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An African Centred Education

It is important that our young people are inspired and that they also get an African centred education. This means enabling them to learn about our wonderful history.

Lets celebrate our culture, heritage and contributions.

Black History Timeline

CE (Common Era) replaces the old AD (Anno Domini) in Latin or ‘the year of the Lord’ in English.
BCE (Before the Common Era) replaces the old BC (Before Christ).

Before 1601

All human beings have a common ancestry that originates in eastern Africa The remains of ‘Lucy’ were found in Hadar, Ethiopia in 1974.

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600,000 to 200,000 BCE
Humans spread across Asia, Europe and Africa. The earliest human being in Africa dates from more than 200,000 years ago.

10,000 BCE
Earliest records of African people living in highly organized society.

10,000 - 5,000 BCE
Ethiopian (Kush) Empire

 6,000 - 5,000 BCE

The Kushite Civilization

The Unconquerable Kushites

 
5,660 BCE - Pharaoh Mena of ancient Egypt ruled until 5998 BCE.

5,524 BCE - Pharaoh Mer-Neith of ancient Egypt ruled until 5507 BCE.

5,094 BCE - Pharaoh Khasekhemu of Egypt ruled until 1546 BCE.

5,018 BCE - Pharaoh Djoser of Egypt ruled until 4,949 BCE. Imhotep was Pharaoh Djoser’s Prime Minister.

5,000 - 4,000 BCE
The Pharaohs of Nubia

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Black Africans Built and Ruled Ancient Kemet (Egypt)

4,824 BCE - Pharaoh Khufu of Egypt ruled until 4761 BCE.

4,240 - 3,100 BCE
The founding of Kemet (ancient Egypt) 1st - 14th Dynasties.

During this period the great pyramids were built (4th dynasty).

The sciences and arts were developed. The Ta Seti civilization was founded.

3,405 BCE - Pharaoh Amenemhet I ruled ancient Egypt until 3,376 BCE.

3,242 BCE - Pharaoh Amenemhet III ruled ancient Egypt until 3,195 BCE.

3,150 BCE - King Narmer (Menes) unifies Upper and Lower Kemet and establishes Memphis as capital.

3,000 BCE - Modern West Africans set up more sophisticated societies in Nigeria.

The earliest evidence of hieroglyphic writing.

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Even more

2,700 to 1,087
Imhotep lived during this era. He was an architect, chief physician, prime minister, teacher, philosopher, priest & astronomer. He invented the stethoscope. He is thought of as the ‘father of medicine’.

Early civilization thrives in Mesopotamia.

2,300 BCE - An African King rules Mesopotamia, King Patesi of Lagash, more generally known as Gudea.

2,040 BCE - Mentuhotep II unifies Kemet and relocates the capital to Waset.

1,783 BCE – The first Asian invasion of Kemet by Hyksos (until 1550 BCE).
c. 1,730 Queen Ahhotep ruled ancient Egypt.

c. 1,709 BCE - Queen Ahmose-Nefertari ruled ancient Egypt until 1683 BCE.

1,650 BCE - Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt ruled until 1600 BCE.

1,550 BCE - King Ahmose defeats the Hyksos and reunifies Kemet.

1,538 Amenhotep III ruled Ancient Egypt until 1,501 BCE.

1,504 BCE -Thutmose I expands his power to include Persia and Iraq.

1,501- 1,474 BCE - Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) introduces concepts of Aton as the only God in Kemet.

1,500 BCE- Africans retook control of KMT 18th - 26th Dynasties.

1,473 BCE - Queen Hatshepsut rules Kemet as it’s first female pharaoh.

1,391 BCE -Thutmose III rules Kemet at the height of its military power.

Queen Tiye rules by his side.

1,333 BCE - Tutankhamen becomes the king.

1,290 BCE - Rameses II (Rameses the Great) rules Kemet for 67 years.

1,005 BCE - Queen of Sheba ruled Ethiopia and Yemen until 955 BCE.

Gallery

Study other great pharaohs

1000 – 800 BCE
The Bantu people (a group of about 60 million) migration spreads through sub-Saharan Africa for over 2,000 years. It was one of the largest migrations in human history. They came from West Africa.

970 BCE - Kush becomes an independent kingdom. The capital was at Napata on the Nile.

760 - King Kashta rules Meroe until 751 BCE

751 BCE  - Piye (Piankhi), Nubian king conquers Upper and Lower Kemet and sends away all foreigners.

750 – 600 BCE
Kush (Nubia) rules Egypt from capital Meroe.

716 BCE -King Shabato rules Meroe until 701 BCE

690 BCE Pharaoh Taharqo of Kush leads military invasion of Spain and Palestine. He ruled until 664 BCE.

667 BCE - Nubians battle Assyrians for both Lower and Upper Kemet.

538 BCE
 King Analma'aye rules Kush until 533 BCE.

533 BCE
King Amani-natake-lebte rules Kush until 513 BCE.

525 BCE
Egypt is invaded by the Persians. They raided the libraries and took the African knowledge to Europe. Egypt becomes a part of the Persian Empire.

