Africa wall map physical ct00406

Afican Kingdoms Timeline

  • 500 BCE

    Iron smelting in Nigeria and central Niger.

    Iron smelting in Nigeria and central Niger.
    500 BCE - Evidence of iron smelting in Nigeria and central Niger.
  • 300

    Ghana comes into power

    Ghana comes into power
    Ghana was the first of the three early African empires, 300 CE
  • 800

    Islam spreads

    Islam spreads
    800 CE- The religion of Islam begins to spread through Africa
  • 1000

    Ghana forced Awdaghast to accept its rule

    Ghana forced Awdaghast to accept its rule
    Ghana forced Awdaghast to accept its rule
  • 1000

    Iron technology spreads to the rest of Africa

    Iron technology spreads to the rest of Africa
    Iron technology spreads out tho the rest of Africa.
  • 1152

    Gold coin found in Morocco

    Gold coin found in Morocco
    1148-1163 - Gold coin with thin, circular with double square and Arabic script, pearled border.
  • 1200

    Mali comes into power

    Mali comes into power
    Mali came next 1200 CE
  • 1200

    Ghana declines

    Ghana declines
    • Many different reasons for Ghana's decline. Ghana was totally eclipsed by the Mali Empire of Sundiata.
    • Drought also caused the decline
    • The King lost his trading monopoly.
    • Invasion from outside forces
  • 1200

    Headrest made in Mali

    Headrest made in Mali
    Wood headrest ornamented with horse heads projecting from both sides of the rectangular base, which is itself decorated with triangular chip-carved motifs around the top and sides. A rectangular cavity is carved in the center of the seat. A small animal head, probably a horse, projects from the lower portion of the base.
  • 1235

    Malinke emerges under a new ruler

    Malinke emerges under a new ruler
    Malinke emerged under a new dynamic ruler, Sundiata Keita
  • 1300

    Equestrian figure made in Mali

    Equestrian figure made in Mali
    13th century to 15th century
    Equestrian figure with a quiver slung across the back diagonally from the right shoulder down.
  • 1320

    Abubakar II's successor, Mansa Musa was immortalised

    Abubakar II's successor, Mansa Musa was immortalised
    Abubakar II's successor, Mansa Musa (1312-1337) was immortalised in the descriptions of Arab writers,
  • 1324

    Mansa Musa makes his magnificent pilgramage

    Mansa Musa makes his magnificent pilgramage
    Mansa Musa he made his magnificent pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324.
  • 1400

    Object called Manilla

    Object called Manilla
    12th to 18th century-
    Copper ring forged from a cast ingot into a hexagonal bar. The ends are heavily "upset" or compressed into a button head and then bent into a C shape. There is a dark patina with highlights from wear, and this is the larger of two like objects in this donation.
  • 1400

    Tuared launches succcessful raids on Timbuktu

    Tuared launches succcessful raids on Timbuktu
    In the early 1400's, Tuareg launched a number of successful raids on Timbuktu. They did not disrupt scholastic life or commercial activity, but fatally undermined the government by appropriating taxes for themselves.
  • 1464

    Songhai comes into power

    Songhai comes into power
    Songhai, the last of these three great empires, starts in1464. It started under the control of the Mali Empire
  • 1493

    Mohammed Ture seized power

    Mohammed Ture seized power
    After Sonni Ali's death one of his generals, Mohammed Ture, seized power in 1493. He was a devout Muslim of Soninke origin, who established the Askiya dynasty. Continuing the expansion of Songhay that Sonni Ali had started, he brought Songhay to the height of its power.
  • 1500

    Copper ingot currency found in Democratic Republic of Congo

    Copper ingot currency found in Democratic Republic of Congo
    13th-17th century
    Small copper ingot currency or croisettes of the HX type. This group of 5 ingots shows stable oxidation with some minor pitting. Mold form ridges are visible on the underside.
  • 1500

    Mali totally eclipsed by Sonhay

    Mali totally eclipsed by Sonhay
    Meanwhile Gao had become the capital of the burgeoning Songhay Empire which, by 1500, had totally eclipsed Mali. But the idea of Mali regaining its former splendour and glory, remained strong in the minds of many Mandinka for generations to come.
  • 1500

    Mali declines

    Mali declines
    • Decline: weak and inneficient rulers caused Mali to be a weaker force. Their power was reduced making them vulnerable
    • civil wars
  • 1510

    Leo Africanus visited Gao

    Leo Africanus visited Gao
    In 1510 and 1513, The Spanish Moroccan writer and traveller Leo Africanus visited Gao, the capital of Songhay. He was amazed at the wealth of the ruling class.
  • 1570

    Sonhay goes into a civil war

    Sonhay goes into a civil war
    In the late 16th century Songhay slid into civil war. The wealth and power of Songhay was also undermined by environmental change, causing droughts and diseases. But Songhay might have survived all this. The decisive factor in its downfall was the determination of the Moroccans to control the sub-Saharan gold trade.
  • Songhay declines

    Songhay declines
    Songhay declines in the year 1591
  • Morocco invades Songhay

    Morocco invades Songhay
    In 1591 the Moroccan army invaded. The Songhay were caught unawares and were defeated by the superior fire power of the Moroccan army. Morocco won the war but lost the peace. The Sultans of Morocco eventually lost interest.