Ancient african kingdoms

African Kingdoms Timeline

  • 1500 BCE

    Complex Societies Start

    Complex Societies Start
  • 500 BCE

    Evidence of Iron Smelting in Nigeria

    Evidence of Iron Smelting in Nigeria
    Spreads to rest of West Africa by 1000 AD
  • Period: 200 BCE to 500 BCE

    Movement of Bantu peoples to east and southern Africa

    "The Bantu Migrations."
  • Period: 300 to 1200

    Ghana's African Empire

  • 800

    Islam spreads throughout Africa

    Islam spreads throughout Africa
  • 1000

    Iron Technology Spreads to the Rest of Africa

    Iron Technology Spreads to the Rest of Africa
  • 1067

    Ghana Is Surrounded by Independent KIngdoms

    Ghana Is Surrounded by Independent KIngdoms
  • 1148

    Gold Coin in Square Cardstock Envelope

    Gold Coin in Square Cardstock Envelope
    Thin, circular with double square (or lozenge according to the orientation established by the hole at either side) and Arabic script, pearled border. Almohad Dynasty, Fez mint. Depositor's notes written on envelope
  • Period: 1200 to 1500

    Mali's African Empire

  • 1300

    Red colored bowl with lightly incised parallel lines around the rim.

    Red colored bowl with lightly incised parallel lines around the rim.
    African potters--primarily women--handbuild a variety of vessels that they embellish with beautiful colors, designs and motifs before firing them at low temperatures. Containers made for daily use hold water or serve as cooking utensils. They also make vessels to be used in special ceremonies or that become part of an assemblage of objects placed in a shrine.
  • 1300

    Equestrian figure with a quiver slung across the back diagonally from the right shoulder down.

    Equestrian figure with a quiver slung across the back diagonally from the right shoulder down.
    Since the 1940s, low-fired ceramic figures and fragments such as this have been unearthed at various sites throughout the Inland Niger Delta region, an area that once had highly developed urban centers. These works are among the earliest known surviving art forms in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • 1340

    Ghana is Incorporated into Mali

    Ghana is Incorporated into Mali
  • 1350

    Ceramic figure seated cross-legged.

    Ceramic figure seated cross-legged.
    Ceramic figure seated cross-legged. Upper arms missing.
  • Period: 1350 to 1450

    Time of Numerous Conquests

  • 1400

    Mali's Gold

    Mali's Gold
    Mali is The Source of Almost Half the Gold in the Old World
  • 1450

    Cast copper alloy cross

    Cast copper alloy cross
    Christianity has a long history in Ethiopia, dating from its introduction in Aksum under the reign of King Azana in about A.D. 330. Its spread among the peoples of the highlands, and the arrival of nine monks from Syria toward the end of the fifth century, is said to have introduced monasticism to Ethiopia and to have contributed strongly to the production and use of liturgical objects.
  • Period: 1464 to

    Songhai's African Empire

    Started under control of Mali Empire.
  • Mahmud IV Dies

    Mahmud IV Dies
  • Realm Remains Under Mandinka Control

    Realm Remains Under Mandinka Control
  • Discovery of Australopithecus

    Discovery of Australopithecus
    Near Taung, South Africa.
  • Homo Habilis Skulls Found

    Homo Habilis Skulls Found
    In Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania and Lake Turkana, Kenya
  • Semi-complete skeleton of "Lucy" found

    Semi-complete skeleton of "Lucy" found
    In Omo Valley, Ethiopia
  • Thirteen Australopithecus Remains Found

    Thirteen Australopithecus Remains Found
    Homo Erectus skull found Lake Turkana
  • Australopithecus Footprints Found

    Australopithecus Footprints Found
    In Laetoli, Tanzania.
  • Discovery of Australopithecus

    Discovery of Australopithecus
    In Sterkfontein, South Africa