10 African Civilizations More Amazing Than Ancient Egypt

10 African Civilizations More Amazing Than Ancient Egypt

Unknown to most people, hundreds of smaller kingdoms have popped up throughout Africa’s history, with some eventually growing into powerful empires. These vast nations united Africa, managed wealthy trade routes, and controlled a potluck of cultures.

10 Axum Empire



While a Christian revolution was occurring in Europe, a powerful kingdom emerged on the African continent. In present-day Ethiopia, the Axum Empire became one of the largest markets of northeastern Africa with its epic trading and naval strength. As traders from this country were going past the Nile River and into Alexandria, Axum dominated the coast of the Red Sea until the seventh century.

Besides influencing other superpowers in Africa, Europe, and Asia, this empire created Ge’ez, Africa’s only original written script, and had throngs of foreign visitors. One Persian writer hailed Axum as “one of the four greatest powers of the world.” Still, little is known about this impressive African civilization.



9 Benin Empire



A unique settlement in what is now present-day Nigeria, the kingdom of Benin began when the Edo people cut down trees in the West African rain forest. By the 1400s, the little settlement had developed into a mighty kingdom.

The rulers of Benin, called the Oba, had an unusual taste for brass in their stunning palaces. The Benin people also used brass in artwork, statues, and plaques depicting gory battle scenes.

As for trading, Benin found wealth due to its location near the Niger River, which allowed merchants to trade with African kingdoms in the north. On the south end of the empire was the Atlantic Ocean, which permitted ships to exchange goods such as coral beads, pepper, and leopard skins. European trade commenced during the 14th century.

The Benin Empire came to an end when the British invaded to take Benin’s resources and burned the empire to the ground.




8 Kingdom Of Ghana




Ancient Ghana, which sat on an immense gold mine, was so rich that even its dogs wore collars made of the precious metal. With strategic planning, powerful leaders, and an abundance of natural resources, Ghana soon became another big African influence.

Trading with Europeans and North Africans, Ghana imported books, cloth, and horses in exchange for gold and ivory. Salt was also in high demand. Arab businessmen often struggled for months to reach the kingdom and trade.

If someone was accused of breaking the law in Ghana, that person was forced to drink an acrid blend of wood and water. If he threw up the mixture, he was considered innocent. Otherwise, he was considered guilty and punished by the king.

Despite holding off many invasions, Ghana eventually collapsed in 1240. Isolated from trade and weakened by its rivals, the kingdom was absorbed into the growing Mali Empire.

7 Mali Empire



The Mali Empire was a major African civilization that thrived between the 13th and 16th centuries. Founded by a man named Sundiata Keita (aka the Lion King), the empire was located near present-day West Africa.

While the Lion King was an impressive ruler, the empire flourished the most under Mansa Musa, who holds the title of the richest man in history. His fortune was worth a whopping $400 billion—an amount that puts Bill Gates to shame. Musa also made Timbuktu, the Mali capital, the main center for education and culture in Africa, allowing scholars from all over the continent to come and study.

Like Benin, Mali was successful in trade because of its location by the Niger River. However, it was plundered by invaders from Morocco in 1593. This weakened the empire, and Mali soon ceased to be an important political entity.

6 Nok Civilization



The first traces of this mysterious civilization were discovered in 1928 by a group of Nigerian tin miners. As archaeologists uncovered bits of pottery, rock paint, and tools, they were shocked to realize how advanced this previously unknown civilization was.

During their existence from 900 BC until AD 200, the Nok culture created a complex judicial system centuries before modern ones were invented. Using several different classes of courts, they dealt with matters such as theft, murder, adultery, and family disputes.

The Nok people were also the earliest makers of life-size, terra-cotta statues. Their statues depicted alien-looking people with long heads, almond-shaped eyes, and parted lips. The Nok were also advanced in metalworking, forging small knives, spear points, and bracelets.

In AD 200, the Nok population rapidly declined for no apparent reason. Famine, overreliance on resources, and climate change has all been proposed as explanations.











5 Kingdom Of Kush



Relatively unknown outside of Africa, the kingdom of Kush was located in present-day Sudan. This civilization was strikingly similar to Egypt and once ruled like Egyptian pharaohs. The Kushytes also mummified their dead, built pyramids as burial grounds, and worshiped crazy gods. However, there were several key differences between the two cultures.

Iron had become a huge resource for Kush while the Egyptians were still discovering the wonders of this metal. Women also played a much bigger role in Kush society, and queens often succeeded the kings. In fact, one of the biggest pyramids in Kush was built to honor a female ruler.

Kush was also famous for its archers, who were often depicted in artwork. However, it’s theorized that their culture declined after Kush was invaded by Ezana from Axum and then taken over by a new society called the X-Group (aka the Ballana culture).

4 Songhai Empire



The Songhai Empire spanned thousands of miles across much of Western Africa. Lasting nearly 800 years, the kingdom was considered one of the greatest empires in the world from the 15th to the 16th centuries.

As with other African civilizations, Songhai derived most of its wealth from trading—which was extremely safe due to the 200,000-person army placed along its provinces. Several thousand cultures were under its control, all held together by a centralized government bureaucracy. A new currency was also created, which allowed thediverse cultures to blend and unite.

