The 10 Most Powerful African Empires of All Time and Their Conquests - World History Edu (2023)

For centuries, African empires were wrongly dismissed as insignificant, backward societies that contributed little to world history. Only in the last century has much attention been paid to the history and culture of Africa and the rest of the world has shown just how impressive these African empires were.

Take Carthage, an empire in North Africa that not only ruled the Mediterranean, but was often a thorn in the side of the mighty Roman Republic. And then there was the Mali Empire, a truly colossal medieval African empire that produced powerful kings, including Sundiata Keita and Mansa Musa. The last ruler is often hailed as the richest man of all time.

From bottom to top, here are the 10 biggest African empires of all time.

Kingdom of Zimbabwe

We begin our list of the most powerful African empires with Great Zimbabwe, an empire in sub-Saharan Africa that rose to prominence in the Middle Ages. Also known as the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, Great Zimbabwe took shape when people from the dwindling South African kingdom of Mapungubwe migrated to the southeastern foothills of present-day Zimbabwe in the mid-11th century.^ºcentury AD (Common Era). About a century later, the Kingdom of Zimbabwe was formed, with Great Zimbabwe as its capital and commercial center.

The rulers used the vast and rich minerals of the region for the transformation of the kingdom. The kingdom also benefited greatly from the many trade routes that linked the city with the port cities of the Indian Ocean. According to Zimbabwean historian David Norman Beach (1943-1999), the region's gold-mining wealth meant that Great Zimbabwe could afford to build magnificent boulders, stone towers, and massive defensive walls. Driven by these well-connected trade routes, Great Zimbabwe is considered a^ºcentury to the middle of the 16th century^ºCentury. At its height, the capital had around 20,000 inhabitants.

It is difficult to say what exactly caused the fall of this empire. Possible reasons for the decline include a series of political instability and ongoing famine fueled by climate change at the time. Some historians have also noted that the decline of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe may have been caused by the depletion of gold mines in the region, causing the kingdom's trading activities to shift elsewhere. Another possible explanation for their decline was overpopulation, as more mouths had to survive on the dwindling resources of the kingdom.

At least until the end of the fifteenth century.^ºIn the late 19th century, Great Zimbabwe was eclipsed by the kingdom of Mutapa to the north. Great Zimbabwe is considered by many to be one of the largest and most important archaeological sites in Africa; Its ruins were declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1986.

you knew: Before archaeological evidence came to light, was the rocky citadel in Great Zimbabwe long thought to be the home of the Bible's Queen of Sheba?

this is the empire

Located in present-day western Nigeria and eastern Benin, the Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire best known for being the largest and most powerful Yoruba state. This West African empire managed to remain significant for much of its history, which spanned from the mid-seventh century.^ºcentury to the end of the 18th century^ºCentury. His advanced organizational and administrative skills allowed him to justify his hegemony over other kingdoms on Yoruba land.

The Oyo Empire reached its height in the late 17th century.^ºcentury AD when he controlled more than 150,000 square kilometers and amassed great wealth from his vast trade networks in the region. At the end of the 19th century^ºIn the 19th century, the Oyo Empire was on the brink of collapse due to decades of infighting and power struggles.

Ghana-Empire Heights

Known for being one of the first West African empires to initiate trans-Saharan trade, the Old Ghana Empire benefited greatly from extensive trade routes, which in turn allowed it to expand its borders into areas in present-day southeastern Mauritania, Senegal and west Africa Mali.

Former Ghana Empire tooacquaintancelike Wagadu, they depend mainly on the trade in kola nuts, gold and salt. Commercial activities in the region were stimulated by the introduction of camels in the 3rd century.^thirdcentury AD Some scholars believe that the Old Kingdom of Ghana began to form around this time.

The capital, Koumbi Saleh, used to be considered the largest city south of the Sahara. At its height, the empire had more than 20,000 people who spoke languages ​​such as Soninke, Malinke, and Manda. With a trade network stretching as far as North Africa, former Ghanaian emperors such as Ghana Bassi, Kaya Magan Cisse, and Soumaba Cisse managed to maintain the empire's dominance in West Africa.

Over time, the Old Kingdom of Ghana fell to power (mid 13th to 18th century).^ºcentury) of the emerging Mali Empire and thus became a vassal of the Mali emperors.

you knew: Was the West African country of Ghana, a former British colony, named after the Ghana Empire?

kingdom of aksum

The Kingdom of Aksum, also known as the Aksumite Empire, is believed to have existed from around 100 AD. until 940 AD tribe that lived in present-day Yemen.

