History of Early Africa (Members Only)

Medieval map illustration showing a crowned, seated man holding a gold orb, and a robed, turbaned figure riding a camel. Buildings, geographical features, and red navigation lines surround them. Arabic and Latin script is visible.

History of Early Africa

Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man drawing depicts a nude male figure with outstretched arms and legs, inscribed within both a circle and a square, illustrating ideal human body proportions.

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Perspective

Our digital history of early Africa begins with the emergence of archaic humans in East Africa. The earliest written history arose in Ancient Egypt, and later spread through Nubia and the Sahel to the Horn of Africa. North African history became entwined with the empire of Islam, which expanded into Southern Europe. Meanwhile, the expansion of the Bantu peoples swept from Central Africa across the Sahel in waves beginning around 1000 BC. This created a community of related languages across much of central and southern Africa.

Farther south, the Nok culture developed in 1500 BC in what is now Nigeria. The Nok produced terracotta figures of human heads and forms and various animals, and by 500 BC they had developed an iron industry. But by 200 AD the Nok culture had vanished. Based on stylistic similarities, the bronze figurines of the kingdoms of Ife and Benin appear to have been derived from the traditions of the earlier Nok culture.

During the 7th century AD, the empire of Islam began to spread west from Arabia to Egypt and went on to become the foundational faith of the West African empires of Mali, Ghana, and Songhai. Before the onset of European colonialism, Africa had some 10,000 different states and tribes with their own languages and customs.

That said, here’s our assortment… please enjoy! When you’re done perusing a map, click the ⇠ back arrow link in the upper left of your screen (not the < link), and you’ll be back here. Any problems, please get in touch at terrence@wisdommaps.info.

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Abstract artwork featuring overlapping, curved shapes in shades of reddish-brown and beige outlined in white, arranged within a dark square border. The design resembles stylized leaves or feathers.

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Index

Early Africa Index | Communities • Environment • Migration | Central Africa: Kongo | East Africa: Kush • Land of Punt • Swahili City-States: Society • Economy | East Africa: Economy | Ethiopia: Christianity | Southern Africa: Great Zimbabwe | West Africa: Hausa States: Bornu • Gobir • Kanem • Kano • Zazzau | Kingdom of Benin | Kingdom of Ife | Kingdom of Oyo | Sudanic Kingdoms: Ghana: Society • Power • Economy | Mali: Power | Songhai

An antique map of Africa with detailed borders, labeled regions, and surrounding oceans. An ornate title cartouche in the upper right corner features a person, palm trees, and African animals.

Early Africa

Ancient mud-brick buildings and ruins with flat roofs and scattered debris, forming a dense village layout in an arid desert landscape.

Society: Communities

An adult elephant and a baby elephant walk side by side on grassy plains under a partly cloudy sky.

Society: Environment

Map of Africa showing arrows illustrating the Bantu migration routes from their home area in West-Central Africa spreading southeast and south between 2000 BC and AD 500, reaching various regions.

Society: Migration

An old, vintage map of Africa with colored borders outlining different regions and labeled countries; surrounding oceans and nearby islands are also shown.

Central Africa

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Historical illustration showing an encounter between African leaders and a European missionary, with attendants holding umbrellas and carrying items, set outdoors with palm trees in the background.

Central Africa: Kongo

Antique map showing Egypt, Abyssinia (Ethiopia), and surrounding regions in Northeast Africa. The map features old borders, country names, and a detailed depiction of geographical features and cities.

East Africa

A grand ancient Egyptian temple hall with tall, ornate columns decorated with hieroglyphs and painted capitals. Several people in traditional and 19th-century dress stand or sit among broken stone fragments.

East Africa: Kush

Ancient Egyptian wall painting showing figures walking among trees and carrying items, with hieroglyphic symbols and intricate patterns in red, orange, and light blue hues.

East Africa: Land of Punt

Colored illustration of an old coastal city labeled Mombaza, showing dense buildings with red rooftops, surrounded by greenery and water, with small ships near the shoreline.

East Africa: Swahili City-States

A historical illustration depicts a group of enslaved Africans, some in chains, being led by a man on horseback as others watch. Buildings and trees are visible in the background.

Swahili City-States: Society

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Two old, worn bronze coins with faded Arabic script and patterns on each side, displayed against a plain light background.

