The Historical Record
The Kingdoms
Kingdoms and empires, oldest first: how each rose, who ruled it, and why it fell.
about 3800 BC to about 3100 BC Ta-Seti about 3800 BC to about 3100 BC
Today: Southern Egypt, northern Sudan
The land the Egyptians called Ta-Seti, the Land of the Bow, whose rulers were buried in large tombs at Qustul with images of their victories.
10 sources
Read it in the bookabout 3150 BC to 30 BC Ancient Egypt about 3150 BC to 30 BC
Today: Egypt
An African civilization of the Nile, united about 3150 BC, that built the pyramids and lasted some 3,000 years. Its history is bound up with its neighbors to the south: Ta-Seti, Kerma and Kush.
17 sources
Read it in the bookabout 2450 BC to about 1480 BC Kingdom of Kerma about 2450 BC to about 1480 BC
Today: Sudan
The first kingdom of Kush, ruled from the city of Kerma, which dominated Upper Nubia for almost a thousand years. Its kings were buried under some of the largest royal tombs of ancient Africa.
23 sources
Read it in the bookabout 2450 BC to about 1160 BC Land of Punt about 2450 BC to about 1160 BC
Today: Not known for certain
A land of myrrh, incense, gold, ebony and ivory, reached by Egypt across the Red Sea, and Egypt's trading partner for more than a thousand years. Where exactly it lay has never been identified with certainty.
11 sources
Read it in the bookthe late 9th century BC to 146 BC Carthage the late 9th century BC to 146 BC
Today: Tunisia
A city on the Gulf of Tunis, founded by Phoenicians from Tyre, that became a great trading power of the Mediterranean before Rome destroyed it in 146 BC. It was built on African land, and it ruled the Libyan peoples around it.
14 sources
Read it in the bookabout 800 BC to about 400 BC Kingdom of D'mt about 800 BC to about 400 BC
Today: Eritrea, northern Ethiopia (Tigray)
A highland kingdom of Eritrea and northern Ethiopia, centered on Yeha and its great temple. It came before Aksum on the same highlands.
14 sources
Read it in the bookfrom the 8th century BC Kingdom of Kush from the 8th century BC
Today: Sudan
An African kingdom on the Nile in today's Sudan whose kings ruled Egypt as its 25th Dynasty. It went on ruling at home for centuries after.
9 sources · 6 rulers
Read it in the book202 BC to 46 BC Kingdom of Numidia 202 BC to 46 BC
Today: Algeria and part of Tunisia
A Berber kingdom of North Africa, united under Masinissa in 202 BC and ruled by its own kings until Rome took it, from 46 BC.
13 sources · 1 ruler
Read it in the bookby the 2nd century BC to 40 AD Kingdom of Mauretania by the 2nd century BC to 40 AD
Today: Morocco and part of Algeria
The kingdom of the Mauri in North Africa, west of Numidia, ruled by its own kings until Rome ended it in 40 AD.
11 sources · 2 rulers
Read it in the bookabout the 1st century AD to its decline, from the 7th century Kingdom of Aksum about the 1st century AD to its decline, from the 7th century
Today: Ethiopia
A trading kingdom of the highlands of northern Ethiopia, with its Red Sea port at Adulis, that minted its own coins and became Christian under King Ezana in the 4th century AD.
10 sources · 1 ruler
Read it in the bookabout 300 AD to about 1200 Ghana Empire about 300 AD to about 1200
Today: Mauritania and Mali
A Soninke kingdom of the western Sahel, also called Wagadu, that grew rich on the trade of gold north and salt south, from about 300 AD to about 1200.
10 sources
Read it in the bookthe 1230s to the 1600s Mali Empire the 1230s to the 1600s
Today: Mali and neighboring West African countries
The empire of the Malinke in West Africa, founded by Sundiata Keita in the 13th century and rich in gold, whose ruler Mansa Musa made the famous pilgrimage of 1324.
10 sources · 2 rulers
Read it in the bookthe 1460s to 1591 Songhai Empire the 1460s to 1591
Today: Mali and Niger
The empire of the Songhai people on the Niger, ruled from Gao, which rose in the 1460s, took Timbuktu from Mali, and fell to a Moroccan army in 1591.
8 sources · 2 rulers
Read it in the book