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Mapungubwe, South Africa
The hill-site of Mapungubwe, capital of the kingdom of Mapungubwe (11-14th century CE). Located at the very north of South Africa near the Limpopo River.

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The Spread of Islam in Africa
A map indicating the general direction and timings of the spread of Islam in Africa from the 7th to 18th century CE

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Map of Roman Africa
Nothern Africa under Roman rule. From H.Kiepert (1879), Historischer Schulatlas.

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European Division of Africa Cartoon
A cartoon in the French magazine "L'illustration" (January 3, 1885) presenting a critical view of the Berlin Conference of 1884-85. It depicts Otto von Bismarck (1815-98), Chancellor of Germany, cutting a cake labeled 'Africa' with a knife...

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The Bantu Migration in Africa
A map illustrating the general route of the Bantu migration which occurred in various stages from the second millennium BCE to c. 1500 CE.

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Operation Compass
Operation Compass (9 Dec 1940 to 7 Feb 1941) was an Allied offensive in North Africa, which pushed Italian forces out of Egypt and then Cyrenaica (Eastern Libya). The Allied Western Desert Force, led by Lieutenant-General Richard O'Connor...

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Mansa Musa I - The Richest Man in History?
Mansa Musa I was the ruler of the Mali Empire in West Africa from 1312 to 1337. Controlling territories rich in gold and copper, and monopolising trade between the north and interior of the continent, Mali grew extremely wealthy. Mansa Musa...

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Kingdom of Luba
The Kingdom of Luba, located in central Africa, thrived from the 15th to 19th century CE and was the first such state in the Congo basin. Skills in ironworking and trade along the Lualaba river in such metals as copper permitted the Luba...

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Ghana Empire
The Ghana Empire flourished in West Africa from at least the 6th to 13th century. Not connected geographically to the modern state of Ghana, the Ghana Empire was located in the western Sudan savannah region (modern southern Mauritania and...

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Desert Rats - British Eighth Army's Elite Desert Troops
The Desert Rats was the nickname of the 7th Armoured Division of the British Eighth Army, which first fought in North Africa during the Second World War (1939-45). Fighting in the Western Desert Campaigns and the North Africa Campaign, the...