a coastal trading city. By taxing this, and other trade routes, leaders turned Great Zimbabwe into the thriving cultural center of the empire.
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The Almohads began as a religious movement in Morocco. They criticized the Almoravids for drifting away from the practice of traditional Islam, and eventually ended the rule of the Almoravids in 1148. They took Marrakech as their capital, and were the first people to unite it.
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The Mali empire was first ruled by Sundiata. Mali translates to "where the king lives". Sundiata and Mali were able to control major trade routes via a series of military victories.
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Sundiata Keita was the first of many to rule over Mali. His rule allowed military conquests which led to the control of trade routes
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Mansa Musa was the ninth mansa of Mali. He was a devout Muslim who took the Hajj to Mecca in 1324. He spent so much gold in Cairo, that it's price was deflated for a whopping twelve years... this awakened the rest of the world to the greatness of Mali.
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Mansa Musa makes the Hajj, resulting in the construction of elaborate mosques in trading cities, such as Timbuktu.
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The Mutapa Empire was founded by Prince Nyatsimba Mutota in 1420. They raised a powerful army and expanded the empire through conquest. Conquered people would call Mutota "mwene mutapa", which means “master pillager”. Portuguese interference in the early 1500’s mark the beginning of European colonialism
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The Songhai empire was established in 1464 after breaking off of Mali. It was founded by Sunni Ali
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Sunni Ali was the first to rule over the Songhai Empire. A skilled military tactician, he built his empire with the help of military conquest. His army featured both cavalry and river boat war canoes. In 1468, he captured Timbuktu.
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Askia The Great was the nephew of Sunni Ali, and served as one of his generals. After pushing Ali's son out due to his lack of faith, Askia became ruler of the Songhai, which led to optimization of the central government.
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By 1591, the Songhai's one great military had fallen behind it's rivals. A Moroccan army crossed over the Sahara, armed with gunpowder and cannons, and defeated the Songhai, who only had bows and spears. This effectively ends the ~1,000 year period of West African kingdoms.
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