The kingdom of Aksum occupied a region of present-day Eritrea and northern Ethiopia. However, its influence extended as far as what is now southern Saudi Arabia and western Yemen. The kingdom reached its zenith around 4^ºmi 5^ºcenturies AD when he conquered the Kingdom of Kush in AD 350.

Aksum, the administrative and religious capital of the kingdom, was located in northern Ethiopia. From Aksum, the emperors used the income from the vast trade networks to develop and expand the kingdom. Due to its strategic location and access to the Red Sea and Upper Nile, the kingdom served as a trade center linking India and the Mediterranean.

Furthermore, all of this trade and commerce (in gold, silk, tortoiseshell, and ivory) was facilitated by the fact that the Aksumites had their own script known as the Ge'ez alphabet. The Empire also benefited immensely from the minting of its own coinage.

It is believed that around 520 CE, Aksumath King Caleb sent his army to what is now Yemen to fight the Himyarite Jewish King Dhu Nuwas, known for inciting the Christian/Aksumite community in the persecuted region.

Such was the power of Aksum that it was considered one of the greatest empires of the time, along with empires such as Rome and Persia. The residents of Aksum can be proud to have their own architectural style with magnificent stone obelisks scattered throughout the capital.

At the height of his power, around World War II^{North Dakota}mi 3^thirdIn the mid-20th century, the kingdom of Aksum served as a vital link between the Far East and ancient Europe, including Rome and Constantinople. At that time, the kingdom's emperor, Ezana, made Christianity the official state religion. In fact, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church today can be seen as the religious legacy of Ezana's decision to convert to Christianity.

Along with the rise of the Islamic Empire and poor weather conditions, Aksumite power began to flourish around the 7th century.^ºcentury after Christ

kingdom of kush

Located in northeast Africa, the Kingdom of Kush was a powerful ancient African civilization popularly known as Nubia. Like ancient Egypt, Kush benefited greatly from the Nile, as the empire lay south of Egypt. As a result, the Kushites were able to dominate regions in and around present-day Sudan and other parts of Northeast Africa.

After gaining independence from the Egyptian pharaohs at the end of the 11th century.^ºcentury BC. the nubians survived for about 1400 years. This period of rule also includes the period in which he briefly held control of Egypt until the Assyrians drove him out of Egypt.

In addition to iron and gold, the Kingdom of Kush's economy depended on the trade in slaves, ivory, incense, and wild animal skins. From the beginning, the Nubian rulers equipped the empire's soldiers with weapons that allowed them to dictate the affairs of northeast Africa for centuries, until it steadily declined after Rome conquered Egypt. until the 4th^ºFor the century A.D. C., the Nubian Empire had collapsed.

The Benin Empire

Exciting late 12th century.^ºcentury AD until the end of the 20th century^ºIn the 16th century CE, the Benin Empire, also known as the Edo Kingdom, was a West African empire that encompassed much of what is now southern Nigeria. While it existed, the rulers (known asoba) of the Benin Empire were extremely powerful and worshiped in an almost divine manner.

From its very famous capital, Edo (now Benin City), the Benin Empire is activemotivatedCraftsmen who create many works of art in iron, ivory and bronze. This empire was also best known for being one of the longest and oldest empires in West Africa.

After the arrival of Europeans in West Africa, the rulers of Benin traded extensively with the Portuguese. In exchange for firearms received from Portugal and Great Britain, the Benin Empire supplied Europe with palm oil, ivory, and pepper. Over time, the British Empire managed to maintain a firm grip on the Benin Empire, annexing it completely by the end of the 20th century.^ºCentury.

malian imperio

The Mali Empire, an empire best known for its extremely wealthy rulers, is said to have existed around the 12th century.^ºStarting as a small and insignificant Mandika kingdom, the Mali Empire took shape and gradually gained dominance amid the decline of the Ghana (Wagadu) Empire in the north.

