Historical Maps of Africa
How the map of Africa changed from pre-colonial empires to colonial partition (1880s–1914) and independence (1950s–2011).
- Colonial Africa Map (1884-1960)
- Pre-Colonial Africa: Empires & Kingdoms
- Map of Africa in 1914
- Scramble for Africa Timeline
- African Independence Timeline
- Colonial Powers in Africa
- African Independence Leaders
Key Dates in African History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| c. 3100 BCE | Unification of Ancient Egypt |
| c. 1235 | Founding of the Mali Empire |
| 1415 | Portugal captures Ceuta, the first European foothold in Africa of the modern era |
| 1830 | France invades Algeria |
| 1884–85 | Berlin Conference sets rules for claiming Africa |
| 1896 | Ethiopia defeats Italy at the Battle of Adwa |
| 1914 | About 90% of Africa under European rule; only Ethiopia and Liberia independent |
| 1957 | Ghana becomes the first sub-Saharan colony to gain independence |
| 1960 | The "Year of Africa": 17 countries become independent |
| 1963 | Organisation of African Unity founded in Addis Ababa |
| 1990 | Namibia becomes independent |
| 1994 | End of apartheid in South Africa |
| 2002 | African Union replaces the OAU |
| 2011 | South Sudan becomes Africa's newest country |
Why Historical Maps Matter
The modern map of Africa makes more sense in light of history. Straight-line borders, the mix of official languages, enclaves such as Lesotho and The Gambia, and the location of capitals and railways reflect decisions made during the colonial period. Older maps show the African states that came before: the empires of Mali and Songhai, the kingdoms of Kongo and Great Zimbabwe, and the Swahili city-states. Each page in this section covers one layer of that story, from pre-colonial Africa to the independence of all 54 countries.