There is a widespread belief that Africa had no history before the coming of the Europeans in the 15th century. Many upholders of this credence credit the trans-Atlantic slave trade/ colonialism as the beginning of Africa’s history. Contrary to this belief, Africa’s history comprises numerous empires and Kingdoms, with multinational structures and populations. These entities are responsible for shaping the continent’s cultural practices and even some of the present societal structures. With that being said, here are the 10 largest African empires in History.

10. The Ethiopian Empire (1270–1974)
The Ethiopian Empire formerly known by the exonym Abyssinia was one of the largest African empires in history. The empire historically spanned the geographical area of present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea from the establishment of the Solomonic dynasty by Yekuno Amlak approximately in 1270 until 1974 when Emperor Haile Selassie was overthrown by a military coup, marking the end of the empire.

Throughout much of its existence, the empire was surrounded by hostile forces (The Ottoman, Italian, and numerous Islamic Sultanates) in the African Horn; however, it managed to develop and preserve a kingdom based on its ancient form of Christianity. The Empire was occupied by Italy from 1936 to 1941. The occupation ended with Ethiopia’s liberation by Allied forces during World War II.

9. The Mutapa Empire (1450–1629)
The Mutapha Empire also known as the Monomotapa Empire, was a medieval kingdom that existed in present-day Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and parts of Zambia and South Africa. The Empire existed from approximately 1450 to 1629. It was founded by a Bantu-speaking group known as the Karanga, who migrated from the Great Zimbabwe civilization. Mutapa is believed to have emerged as a successor to the decline of Great Zimbabwe.

The Mutapa Empire controlled extensive gold resources and traded gold with merchants from the East African coast, the Swahili city-states, and later with Portuguese traders. The Mutapa Empire faced internal conflicts, succession disputes, and external pressures from neighbouring African kingdoms and Portuguese colonial interests. These factors contributed to the gradual decline and fragmentation of the empire by the early 17th century.
READ MORE: https://tgnnews247.com/top-10-largest-african-empires-in-history/