9 African Empires that Shaped the Continent (and World)

If you think the Egyptian empire was the only notable African empire, you’re in for some learning! Although Wester history books have done a great job of excluding the many great civilizations of Africa, they have not erased the contributions and legacy of these empires.

Africa is a massive continent. Therefore, these great African civilizations have existed at various locations in Africa, often encompassing multiple modern day African countries.

1. The Mali Empire

The great Mali Empire began in the 1200s by Sundiata Keita, sometimes referred to as “Lion King”. It was known for being the epicenter of trade, elaborate mosques, islamic schools, and simply for being a world of luxury and riches.

Legend has it that one of the great leaders of the empire, Mansa Musa, had so much gold that he passed it out to the poor along his hajj to Mecca.

This African empire was also so rich through trade that by the 14the century, it was the source of almost half the old world’s gold exported from West Africa. Mali empire was also home to Sankara Madrassa, one of the greatest centers of learning. It housed the largest library in Africa at the time, with an estimated 700,000 manuscripts.

2. The Kingdom of Kush

This ancient Nubian empire ruled over a vast territory along the Nile River, in what is modern day Sudan starting from around 785 BC. The Kingdom of Kush was so powerful that it even ruled its famous neighbor to the north, Egypt, as the 25th Dynasty, which meant the monarchs of Kush were also the pharaohs of Egypt.

The Kingdom thrived for over a thousand years and was a center of trade for iron and gold. Kushites also mummified their dead and built their own types of pyramids. In fact, the ancient Kushite capital of Meroe is home to ruins of over 200 pyramids, far more than Egypt.

3. The Kingdom of Ghana

The Kingdom of Ghana existed between 750 AD and 1076 AD and was also known as Wagadou. It was located in Western Africa, in modern day Mauritania, Mail, and Senegal. The Kingdom was wealthy from exports of gold, ivory, and salt.

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