African Kingdoms Timeline

By Paulina Rappaccioli
  • Discovery of Australopithecus in Sterkfontein, South Africa
    1997 BCE

    Discovery of Australopithecus in Sterkfontein, South Africa

  • Australopithecus footprints found in Laetoli, Tanzania.
    1976 BCE

    Australopithecus footprints found in Laetoli, Tanzania.

  • Semi-complete skeleton of "Lucy" found in Omo Valley, Ethiopia
    1974 BCE

    Semi-complete skeleton of "Lucy" found in Omo Valley, Ethiopia

  • 1925 BCE

    Discovery of Australopithecus near Taung, South Africa.

  • In 1591 the Moroccan army invaded songhay. The Songhay were caught unawares and were defeated by the superior fire power of the Moroccan army. Morocco won
    1591 BCE

    In 1591 the Moroccan army invaded songhay. The Songhay were caught unawares and were defeated by the superior fire power of the Moroccan army. Morocco won

    The Songhay were caught unawares and were defeated by the superior fire power of the Moroccan army. Morocco won
  • Archer figure
    1500 BCE

    Archer figure

    Standing male figure of an archer with a quiver slung diagonally across his right shoulder in back. The figure's lower right arm and hand are missing as is his right foot.
  • Period: 1464 BCE to 1591 BCE

    Songhai, the last of these three great empires

    It started under the control of the Mali Empire
  • Mali was the source of half the Old World’s gold
    1400 BCE

    Mali was the source of half the Old World’s gold

  • Period: 1200 BCE to 1500 BCE

    Mali empire came next

    The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa
  • coin
    1148 BCE

    coin

    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
  • Ghana fell when it was sacked by the Almoravid movement
    1076 BCE

    Ghana fell when it was sacked by the Almoravid movement

    it was sacked by the Almoravid movement
  • Ghana was surrounded by independent kingdoms
    1067 BCE

    Ghana was surrounded by independent kingdoms

  • Songhai was one of the largest Islamic empires in history..
    1001 BCE

    Songhai was one of the largest Islamic empires in history..

    This empire bore the same name as its leading ethnic group, the Songhai
  • Iron technology spreads to the rest of Africa
    1000 BCE

    Iron technology spreads to the rest of Africa

  • Islam begins to spread through Africa
    800 BCE

    Islam begins to spread through Africa

  • The first written mention of the kingdom(Ghana) comes from Arabic-language sources some time after the conquest of North Africa by Muslims, when geographers began compiling comprehensive accounts of the world known to Islam around 800
    800 BCE

    The first written mention of the kingdom(Ghana) comes from Arabic-language sources some time after the conquest of North Africa by Muslims, when geographers began compiling comprehensive accounts of the world known to Islam around 800

    comes from sources some time after the conquest of North Africa by Muslims, when geographers began compiling comprehensive accounts of the world known to Islam
  • Evidence of iron smelting in Nigeria and central Niger.
    500 BCE

    Evidence of iron smelting in Nigeria and central Niger.

    Spreads to rest of West Africa
  • Period: 300 BCE to 1200 BCE

    Ghana was the first of the three early African empires

  • Head of the Buddha
    100 BCE

    Head of the Buddha

    Red sandstone
  • Period: 3 BCE to 5 BCE

    First hominids walk East and Southern Africa, known as Australopithecines or "Ape-Men"

  • Period: 1 BCE to 40,000 BCE

    Middle Stone Age

    Evolution of early form of Homo sapiens - modern man. Shaped stone points used for spearheads.
  • Celestial drummer
    1200

    Celestial drummer

    Marble
    H x W x D: 86 x 25.5 x 17.4 cm (33 7/8 x 10 1/16 x 6 7/8 in)
  • Equestrian figure
    1210

    Equestrian figure

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