Due to the lack of proper and accurate accounts, it is commonly believed that thisSundiata Keita(c. 1214-c. 1255) was the founder of the Mali Empire. Mali's ruler deserves this honor because there is no exact written account of Mali's rulers who existed before him. According to the Arab sociologist and historianIbn Jalidún(1332-1406) and Moroccan Muslim explorer and historian Ibn Battuta (1304-1369), Sundiata Keita was a highly astute military commander who led a coalition of minor kingdoms to bring down the tyrannical rule of Sourmaoro Kanté's Sosso Empire.

like the firstMansa(i.e. king) of Mali, Sundiata Keita is said to have united the various small kingdoms under his rule. He was also responsible for the development of the trade routes across the Sahara that he inherited from the dwindling Ghana Empire.

At its height, the Mali Empire was the largest empire in West Africa and dominated the region in all areas, in law, language, and culture. Much of his wealth came from the gold mines he owned in his territories, including present-day Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and the Ivory Coast.

It is said that 50% of the world's gold supply in 1200 came from the Mali Empire. With all these vast gold reserves, it is not surprising that one of its rulers,mansa muse(Reign - c. 1312 to c. 1337), is widely considered the richest man who ever lived.

Kingdom of Punt

Third on our list of the largest African empires is the Kingdom of Punt. The Land of Punt was an ancient East African empire best known for being a trading partner of the ancient Egyptians for several centuries. A well-known producer and exporter of gold, the kingdom of Punt is said to have been the destination of many ancient Egyptian trading expeditions. The kingdom was also known for trading in other goods such as aromatic resins, ebony, and wild animals.

Despite being described as the "land of the gods" in Egyptian records, the kingdom of Punt still raises many questions in the minds of modern historians and scholars. For example, the exact location of Punt remains unclear, with some scholars suggesting modern locations such as Somalia, Ethiopia, southeastern Egypt, and Eritrea. Popular belief is that the beginnings of the kingdom date back to around the 3rd century.^thirdmillennium BCE C. Until approximately 980 a. C., the kingdom's sphere of influence extended to the Horn of Africa and southern Arabia.

According to Egyptian records, Queen Hatshepsut sent around 15^ºSwing BC.

carthage

Historians often marvel at Rome's remarkable military, economic, and cultural achievements, but forget that Carthage, a North African empire, was once the equal of the Roman Empire in many ways. For about half a millennium, around the VIII century.^ºo 9^ºcentury BC. for the 2nd^{North Dakota}century BC. Carthage is said to have dominated North African affairs. It was indeed an important trading center for the region, with its sphere of influence extending to other parts of the Mediterranean.

The Empire of Carthage began as a small Phoenician settlement in present-day Tunisia before growing into a powerful maritime empire known for its rich trade networks. At its height, the capital had more than half a million inhabitants. He dominated the textile, gold, silver, and copper trade and built docks that could accommodate up to 220 ships.

Carthage's continued military and economic expansion brought it into direct confrontation with the Roman Republic, another superpower at the time. Between 264 B.C. and 146 B.C. BC, Carthage, and the Roman Republic were involved in what historians like to call the Punic Wars. In the Last and Third Punic Wars, the Romans were eager to finally end the threat from Carthage by completely destroying the North African Empire. The ruins of the capital Carthage can be seen today in the Tunisian city of Tunis.

Imperio Songai

It is number one on the list of the largest African empires.Imperio Songai. Permanent from 10^º16th century^ºIn the late 19th century, the Songhai Empire was considered the successor to the Mali Empire. The Songhai city of Timbuktu was arguably one of the largest cities in the world at the time. The city was famous as a center of culture, religious education, and learning. It attracted scholars from all over the known world, including places like Spain. Other famous cities of the empire were Gao, the capital, and Djenné.

At its height, the Songhai Empire held territories in more than 10 modern West African countries: Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Benin, Nigeria, and Niger. Larger in size than Western Europe combined, the Songhai Empire was considered one of the largest empires in the world at the time.

For a time, the rulers of the Songhai Empire were able to hold their vast territories together simply by making enormous profits from trans-Saharan trade. The empire also had a well-organized administrative system that controlled affairs in the various provinces.

The Songhai Empire is believed to have reached its peak in the 16th century.^ºcentury, during the reign of King Muhammad I Askia (Askia the Great). In addition to forming a strong alliance with the Muslim caliph in Egypt, Askia is also responsible for modernizing the city of Timbuktu. After Askia's death, the empire gradually fell into chaos due to rampant coups. The civil war and the political unrest that followed gave Ahmad al-Mansur, the Sultan of Morocco, the perfect opportunity to invade the Songhai Empire in the late 15th century.

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