The size of this empire was its downfall, with its enormous territory too difficult to control. Songhai tumbled into civil war, and by the end of the 16th century, the once-mighty empire had fractured into smaller, squabbling kingdoms.

3 Land Of Punt




Located in present-day Somalia, Punt was considered the Atlantis of Africa. Unlike most African civilizations, the people of this “land of the gods” were described as having dark red complexions and long hair, and citizens lived in reed huts suspended on stilts above the water.

Trading missions between Egypt and Punt were common, including the first-documented flora exchange when Queen Hatshepsut traded trees during her famous expedition. All sorts of goods were exchanged with Punt—from incense and ivory to human dwarfs and pygmies.

Although the exact location of Punt is still debated, it was described as being lush and green. Sailors most likely reached it by traveling through the Red Sea or drifting down the Nile in small sailing boats. Many people believe that Punt had a huge influence on Egyptian culture—from their literature to their religion. Despite this, some historians question whether Punt even existed.

2 Zulu Empire



The rise of the Zulu Empire wouldn’t have happened without wedlock. The start of the kingdom was spurred by Shaka Zulu, the illegitimate son of Chief Senzanganoka. After dodging several attempted murders and bloody family disputes, Shaka became chief of the Zulus. Using his groundbreaking military tactics, Shaka helped the empire rise to its rich and famous heights.

The Zulu Empire’s biggest accomplishment stems from being one of the most feared African civilizations during the colonial period. By introducing the iklwa spear and creating the bull formation, Shaka trained his warriors so well that they eventually defeated the British invasion.

The Zulu grew into a powerful but violent empire. However, by the 1900s, it had been absorbed into the Cape Colony. Today, parts of Zulu form the modern country of South Africa.

1 Ancient Carthage



An early Phoenician settlement, the ancient city-state of Carthage was located in modern-day Tunisia and covered much of the Mediterranean. Its strategic placement—and abundance of trade—allowed Carthage to grow quite wealthy.

As the Carthage people were extremely skilled in furniture crafting, Punic cushions, mattresses, and beds were an expensive luxury. At one point, their Roman rivals unsuccessfully attempted to copy their designs.

Carthage also created an intricate system of governmental checks and balances, wrote a constitution, and managed an extensive library. Unfortunately, most of their literature was destroyed or given as gifts to Numidian kings. Only one book remains—a manual on agricultural technique that was translated into Greek.

Eventually, Carthage was burned and plundered by the expansion of the Roman Empire. However, the Carthage city-state left an indelible mark as a rich trading empireand a powerful commercial force in Africa.


10 African Civilizations More Amazing Than Ancient Egypt - Listverse

 

I know folks want to shine a light on other African empires but this whole list is a reach

 

No other African civilisation reached the excellence of Ancient Egypt that's why cacs don't believe it was built by Africans.....

 

Some of these came literally thousands of years after ancient Egypt was over.

We can talk about other African civilizations without shytting on Ancient Egypt. They are all very interesting and I have read about all of them.

And there is still more that have yet to be uncovered. Like the Kingdom of Yam, a trading partner of ancient Egypt that could be located in current day Chad (Hieroglyphs were found near there). If not there, then it's somewhere to the south or southwest of Nubia.

He also left out the Sao culture and the Kanem Empire. Although there isn't too much known about those two. African archeology needs more funding!

 

I think its because its full of arabs now so people are like. It would be like if China was made by indians but now its just full of asians

 

this entire mentality of “there were other civilizations better than ancient egypt” is some cac ass bullshyt. just another tactic used to downplay KMT.

yes there were other great societies all over the african continent....NONE of them reached the level of KMT. and this is not even in dispute by any expert on the subject.

 

No Kongo? Also what is it about ancient Egypt that people feel the urge to discredit it lol?

 

I disagree with this list completely, none of these civilizations reach Egypt.

 

s/o to the Land of Punt
But no need to put down Egypt by stating that these kingdoms were greater than it. It's better to highlight these kingdoms and their greatness without putting down Egypt. Ancient Egypt was the greatest civilisation in history, and better than any Cac kingdom. Saying these kingdoms were better than Egypt is factually incorrect

 

True, but I think the swahili city states came close. At one point they were building palaces with pools and indoor plumbing. I studied their archaeology. Basically the black equivalent of the ancient greeks but with a muslim twist. Lived in city states ruled by merchant-kings and traded as far as Indonesia and China.



But yeah KMT was the GOAT African civilization.

 

The Kingdom of Mali should be number one on that list in my opinion. We are still listening to music from that Kingdom to this very day in the USA. Almost all forms of music attributed to the USA has it basis in Mali. That country also contributed stuff like rice to the USA.



That list is weird because Songhay is actually a successor kingdom to Mali. It to was largely founded by Mande people. Ghana as the predecessor to Mali was also founded by Mande people. There is also no Zimbabwe; nor any of the City-States in East Africa nor any of those Moorish Kingdoms in Morocco on that list.

 

we do not have to put down one to big up another
gotta do more research on king shaka's empire!!

 

Well I'm not an archaeology major. So I'll ask why is Egypt the GOAT over all of these other civilizations?

 

I understand this is very controversial but I tend to exclude the Swahili states when it comes to African history there seems to be a lot of influence from outsiders not saying outsiders completely built that civilisation but there seems to be more input from outsiders as let's say the Benin Empire, Ashanti Empire or Mali Empire.