Timeline of events in Africa from 700-800 CE
700 CE:
- The Nok civilization flourishes in what is now Nigeria, known for their sophisticated terracotta sculptures.
- The Kingdom of Aksum in Ethiopia reaches its height, with extensive trade relationships with the Roman Empire and India.
- The Bantu expansion continues, with Bantu-speaking peoples spreading across Central and Southern Africa, establishing new states and societies.
710 CE:
- Arab armies from the Umayyad Caliphate based in North Africa launch an unsuccessful expedition to conquer Nubia (modern-day Sudan).
750 CE:
- The Ghana Empire emerges in West Africa, becoming a major center for trade in gold and salt. Its rulers convert to Islam, establishing Islam as a significant religion in the region.
- The Kingdom of Axum declines and fragmented into smaller polities.
- The Zaghawa people, originating in modern-day Chad, establish the kingdom of Kanem, which becomes an important regional power.
760 CE:
- The Kingdom of Aksum officially converts to Christianity, solidifying the religion's influence in the region.
770 CE:
- The Shilluk Kingdom is founded in modern-day South Sudan, becoming one of the largest African kingdoms in the next centuries.
780 CE:
- The Kingdom of Axum experiences a revival under the leadership of King Mara Takla Haymanot, who expands its territory and influence.
800 CE:
- The Ife Kingdom, known for its extraordinary bronze sculptures, becomes a major center of art and culture in West Africa.
- The Kingdom of Kanem-Bornu emerges in the Lake Chad region, combining the Zaghawa and Kanem kingdoms into a powerful empire.
- Arab traders establish trade routes across the Saharan desert, connecting West Africa with North Africa and the Islamic world.