Home

Global African History Timelines: To 1800

Global African American History Timelines:

To 1800

After 1801

This timeline covers all the events not listed on the African American History or African American History in the West timelines.

Year Events SubjectCountryEra

5-2.5 million BCE Skeletal remains uncovered suggest the Rift Valley in East Africa is home to the earliest human ancestors. 00-01 Early Human Ancestors

Ethiopia

1492-1600

4-2.7 million BCE Hominid species Australopithicus afarensis lived in the Hadar region of Ethiopia, including Lucy, the famous skeletal remains found in 1974. 00-01a Early Human Ancestors

Ethiopia

1492-1600

600,000 to 200,000 BCE Period of migration across the African continent and out of Africa to Asia and Europe. Fire is first used during this period. 00-01aa African Migration

n.a.

1492-1600

6000-4000 BCE Spread of agriculture across Africa. River societies emerge along the Nile, Niger, and Congo Rivers. 00-01ab African Migration

n.a.

1492-1600

5000 BCE (ca.) Egyptian agriculturalists develop irrigation and animal husbandry to transform the lower Nile Valley. The rise in the food supply generates a rapidly increasing population. Agricultural surpluses and growing wealth allow specialization including glass making, pottery, metallurgy, weaving, woodworking, leather making, and masonry. 00-02 Ancient Egypt

Egypt

1492-1600

4500 BCE (ca.) Egyptians begin using burial texts to accompany their dead into the afterlife. This is the first evidence of written texts anywhere in the world. 00-03 Ancient Egypt

Egypt

1492-1600

4000 BCE (ca.) Egypt emerges as a centralized state and flourishing civilization. 00-04 Ancient Egypt

Egypt

1492-1600

2700-1087 BCE (ca.) Period of the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt and Northeastern Africa. 00-05 Ancient Egypt

Egypt

1492-1600

2500 BCE (ca.) Other civilizations emerge in Mesopotamia, northern China,

BlackFacts Details

Elijah Muhammad founds the Nation of Islam in Detroit, 1930

Washington DC Facts

Barack Obama Facts

African American Facts

Martin Luther King Jr. Facts

Education Facts