513 BCE
King Korkamani rules Kush until 503 BCE.

503 BCE
King Amani-astabarqa rules Kush until 478 BCE.

500 BCE
Nok culture thrives in Nigeria to CE 200.  The Yoruba peoples claim the Nok as ancestors.

478 BCE
King Sisaspiqa rules Kush until 458 BCE

458 BCE
King Nasakhma rules Kush until 453 BCE.

453 BCE
King Malewiebamani rules Kush until 423 BCE.

423 BCE
King Talakhamani rules Kush until 418 BCE.

418 BCE
King Aman-nete-yerike rules Kush until 398 BCE.

398 BCE
King Baskakeren rules Kush until 397 BCE.

397 BCE
King Harisiotet rules Kush until 362 BCE.

342 BCE
King Akhratan rules Kush until 328 BCE.

332 BCE
Alexander of Macedonia (Alexander the Great) defeats the Persian army and conquers Kemet.

328 BCE
King Nastasen rules Kush until 308 BCE.

323 BCE
Greeks invaded Kemet.

Sacrotes, Aristotle and others studied in Africa. They took the superior African knowledge back to Europe.

300 BCE
 In Kush the royal institution of the Kentake is established.
Africans in Kenya invent a sophisticated calendar system.
The capital of Nubia is Meroe. This kingdom lasted for more than nine centuries.

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280 BCE
Merotic Script is introduced.

250 BCE
Zenith of Meroitic civilization until 100 CE.

260 BCE
Queen Bartare rules Meroe until 250 BCE.

219 BCE
Hannibal Barca of Carthage seized Saguntum in Spain. He died in 183 BCE.

218 BCE
Hannibal leads his army across the Alps to battle with Rome.

170 BCE
Queen Shanakdakhete rules Meroe until 160 BCE.

148 BCE
King Micipsa of Numidia ruled until 118 BCE.

45 BCE
Romans invaded Kemet (33rd Dynasty).

The opening of the University of Timbuctu.

41 BCE
Queen Amanishabhete rules Meroe until 12 BCE

30 BCE
Augustus Caesar claims Egypt and makes it a province of Rome.

24 BCE
Kentake (Queen-Mother) Amanirenas of Kush ruled.

22 BCE
Africans in Tanzania produce carbon steel.

12 BCE
Queen Amaritare rules Meroe until 12 CE.

1 CE
Pharaoh Natakamani and Queen Amanitore ruled until 20 CE.

62 CE
Queen Amanikhastashan rules Meroe (Nubia) until 85 CE

100 CE
Hausa Bokwoi rose as an empire in Nigeria (beginning separate states).

300 CE
States of Takrur and Ghana founded.
From 300 CE to 700 CE saw the rise of Axum or Aksum (Ethiopia) and conversion to Christianity.

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320 CE
Kemet reigns, there are lots of migrations and the first massive influx of Arabs occurs.

330 CE
Conquest of Meroitic Empire by Nuba;
Aksum becomes commercial center of the sub-Saharan.

350 CE
Aksumite king Ezana converts to Christianity and makes it the state religion. He was the first Christian emperor in the world.

391 CE
Christian Emperor Theodosius bans the ancient religious systems of Egypt and there are book burnings.

500 CE
The Moors invaded Europe.

The second massive influx of Arabs into Africa occurs.

Universities thrived all over Africa while Europe was in the dark ages.

 The Moorish rule of Southern Spain ended.

Columbus is the first European to reach the Americas after which the system of slavery was established.
 
Around this time the Djembe' is also invented (originally from Mali or Guinea).

527 CE
Christian Emperor Justinian shuts down the last Egyptian temple at Philae.

550 CE
Emperor Kanissa-ai of Ghana makes Koranga the capital city.

610 CE
The arrival of Islam.

639- 641 CE
Khalif Omar conquers Egypt with his Islamic army. This is the Moslems first invasion of Nubia (Sudan).

642 CE
The conquest of Egypt by Arabs and the introduction of Islam.

688 CE
Dahia al-Kahina of Mauritania ruled until 705 CE.

700 CE
States of Gao and Kanem founded (until 900 CE).
Islam spreads across North Africa and many areas of sub-Saharan.
Arab Slave Trade (to 1911). 

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715 CE
The first Moorish Dynasty, the Umayyad, ruled Spain from 715 CE to 750 CE.

740 CE
 The Moors invade Spain and rule it until 1492.

846 CE

Kanem-Bornu kingdom is founded (east of Lake Chad).

880 CE
The Yoruba founded Ife, the spiritual centre of Yoruba land.

940 CE
Queen Judith of Ethiopia ruled until 980 CE.

990 CE
Grasslanders move into the forests of Nigeria and begin dynasties at Oyo and Benin.

1000 CE
Islam moves into sub-Saharan Africa.

Zimbabwe is the capital of Mwenetupa Empire in Southern Africa.

Ghana Empire of Soninke at the height of power.

c. 1000
Yoruba Queen Oluwo of Ife ruled.

1076
A Berber army from Morocco attacked Ghana.

The empire of Mali is established.

