THE WORLD ATLAS

Realm · approximate borders · 800–1299

Gao Empire (Kingdom of Gao)

The Songhai kingdom of Gao on the Niger bend, known to Arab geographers from the 9th century and from royal epitaphs from 1042. Mali brought Gao under its rule around 1300 (dates range from the late 13th century to Mansa Musa in 1324).

Its dates and extent are uncertain. Source: Wikipedia 'Gao Empire'.

See Gao Empire (Kingdom of Gao) on the map in 800

On the map
800–1299
Capital
Gao (Kukiya earlier and later)

Rulers named in the sources

African kingdoms and states, 430–1911

Besides the large empires and the colonial powers, Africa had many other states: the Berber kingdoms of late-Roman Mauretania and the Aurès; the Wolof states of Senegambia, the Fula imamates, Kaabu and the Moorish emirates; Kong, the Mossi kingdoms, Dagbon, Denkyira, Akwamu, Dahomey and Benin; the Hausa kingdoms, Nupe, Kebbi, Agadez, Damagaram and Baguirmi; the Ethiopian, Gibe and Somali sultanates and kingdoms, the Shilluk, Kilwa and Pate; Buganda, Bunyoro, Rwanda and Burundi; Loango, Ndongo, Matamba, Kasanje, Kuba, Luba, Lunda and Kazembe; Mapungubwe, Great Zimbabwe, Mutapa, Butua and the Rozvi; and Maravi, Gaza, the Nguni and Sotho kingdoms, the Lozi and the Sakalava. Dates and rulers come from cited reference articles. Few pre-colonial African frontiers were ever surveyed or described, and many of these states ruled people and trade routes more than fixed territory.

Sources