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Ancient African Kingdoms
Before the 10th century, much of Africa was decentralized, with small villages organized along tribal lines. But, with the expansion of trade, centralized solid kingdoms with great wealth began to emerge.
African Kingdoms Map
Here is a map showing some of the mighty African kingdoms that came to power in the post-classical period:
Fig. 1 - map of African kingdoms
West African Kingdoms
In West Africa, trade proved critical in the creation and longevity of kingdoms.
| West African Kingdom | Key Information |
| The Kingdom of Ghana |
|
| The Empire of Mali |
|
| The Songhay Kingdom |
|
| The Hausa Kingdom |
|
| The Kingdom of Congo |
|
| The Kingdom of Judah |
|
Mansa Musa's Pilgrimage
Perhaps the most famous of Mali’s emperors was Mansa Musa, who some historians believe to be the wealthiest man to have ever lived. In 1324, Mansa Musa set out on the Hajj, a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. On this journey, Mansa Musa stopped in Cairo, Egypt, where he gave away so much gold that its value dropped drastically in Egypt. His pilgrimage helped increase global awareness of the Empire of Mali.
Fig. 2 - depiction of Mansa Musa
South African Kingdoms
Let’s look further South at the Kingdoms of Mapungubwe and Zimbabwe, where we'll see that trade was just as critical.
South African Kingdoms: The Kingdom of Mapungubwe
The Kingdom of Mapungubwe was one of Southern Africa’s first kingdoms, established around the 9th century. The kingdom’s economy depended on agriculture, cattle herding, and trade fueled by its iron and copper deposits. After two centuries of power, the empire began to decline in the 13th century due to the exhaustion of local resources and the growth of trade centers further North.
South African Kingdoms: The Kingdom of Zimbabwe
The Kingdom of Zimbabwe was formed in the 13th century after the collapse of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe. Great Zimbabwe's capital became a major trade center, with ivory and gold as critical resources. In the mid-15th century, the prince of the kingdom, Nyatsimba Mutota, left to found his empire known as the Kingdom of Mutapa. The Kingdom of Mutapa quickly eclipsed the Kingdom of Zimbabwe in power. So the Kingdom of Zimbabwe's territory went to the Kingdom of Mutapa in the North and Butua in the South.
Fig. 3 - ancient ruins from the Kingdom of Zimbabwe
The Influence and Significance of African Kingdoms
The growth of these African kingdoms changed much of the continent's social, political, and economic structure by bringing together numerous tribes under a centralized power. The trade networks they developed not only brought unprecedented wealth but also brought Africa into the global arena, where new religions such as Christianity and Islam held significant influence. But, while the wealth of trade might have made these African kingdoms powerful, it also made them a target of European imperialist ambitions as the post-classical era was coming to a close, significantly as the slave trade was expanding.
African Kingdoms - Key takeaways
- Before the tenth century, much of Africa was decentralized, with small villages organized along tribal lines. But with wealth from trade with European and Islamic powers, powerful and wealthy kingdoms began to emerge.
- In Western Africa, powerful kingdoms included:
- The Kingdom of Ghana
- The Empire of Mali
- The Songhay Kingdom
- The Hausa Kingdom
- The Kingdom of Congo
- The Kingdom of Judah
- In South Africa, powerful kingdoms included the Kingdom of Mapungubwe and the Kingdom of Zimbabwe.
- The growth of kingdoms changed much of Africa's political, social, and economic structure. New religions, namely Christianity and Islam, also gained influence.
- While the wealth from trade made these kingdoms powerful, it made them a target of European imperialist ambitions as the post-classical era was closing.
References
- Fig. 1 - Map of African Kingdoms (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:African-civilizations-map-pre-colonial.svg) by Jeff Israel (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:ZyMOS) licensed by CC BY SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en)
- Fig. 3 - Ruins from Kingdom of Zimbabwe (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Conical_Tower_-_Great_Enclosure_III_(33736918448).jpg) by Andrew Moore (https://www.flickr.com/people/84985982@N00) licensed by CC BY SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en)
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Frequently Asked Questions about African Kingdoms
What is the correct chronological order of the West African kingdoms?
The Kingdom of Ghana was established first, then the Empire of Mali, and then the Songhay Kingdom.
How did trade affect the development of African kingdoms?
Trade allowed kingdoms to accumulate wealth and establish themselves.
What was the first kingdom in Africa to become Christian?
The Askumite Empire, based in modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea, was the first kingdom in Africa to adopt Christianity.
What set the Eastern coast apart from other African kingdoms?
The Eastern Coast of Africa had direct access to Indian Ocean trade networks.
How did kingdoms develop in West Africa?
Kingdoms developed in West Africa using wealth accumulated through trade, especially the gold and salt trade. Wealth lent itself to military power which allowed kingdoms to expand to cover large territories.
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