Swahili City-States: Economy

A group of people on camels and horses travel across a dry, open landscape toward a distant city with tall tower-like buildings under a partly cloudy sky. Some people walk beside the riders.

East Africa: Economy

A historic stone castle with rounded towers, arched windows, and crenellated walls stands beside a tall tree on a grassy area under an overcast sky.

East Africa: Ethiopia

An ancient illuminated manuscript with a colorful illustration of a bearded man on the left page and text in Ge’ez script on the right page, both decorated with intricate borders.

Ethiopia: Christianity

Close-up of a banknote featuring a depiction of ancient stone ruins with walls and towers, likely representing a historical site, with plants and decorative patterns surrounding the image.

Southern Africa: Great Zimbabwe

A large, ancient mud-brick building with tall, pointed towers stands behind a mud wall. Two donkeys rest on the sandy ground in front of the structure under a cloudy sky.

West Africa

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An ancient mud-brick fortress with tall, ornate towers and walls stands under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. The structure is weathered, with a low stone wall in the foreground.

West Africa: Hausa States

A detailed black-and-white drawing of a regal man in ornate clothing and a decorated turban, wearing a beaded necklace. Beside him are handwritten notes and a crest with an eye and scale symbol.

Hausa States: Bornu

A traditional building with intricate decorative patterns and geometric designs on its walls, surrounded by an open courtyard; a few people stand nearby.

Hausa States: Gobir

Tall, adobe-style building with a spiral exterior staircase, crenellated edges, and a small tower on top, set against a clear blue sky.

Hausa States: Kanem

Rows of large, pyramid-shaped stacks made from burlap sacks, possibly filled with grain, arranged neatly outdoors near a railway track under a clear sky.

Hausa States: Kano

A view of ancient adobe buildings with flat roofs and earth-toned walls, arranged closely together in a desert landscape. The structures have small windows and doors, and some have steps leading to rooftops.

Hausa States: Zazzau

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A bronze sculpted head with stylized features, elaborate beaded decorations, and a patterned headdress, representing a traditional Benin royal figure from the Benin Kingdom in West Africa.

West Africa: Kingdom of Benin

Bronze sculpture of a standing figure adorned with detailed jewelry and garments, holding a staff in each hand, against a plain black background.

West Africa: Kingdom of Ife

A black and white sketch shows several traditional thatched-roof longhouses in a row, with a few people and animals gathered in the open area in front of the structures under a cloudy sky.

West Africa: Kingdom of Oyo

A wide pathway lined with sphinx statues leads to massive ancient stone walls and ruins under a bright blue sky at the Karnak Temple complex in Egypt.

West Africa: Sudanic Kingdoms

A close-up view of an ancient adobe building with rounded edges and decorative openings, featuring earthy brown walls and unique architectural details under a blue sky.

Sudanic Kingdoms: Ghana

Five men in traditional clothing and headbands stand in a row, some holding musical instruments, including a large drum. The text above reads Casablanca — Les Guimagas (musiciens indigènes). The image appears vintage.

Ghana: Society

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A bronze mask with intricate patterns on the head and a serene facial expression, featuring closed eyes and a short beard, set against a black background.

Ghana: Power

A gold, oval-shaped mask with stylized facial features and intricate patterns, set against a black background. The mask has closed eyes, full lips, and decorative details around the face.

Ghana: Economy

The image shows the Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali, a large, historic adobe building with tall, spiked towers, surrounded by trees, people, and carts in a sandy open area.

Sudanic Kingdom: Mali

Medieval map illustration of a crowned, seated figure in regal attire holding a golden orb and scepter, surrounded by buildings, water, and geographic lines.

Mali: Power

Two men in traditional West African attire sit facing each other on the ground, engaging in a transaction using a set of balance scales. Both wear striped robes and hats, appearing focused and calm.

Mali: Economy

Map showing West Africa with the Niger River and the Sahara Desert, highlighting the regions of the Ghana, Mali, and Songhai Empires. Labeled cities include Kumbi Saleh, Timbuktu, and Jenne.

Sudanic Kingdoms: Songhai

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Drawing of a nude male figure with arms and legs outstretched, showing anatomical proportions, inside a circle and square; Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man.