African Kingdoms (Carolyn)

Ghana

300

The actual name of the empire was Wagadugu. Old Ghana is 500 miles north of the present ghana and was located in between Senegal and Niger rivers. Before 1957 Ghana was called the Gold Coast. The empire ended sometime in the 13th century.

Hausa

Mar 30, 1100

Hausaland was located in present day northern Nigeria and Niger. The people were primarily muslim, and Islamic culture played a huge role in Hausa history. The Fulani eventually wrestled political power away from the Hausas in 1800 AD through a series of holy wars.

Great Zimbabwe

Mar 30, 1100

A ruined city that was formerly the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, located in southeast Zimbabwe. This existed during the late Iron Age of the country. The city played the role of a royal palace for the Zimbabwean monarch, this made it the head of their political power. The empire ended around 1400.

Mali

Mar 30, 1200

It was located in Western Africa. Sundiata ( aka the lion king) founded the Mali Emprire and ruled for 25 years. Sundiata’s grandson, Mansa Musa ruled from 1312- 1337, this is when the empire was the strongest. The empire ended in 1645.

Yoruba (Oyo)

Mar 30, 1400

The Oyo Empire was located in southwest present day Nigeria. It was the most politically important state in the region. Even though the empire eventually crumbled in 1905, the Yoruba people remain the most urbanised African ethnic group today.

Mutapa

Mar 30, 1430

It is referred to as the Kingdom of Mutapa and the Mutapa Empire; it was located between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers (which are in the modern states of Zimbabwe and Mozambique). The religion of the Mutapa was focused around “ritual consultations of spirits and a cult of royal ancestors.” They were in contact the the Portuguese, the Portuguese wanted to control the trade of luxury goods between the Mutapa Kingdom and India.The empire ended in 1760.

Benin

Mar 30, 1440

The Benin Empire was located in modern western Nigeria. They are known now for their sculptural artwork. The empire ended in 1897 when the British came and burned down their cities.

Songhai

Mar 30, 1464

The religion was islam and the leaders were muslim. Was a part of the Mali Empire, but refused to pay taxes and took over when the Mali empire weakened. They started out as a fishing community but at its height,, grow to over 2,000 miles. The empire ended in 1595.

African Kingdoms

Period: Mar 30, 2000 to Mar 30, 2000

Kilwa

Mar 2, 2022

It was centered in modern-day Tanzania, at its height the Kilwa stretched over the entire Swahili Coast. It was founded by Ali ibn al-hassan Shirazi, a Persian Prince of Shiraz (his family ruled until 1277). Kilwa was an island and a great trade center due to its prime location. Merchants from Persia and Arabia were drawn to Kilwa.The empire ended some time in the 19th century.