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Approximately 1100-1450 A.D.
Had “Great Enclosure wall”, the ancient plain of Great Zimbabwe is in 2 parts: the hill complex and the valley complexes, extensive trading network, and Great Zimbabwe was an important commercial and political center -
1100-1804 A.D.
Independent political city-states in what is now northern Nigeria. These states began as centers of trade including leather, gold, salt, kola nuts, and animal hides. It became a city state of the Sokoto Caliphate and about a century later, became part of the British Empire. -
1230-1500 A.D.
Known as Mandingo Empire or Manden Kurufa in western Africa. It was found by Sundiata Keita. After the great leader, Mansa Musa died, his sons failed to hold the empire together which led to the decline. -
1340-1591 A.D.
One of the largest Islamic empires. The cities Timbuktu and Djenne were major cultural and commercial centers. Sunni Ali Ber was a military leader responsible for many victories for the Songhai Empire and the first great ruler. -
1400-1905 A.D.
a Yoruba empire in present day northern and western Nigeria, became one of the largest West African states encountered by pre colonial explorers. -
1440-1897 A.D.
Now in modern day Nigeria. Oral traditions traced their origin to the ancient city of lle-lfe and claim that the founders were the sons of Yoruba deity Odudua. -
1450-1629 A.D.
A Shona kingdom that stretched between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers of southern Africa in the modern states of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Its founders are likely politically and culturally related to the builders who constructed Great Zimbabwe. -
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830-1235 A.D.
Known as the Wagadou Empire. Located in southeastern Mauritania and western Mali. The capital was Koumbi Saleh in southeast Mauritania. -
960-1513 A.D.
Centered in modern day Tanzania and stretched over the length of the Swahili Coast. It was founded by Ali ibn-Hassan Shirazi and his family ruled until 1277. They were soon taken over by a Portuguese invasion and the family of Abu Moaheb took over.
