Empires and Kingdoms

Kerma, also known as Karmah, is a historically significant archaeological site. It is the old capital of Kerma, an ancient country located in the Dongola Reach (above the 3rd Cataract of the River Nile in Sudan). All of these legends date back over 5500 years. Kerma is one of the most important archaeological sites in ancient Nubia (ancient region in …

Yohannes IV, a nobleman by birth, a cleric by education, a zealot by faith, moralist by tendency, a monk by practice, a nationalist by policy, and a soldier and emperor by profession His birth name was Kahsai Mrcha. He was born on July 12 1837 at Mai Beha Tembien. His father was Shum Tembien Mircha Woldekidan of Tembien. Mircha’s mother Woyzero …

Moshoeshoe I, the founder and king of the Basotho Kingdom (current-day LESOTHO), was known for his military superiority and diplomatic capabilities. He was a key figure in defending Lesotho against European colonization and helping the country’s independence. Moshoeshoe was the son of a Koena chief, and his original name was Lepoqo. Moshoeshoe earned a reputation as a leader as a …

The Rozvi Empire (1684–1866) was a Shona state established on the Zimbabwean Plateau by Changamire Dombo. The term “Rozvi” comes from the Shona word “kurozva,” which means “to plunder.” It refers to their history as a warrior nation. Origins Following the death of King Matope, Dombo or Changa relocated to the south and established the Rozwi Kingdom. In establishing the …

Khama was highly regarded as a peace-loving king who prioritized technological achievements such as the construction of schools, scientific cattle-feeding, and the establishment of a mounted police force, which effectively suppressed crime. Because of his good rule of developing his nation and caring for his people England granted him permission to remain independent of Bechuanaland. Khama was known for being …

The Persians invade Egypt under Cambyses II. He defeats the Egyptians in battle at Pelsium in the Nile Delta in 525 BC. Cambyses II, an Achaemenid king of Persia (reigned 529–522 BCE) who invaded Egypt in 525, was the eldest son of King Cyrus II the Great by Cassandane, a fellow Achaemenid. Cambyses was in charge of Babylonian affairs during …

Menes (c. 3200–3000 BC) was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt during the Early Dynastic Period. He is recognized by classical tradition with uniting Upper and Lower Egypt and establishing of the First Dynasty. Although conventional Egyptological consensus links Menes to the Naqada III monarch Narmer First Dynasty pharaoh Hor-Aha, the identity of Menes remains a point of contention. Various authorities …

The Kanem-Bornu Empire (ca. 9th century- 1900) was a large African state that extended a region that today includes the modern-day countries of Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Nigeria. It continued to exist from the 9th century to the end of the nineteenth century. The Zaghawa nomadic people formed the empire, and they are said to be the first in central …

The Aksumite currency was created and used in the Kingdom of Aksum (or Axum), which was located in modern-day Eritrea and Ethiopia. Its mintages were issued and circulated from King Endubis’ reign about AD 270 to the first half of the seventh century, when it began to collapse. Mogadishu currency, issued by the Sultanate of Mogadishu, was the most extensively …

Nyabinghi or Nyabingi was a queen in Rwandan, Ugandan, and Tanzanian history. Muhumuza was her first name, which means “one who brings peace.” Then she was given the name Nyabingi, which means abundance in the Runyankole language of the Ankole kingdom, which is located in western Uganda today. To fight the colonialists, she used the elements of fire, water, earth, …