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Pre-colonial civilizations
There have been a number of African empires of varying size and influence throughout recorded history. What separates African empires from other African states is the former's dominion over populations that were distinct from that of the central power. So, by their very nature, empires are multicultural and must include (or more likely dominate) people outside of its founding ethnic stock.
[edit] All African empires by period
Below are a list of 31 known empires whose capital cities were on the African continent. All states formed after 1900 have been excluded, despite the fact that many fit the basic criteria for inclusion. They are not listed below, because they were not formed by the indigenous (Mandinka, Mbundu, etc.) or permanent (Arab, Boer, etc.) residents. States that did not dominate (govern or collect tribute from) groups other than that of their founders were also excluded.
[edit] Empires of Stone Age Africa
New Kingdom Egypt at its height (XVth century BC)
- Egyptian Empire (1570 BC – 1070 BC)
- founders...Egyptians
- dominion over...Egyptians, Nubians, Berbers, Israelites, Phoenicians, Syrians, Canaanites, Lybians, Bedouins
- Kushite Empire (780 BC – 656 BC)
- founders...Kushites
- dominion over...Kushites, Egyptians, Nubians
Carthaginian Empire in the 3rd century BC
- Carthaginian Empire (575 BC - 146 BC)
- founders...Phoenicians
- dominion over...Phoenicians, Berbers, Iberians
[edit] Empires of Iron Age Africa
The Aksumite Empire circa 350 AD
- Aksumite Empire (50 AD - 937 AD)
- founders...Habesha
- dominion over...Habesha, Nubians, Arabs, Jews, Sidama
- Kanem Empire (700 AD - 1376 AD)
- founders...Zaghawa
- dominion over...Zaghawa, Sao, Berbers, Arabs, Maba, Baguirmi, Hausa, Adamawa
- Ghana Empire (750 AD - 1076 AD)
- founders...Soninke
- dominion over...Soninke, Mandinka, Susu, Berbers, Fulbe
.PNG/200px-Fatimids_Empire_909_-_1171_(AD).PNG)
Fatimid Empire at its Greatest Extent
- Fatimid Caliphate (910 AD - 1171 AD)
- founders...Arabs
- dominion over...Arabs, Berbers, Nubians, Jews, Kurds, Italians
Map showing the extent of the Almoravid empire
- Almoravid Caliphate (1061 AD - 1147 AD)
- founders...Berbers
- dominion over...Berbers, Fulbe, Soninke, Tuaregs, Spanish, Portuguese
- Almohad Caliphate (1121 AD - 1269 AD)
- founders...Berbers
- dominion over...Berbers, Arabs, Tuaregs, Spanish
- Ayyubid Sultanate (1171-1254)
- founders...Kurds
- dominion over...Kurds, Arabs, Berbers, Nubians
.PNG/200px-Marinid_dynasty_1258_-_1420_(AD).PNG)
Marinid Dynasty in its Greatest Extent
- Marinid Morocco (1195 AD - 1465 AD)
- founders...Berbers
- dominion over...Berbers, Tuaregs, Arabs
- Mali Empire (1235 AD - 1645 AD)
- founders...Mandinka
- dominion over...Mandinka, Soninke, Susu, Berbers, Fulbe, Wolof, Songhai, Serer, Tuareg
- Mamluk Sultanate (1250 AD - 1517 AD)
- founders...Turks
- dominion over...Arabs, Berbers, Nubians, Jews
Ethiopian Empire circa 1900
- Ethiopian Empire (1270 AD - 1974 AD)
- founders...Habesha
- dominion over...Habesha, Agaw, Oromo, Tigray, Amhara, Somali, Sidama, Gurage, Afar
- Wolof Empire (1350 AD - 1889 AD)
- founders...Wolof
- dominion over...Wolof, Serer, Mandinka
Songhai Empire Empire circa 1500
- Songhai Empire (1375 AD - 1591 AD)
- founders...Songhai
- dominion over...Songhai, Tuareg, Hausa, Mandinka, Fulbe, Berbers, Susu
- Bornu Empire (1396 AD - 1893 AD)
- founders...Kanuri
- dominion over...Hausa, Tuareg, Toubou, Bulala, Berber, Sao, Adamawa, Arabs
- Kongo Kingdom (1400 AD - 1888 AD)
- founders...EssiKongo
- dominion over...EssiKongo, Villi, Mbundu, BaLunda
- (note: The Kingdom of Kongo was a quasi-imperial state as is evident by the number of peoples and kingdoms that paid it tribute. If not for the large amount of text written by the EssiKongo that repeatedly called themselves a kingdom, they would be listed as the "Kongo Empire".)
- Oyo Empire (1400 AD - 1895 AD)
- founders...Yoruba
- dominion over...Yoruba, Egba, Fon, Bariba, Goun, Nupe
- Benin Empire (1440 AD - 1897 AD)
- founders...Bini
- dominion over...Bini, Igala, Yoruba
- Mutapa Empire (1450 AD - 1629 AD)
- founders...Rozvi
- dominion over...Rozvi, Manyika, Uteve, Portuguese
- Kaabu Empire (1537 AD - 1867 AD)
- founders...Mandinka
- dominion over...Mandinka, Serer, Manjaco, Balanta*Luba Empire (1585 AD - 1885 AD)
- founders...BaLuba
- dominion over...BaLuba, Chokwe, Lunda, Bemba, Lozi
[edit] Empires of Transition Age Africa
- Lunda Empire (1660 AD - 1887 AD)
- founders...BaLunda
- dominion over...BaLunda, Chokwe, Lunda-Kanongesha
- Aro Confederacy (1690 AD - 1902 AD)
- founders...Aro
- dominion over...Aro, Igbo, Akpa, Ibibio, Ijaw, Efik
- Asante Union (1701 AD - 1894 AD)
- founders...Asante
- dominion over...Asante, Fante, Ewe, Dagomba, Abron, Akwamu, Akwapem, Brong
- Kong Empire (1710 AD - 1894 AD)
- founders...Dyula
- dominion over...Dyula, Senufo, Bobo, Abron
- Bamana Empire (1712 AD - 1896 AD)
- founders...Bamana
- dominion over...Bamana, Fulani, Senufo, Susu, Soninke
- Fulani Sultanate (1804 AD - 1903 AD)
- founders...Fulani
- dominion over...Fulani, Hausa, Nupe, Kanuri, Bamana, Senufo, Mandinka, Susu, Adamawa
- Liberian Republic (1847 AD - 2007 AD)
- founders...Americo-Liberians
- dominion over...Americo-Liberians, Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mandingo, Gola
- (note: The Republic of Liberia was established as a republic under the model of the US; it fully fits the model of empire in its conquest of other polities of different ethnic groups.)
- Wassoulou Empire (1878 AD - 1898 AD)
- founders...Dyula
- dominion over...Dyula, Bamana, Senufu, Mandinka, Bobo
[edit] Largest African empires by size
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Turchin, Peter and Jonathan M. Adams and Thomas D. Hall: "East-West Orientation of Historical Empires and Modern States", page 222. Journal of World-Systems Research, Vol. XII, No. II, 2006
- ^ Hunwick, page xlix
[edit] Sources
- Hunwick, John O. (2003). Timbuktu and the Songahy Empire: Al-Sa’di’s Ta’rikh Al-sudan Down to 1613 and other Contemporary Documents. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers, 488 Pages. ISBN 9-00412-822-4.
[edit] External links