1050
 Mandingo king Baramendana Keita converts to Islam.

1054
Muslim Berbers (Almoravids) declare a jihad against Ghana.

1061
Yusuf ibn Tashifin of the Almoravides ruled until 1106.

1067
Tunka Menin rules the Ghana.

1087
Kanem-Bornu converts to Islam.

1100
Kingdom of Benin (until 1897).

1133
Abd-al-Mumin of the Almohades, (Moroccan) ruled North Africa and Spain until 1163).

1200
Hausa kingdoms are established in West Africa. The first kingdom was Daura.

1203
Fall of the kingdom of Ghana to the Sosso.

1210
Mai Dunama ibn Salma of Kanem ruled until 1248.

1230
The fourth and last Moorish Dynasty.

The Almohade falls in Spain.
Kingdom of Mali is established under King Sundiata Keita (he ruled 1230-1255).

1235
The state of Kangaba, (led by Sundjata Keita), defeated the kingdom of Susu at the Battle of Kirina.

1260
Death of Sundjata Keita, Mali’s ‘Lion Prince.’

c. 1286
Emperor Semamun of Makurian ruled.

1290
The Dogon of Mali plot the orbits of various universes and star systems.

1300
The slave trade significantly expands in northern Africa, Ethiopia, and the West African savanna.

1311
Mansa Abubakari II of Mali, (he visited America 181 years before Christopher Columbus).

1312
Emperor of Mali, (Mansa Mussa) ruled until 1337.

1324
 Emperor Mansa Mussa goes to Mecca with an entourage of 60,000.

1332
The death of Mansa Musa. (He ruled 1307-1332).

1375
Gao withdraws from Mali, (it eventually becomes the Songhai Empire).

1400
Swahili cities thrive on the east African coast.

 Arab settlers colonized the coast and established trading towns.

By the 13th century the states of Mogadishu, Malindi, Lamu, Mombasa, Kilwa, Pate, and Sofala were established.

The Swahili culture developed through the mixture of Bantu and Arabic speakers.

The ruling classes were of mixed Arab-African ancestry but the majority of people in the region were Bantu and many of them slaves.

1415
Portuguese battle Arabs and Moors in Ceuta, Morocco.

1420
Minority Tutsi follow Hutu into Rwanda and establish a monarchy.

1438
The Portuguese travel down the coast of Africa.

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Sarki Abdullah Burja is the eighteenth ruler of the Hausa state of Kano.

1440
 Eware the Great (ruled 1440-1473) and develops Benin into a magnificent empire.

1441
The beginning of European slave trade in Africa with the first shipment of African slaves sent directly from Africa to Portugal.

1450
The decline of the Kingdom of Mali and the rise of the Songhai Empire.

1460
 Cayor splits from Mali and becomes an independent province.

1464
Sonni Ali Ber of Songhai becomes ruler of the Songhai kingdom.

1463
Sarki Muhammad Rumfa of Kano ruled until 1499.

1465
Seven Cayorian dynasties last until 1870 and they reject Islam.

1468
Sonni Ali conquers Timbuktu.

The Songhai Empire dominates the central Sudan after Sunni Ali Ber’s army defeated the Tuareg army at Tombouctou (Timbuktu).

Ali Ber expands the Songhai Empire, refuses to accept Islam and chooses to implement advanced African traditions instead.

1480
First Europeans (Portuguese) visit Benin, arriving at the east coast of Africa and increasing trade in gold, ivory, and slaves.

1481
El Mina is founded on the West African ‘Gold Coast’.

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1484
The Fung Kingdom reigns in Sudan until 1790.

1492
The death of Sunni Ali Ber.

Mamadou Toure rises to the throne under the name Askia (general) Muhammad. He ruled until 1528 and made Songhai the largest empire in the history of West Africa. The empire becomes Muslim.

1500
Benin at height of its power.

c. 1504
Oba Esigie of Benin ruled until c. 1550

1506
King Dom Affonso 1st of Kongo ruled until 1545.

1517
Egypt conquered by the Turks of the Ottoman Empire.

1513
The first enslaved Africans were taken to Cuba.

1529
The Muslim state of Adal declares a jihad against Christian Ethiopia and conquers most of the kingdom.

1536
Queen Bakwa Turunku of the Hausa state Zazzau ruled until c. 1566.

1538
The first recorded importation of Africans into Brazil.

1541
Ethiopia defeats of the Muslims.

1549
The zenith of the Songhai Empire was ruled by Askia Daud (1549-1582).

1564
Mai (King) Idris Alooma of Kanem-Bornu ruled until 1596.

1570
The Portuguese establish a colony in Angola.

1576
Queen Amina of the Hausaland ruled until 1610.

1580- 1617
TMai Idris Alooma ruled Kanem-Bornu and introduced firearms purchased from the Ottoman Turks.

1591
The fall of Songhai Empire.

1593
Moroccans defeat the Songahai with firearms.

The University of Sankoré, (in Timbuktu) is destroyed by Arabs.

1596
Askia Nuh rejects Arab domination and organizes national resistance.

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