Key events in African history: a reference guide

Timeline of historical events

The prehistoric past: the evolution of homo sapiens sapiens, 40,000 B.C.

The agricultural revolution, 5000 B.C.+

The civilization of ancient Egypt, 3100 B.C.+

The iron age and the spread of Bantu speakers, 730 B.C.+

The rise of Kush and Aksum, 730 B.C.+

The Greeks and Romans in North Africa, 332 B.C.+

Ethiopia: the emergence of a Christian kingdom, 1250 A.D.+

The spread of Islam, 622 A.D. onward

Kingdoms of West Africa: Ghana, Mali, and Songhay, A.D. 1000-1600

The rise of the Swahili city-states of East Africa, tenth-fourteenth century A.D.

The Atlantic slave trade, 1440-1870

The organization of societies, fifteenth century A.D. onward

The outbreak of Islamic jihad, 1804

Wars and revolution among the Yoruba, 1817-93

The spread of Christianity, 1804 onward

The rise of Muhammad Ali of Egypt, 1811-47

The Mfecane: Shaka and the Zulu kingdom, 1816-40

European conquest and African response, 1885-1900

The colonial experience, 1900-39

The entrenchment of Apartheid in South Africa, 1948

Africa drawn into the Second World War, 1940-45

The end of European rule, 1951-90

Violence to gain national liberation, 1952-62

Confrontation with the gains and pains if independence, 1958-70

The formation of the organization of African unity, 1963

Coups, counter coups, and military regimes, 1963 onward

Ufamaa and policy choices, 1967 onward

The creation of the economic community of West African states, 1975

Portuguese colonies attain freedom, 1975

Cultural revival and cultural inventory: the second world festival of African arts and culture, 1977

The women's decade, 1975-85

A continent in deep crisis, 1980

Environmental challenges, 1980 onward

African refugees, 1980 onward

Africa in world politics in transition, 1980s onward

The fall of Apartheid and the advent of Nelson Mandela's government, 1994-99.