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Period: 1400 to 1400
Before 1400s
African kingdoms, such as Mali, Ghana, and Songhai, thrive with trade, governance, and culture. -
Period: 1400 to
1400s-1600s
European explorers (Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, British, and French) establish coastal trade posts, focusing on gold, ivory, and slaves. -
Period: to
1600s-1800s
The transatlantic slave trade devastates African societies, with millions forcibly taken to the Americas. -
Pre-Colonial Era (Before 1880s)
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Scramble for Africa (1880s-1900)
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Period: to
1884-1885
Berlin Conference: European powers (Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, etc.) divide Africa without African input. -
Period: to
1899-1902 – Boer War
British and Dutch settlers (Boers) fight for control of South Africa. -
Colonial Rule (1900-1950s)
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Period: to
Early 1900s
European countries establish direct control over African territories, exploiting resources and labor. -
Period: to
1914
Nearly all of Africa, except Ethiopia and Liberia, is under European rule. -
Period: to
1920s-1940s
African nationalist movements emerge, demanding rights and self-governance. -
Decolonization (1950s-1990s)
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Period: to
1957
Ghana becomes the first African country to gain independence from Britain. -
Period: to
1960
Known as the "Year of Africa," 17 African countries gain independence. -
Period: to
1975
Portugal grants independence to Angola, Mozambique, and other colonies after the Carnation Revolution. -
Period: to
1990
Namibia gains independence from South Africa. -
Period: to
1994
Apartheid ends in South Africa; Nelson Mandela becomes president.