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200 BC |
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City of ancient Jenne thought to have been established. |
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500 BC |
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Earliest evidence of Nok culture found in Nigeria. |
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7th century |
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Zaghawa people settled next to Lake Chad. Thought to be the early founders of Kanem. |
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9th century |
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Fishing community form the nucleus of early Songhay. |
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10th century |
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First Hausa state thought to have been formed. |
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900 AD |
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Igbo-Ukwo bronze ceremonial objects start being made in Nigeria. |
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1st millennium AD |
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A number of clans of the Soninke people come together under Dinga Cisse, a leader with semi-divine status. |
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Early 11th century |
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Sefawa dynasty displaces Zaghawa in Kanem. Yoruba kingdoms of Ife and Benin thought to have been founded.
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1060's |
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Kanem converts to Islam. |
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1076 |
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Almoravid
campaign against ancient Ghana and enter its capital. |
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11th-12th century |
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Gold fields begin to be mined at Bure, out of the commercial reach of Ghana. New trade routes open up further east. |
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1210 |
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Mai Dunama Dibalami becomes ruler of Kanem, leading it to the height of its power. The centre of government moves to Borno. The state becomes known as Kanem-Borno.
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1230's |
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The Ancient Empire of Ghana declines. Empire of Mali comes to prominence under Mansa (king) Sundiata Keita after he defeats Sosso ruler Sumanguru.
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14th century |
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Empire of Mali reaches its peak. Queen Amina of Zazzau expands the Zaria emirate through a series of wars.
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1310's |
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Mansa Abubakar II sets out to cross the Atlantic Ocean and is never seen again. Mansa Musa succeeds him as ruler. |
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1324 |
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Mansa Musa of Mali makes his magnificent pilgrimage to Mecca.
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1464 |
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King Sunni Ali becomes leader of Songhay and defeats Mali. |
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1493 |
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Mande
Muslim general, Askia Muhammad, seizes power and expands Songhay.
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1510 |
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Moroccan writer Leo Africanus visits Gao, the capital of Songhay.
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1513 |
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Leo Africanus visits Timbuktu. |
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1591 |
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Moroccan army defeats Songhay. |
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1670's |
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Osei Tutu defeats Denkyira and establishes Asante empire. |
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17th century |
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Ife eclipsed by expanding Oyo kingdom. |
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18th century |
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Kanem-Borno goes into decline. |
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1804 |
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Usman dan Fodio launches Jihad in northern Nigeria. |
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1809 |
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Sokoto caliphate established. |
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1874 |
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Asante lose territory to the British under Treaty of Fomana. |
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1881 |
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Prempeh I becomes Asantehene (King of the Asante). |
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1896 |
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Prempeh I sent into exile by British. |
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1897 |
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British soldiers loot city of Benin taking valuable bronzes and other objects.
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1900 |
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Yaa Asantewa (Asante Queen Mother) leads a revolt against the British.
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1901 |
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Asante annexed by the British.
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1924 |
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Prempeh I returns from exile to Kumasi. |
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1935 |
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The Asante monarchy restored. |
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