Social Studies 8
Chronology Related to West Africa
B.C.E. (all c.)
2.5 million
18000
4500
4000-2000
3000
3100
2500
1650-1250
900-200(C.E.)
146
C.E. (all c.)
100
250-1400
639
750
750-1100
738
800
First tools constructed in Africa
First hominids in the region of West Africa
Neolithic Revolution along the Nile River
Sahara region, once a fertile plain, dries up and become the desert we see in 2000 CE
Neolithic Revolution in the Mande (a language group) region of West Africa
Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt into one major kingdom
Rise of Nok culture along Niger River
Jews in Egypt
Peak of Nok culture: ironmaking and terracotta figurines
Rome conquers Libya, Africa and Numidia; Christianity introduced
Camels introduced as pack animals for caravans in the Sahara
Jenne (Djenne-Djeno): gold/salt trading center in Mali area
Islam moves into Africa
Soninke (a tribe in the Mande language group) founds Wagadu (Ouagadou), Ghana
Empire of Ghana in West Africa
First Arabic writings about Africa
Emergence of Kangaba, Mali, as a Mandinka (tribe within Mande language
group) state within Ghanaian Empire
1067
Writings of Muslim Al-Bakri on Ghana: reign of Tunka Menin
1070
Almoravids (Muslim Berbers from North Africa) invade Ghana
1100
Kangaba, Mali emerges as dominant power in the Mande area
1200-1450
Empire of Mali in West Africa
1230-1255
Rule of Sundiata Keita in Mali
1240
Battle of Kirina: Sundiata defeats Sumanguru of the Sosso people
1300
Gao, Songhay, emerges as a threatening kingdom
1307
Mansa Abu Bakr (brother of Kankan Musa) takes an expedition west into the
Atlantic (never seen again)
1307(12)-1337 Rule of Mansa Kankan Musa in Mali
1324-1326
Mansa Musa’s Hajj
1352
Writings of Muslim Ibn Battuta of Tangiers on Mali
1375
Abraham Cresques of Majorca creates Catalan Map for King Charles V of France
1400
Gao declares independence from Mali
1441
Portugal initiates slave trade with Mande region of West Africa
1450-1600
Empire of Songhay in West Africa
1460-92
Rule of Sunni Ali in Songhay
1493-1528
Rule of Askia (Muhammad) the Great in Songhay; largest extent of empire
1578
Moroccans defeat the Portuguese
1590
Moroccans defeat Songhay; West Africa falls into disunity, opening way for
European invasions and slave trade
Sept. 29, 1767 Mandinkan Kunta Kinte (ancestor of Alex Haley, from “Roots”) arrives in
Annapolis, MD, from West Africa on a slave ship
1884-1885
Berlin Conference divides up Africa and gives West Africa to the French
1914
French archeologists uncover the ancient Ghanaian capital of Kumbi Saleh
1951
Bernard Fagg uncovers remnants of the long-buried Nok culture
1970
Thor Heyerdahl sails a reed raft from Morocco to Barbados
1977
First remnants of Djenne-Jeno (Jenne) found