Northwest Africa

Earliest pottery made in Africa

9400 BCE

Swiss archaeologists discovered the oldest pottery in Mali, which dated to about 9400 BCE. There are many varieties of unique patterns that each pottery has. Ancient Egyptian pottery then began after 5000 BC and got this idea after the Levant spread it. Although making pottery seems very easy, there was actually a study behind it on how it's supposed to be properly made. The techniques, tools, molding, fashioning, selection, and processing of the clay.

Sahara formed as a desert

3000 BCE

The Sahara desert was once a grassland, but it dried due to the tectonic plates moving, and ending up soaked up from the water. The Atlantic Ocean forms Africa's west region's western and southern borders, with the Sahara as the northern border and the Atlantic as the Southern border. While the last Glacial period (2.4 to 2.1 billion years ago)
period kept going, the Sahara desert's border actually extended south farther than the border there is now.

Development of the Tichitt Culture

2200 BCE

The Titchitt culture developed by the Mande people in 2200 BCE. It was during the Pastoral Period. The Pastoral period refers to a time where rock art was popular. There were lots of shepherds during this time and they would travel around watching their sheep. This culture started to spread. The Tichitt are mostly remembered for their rock art, funeral tombs, and social structure. This is important because it represents all the special cultural aspects to Northwest Africa.

African civilizations settling in Nigeria

1500 BCE

When the African Civilization started, countless people settled in places like the Kingdom of Nri, the Benin Empire, and the Oyo Empire. Islam arrived in Nigeria from the Bornu Empire from around 1068 AD and Hausa states around 1385 AD. Then Christianity came to Nigeria around the 15th century from Augustinian and Capuchin monks from Portugal. In the 15th century, European slave traders arrived in the region to purchase enslaved Africans for the slave trade.

Takrur Empire

800 BCE

The Tkarur empire started in 800 BCE. It was a place near the sigle river where it flourished. The Empire became independent after Ghanaian power faded. The Empire became weak when the first three rulers did not rule for a very long time. After the fall of Takrur, its name was employed by Arab historians as a synonym for West Africa. In the Middle East, the west Africans are still referred to as Tukrir. Before this, The Tukrir Empire conquered the Kingdom of Diana.

The city of Djenné-Djenno flourishes in West Africa

250 BCE

Ancient city located in modern day Mali. West Africa which flourished between c. 250 BCE - 1100 CE, making it one of the oldest cities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Prospering thanks to fertile agricultural land and as a hub of regional trade, the city boasted a population of around 20,000 at its peak. It was in the 6th - 9th century CE and covered some 300,000 square meter. The city of Djenne-Djenno is famous for distinctive adobe architecture most notably the Great Mosque built in sub-Saharan

Establishment of the Ghana empire

201

The Ghana empire was established as early as 201 CE. Ghanians were hunters and gatherers. During the stone age, they used stone tools to hunt. Farming was a huge part of their culture. They grew Sorghum and millet. These foods are said to have health promoting affects. Trade was also a huge part of their culture. They traded on the Trans-Saharan Trade route. Ghan's establishment is important to remember because it represents the economy of most Northwest African societies.

The vanish of the Nok Culture

500

The Nok were located where modern day Nigeria is today. The Nok were known for their terracotta pots and was later known for iron technology. They mainly made terracotta sculptures. The Nok Culture vanished for unknown reasons. This event is significant because it is really interesting that after all of this history, the culture randomly disappeared. Even though the origins and identity are unclear, we can learn a lot about their influential arts.

Battle of Kirina

1235

The Battle of Kirina, also known as the Battle of Krina of was a confrontation between Sosso king Sumanguru Kanté. and Mandinka prince Sundiate Keita. Sundiata Keita's forces roundly defeated those of Sumanguru Kanté, guaranteeing the pre-eminence of Keita's new Mali Empire over West Africa. In the battle or Kirina the Mandigo led by Sundiata, defeated Sumanguru. The Mande Charter or the constitution of the Mali Empire was created after the battle of Kirina.

The beginning of the Mali Empire

1300

The Empire of Mali was one of the largest empires in West African History, and at its height, it spanned from the Atlantic Coast to central parts of the Sahara desert. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa. The Mali Empire began in the center of the Manding region. Now in the current times, it is located in Southern Mali and in Northeastern Guinea. The capital city of the Empire was located next to the border walls.