end of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt, start of the Twentieth Dynasty.

Tags: Pharaoh, Political Transition, Succession, New Kingdom, Royal Power

c. 1150 BC: end of Egyptian rule in Canaan, with Ramesses VI the last Pharaoh acknowledged.

Tags: Pharaoh, Political Transition, Empire, Decline, International Relations

Ramesses VII begins his reign as the sixth ruler of the Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt.

Tags: Pharaoh, Dynasty, Monarchy, New Kingdom, Thebes

Pharaoh Ramesses X of Egypt dies and is succeeded by Ramesses XI, probably his son, as 10th and final pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt and la...

Tags: Pharaoh, New Kingdom, Dynasty, Succession, Decline

Ramses XI dies, ending the Twentieth Dynasty. He is succeeded by Smendes I, who founds the Twenty-first Dynasty.

Tags: Pharaoh, Dynasties, Succession, Political Transition, Decline, New Kingdom, Monarchy

On the death of Smendes I, king of Egypt, he is succeeded by two co-regents, Psusennes I and Neferkare Amenemnisu.

Tags: Pharaoh, Dynasty, Succession, Kingdom

Neferkare Amenemnisu, king of Egypt, dies.

Tags: Pharaoh, Dynasty, Death, New Kingdom, Third Intermediate Period, Succession

Amenemope succeeds Psusennes I as king of Egypt.

Tags: Pharaoh, Dynasty, Succession, New Kingdom, Monarchy, Power, Government

Osorkon the Elder succeeds Amenemope as king of Egypt.

Tags: Pharaoh, Dynasties, Succession, Third Intermediate Period, Monarchy

Siamun succeeds Osorkon the Elder as king of Egypt.

Tags: Pharaoh, Dynasty, Succession, Monarchy, New Kingdom, Third Intermediate Period

Psusennes II succeeds Siamun as king of Egypt.

Tags: Pharaoh, Dynasty, New Kingdom, Succession, Governance, Monarchy, Third Intermediate Period

945/943 BC: Egypt: Psusennes II dies, the last pharaoh of the Twenty-first Dynasty. Shoshenq I succeeds him, and founds the Twenty-second Dynasty.

Tags: Dynasty, Pharaoh, Political Transition, Succession, Kingdom, Nile Valley, 22nd Dynasty

Kingdom of Kush.

Tags: African Kingdoms, Political Development, Monarchy, Napatan Period, Kingdom Formation

Soshenq II succeeds Osorkon I as king of Egypt.

Tags: Pharaoh, Dynasty, Succession, Kingdom, New Kingdom, Third Intermediate Period

Takelot I succeeds Soshenq II as king of Egypt.

Tags: Third Intermediate Period, Pharaoh, Succession, Monarchy, Government, Thebes

Osorkon II succeeds Takelot I as king of the Twenty-second Dynasty of Egypt.

Tags: Dynasty, Pharaoh, Succession, Political Leadership, Kingdom

Takelot II ascends to the throne of Upper Egypt

Tags: Third Intermediate Period, Pharaoh, Dynasty, Succession, Thebes, Kingdom

Takelot II, king of Egypt, dies. Crown Prince Osorkon III and Shoshenq III, sons of Takelot, battle for the throne.

Tags: Succession, Pharaoh, Kingdom, Civil War, Political Instability

Pedubastis I declares himself king of Egypt, founding the Twenty-third Dynasty.

Tags: Dynasty, Pharaoh, Political Instability, Kingdom, Third Intermediate Period, Thebes

Death of Pedubastis I, pharaoh.

Tags: Pharaoh, Third Intermediate Period, Dynasty, Political Leadership, Death, Succession

Shoshenq III, king of Egypt (22nd Dynasty), r. 837–798 BC

Tags: Pharaoh, 22nd Dynasty, Monarchy, Death

Shoshenq IV, king of Egypt (22nd Dynasty), r. 798–785 BC

Tags: 22nd Dynasty, Pharaoh, Monarchy, Political History, Kingdom, Dynastic Rule

Pami, king of Egypt (22nd Dynasty), r. 785–778 BC

Tags: 22nd Dynasty, Pharaoh, Monarchy, Political History

Osorkon IV succeeds Sheshonq IV as king of the Twenty-second dynasty of Egypt.

Tags: Dynasty, Pharaoh, Succession, 22nd Dynasty, Kingdom, Government

Shoshenq V, king of Egypt (22nd Dynasty), r. 767–730 BC

Tags: Pharaoh, Dynasty, 22nd Dynasty, Monarchy, Decline, Ancient World

Osorkon IV, king of Egypt (22nd Dynasty), r. 730–716 BC

Tags: 22nd Dynasty, Pharaoh, Monarchy, Succession, Governance

Piye, king of Napata and Egypt (25th Dynasty), r. 744–714 BC

Tags: 25th Dynasty, Pharaoh, Kush, Succession, Monarchy, Governance, Napatan Kingdom

Shebitku, king of Egypt (25th Dynasty), r. 714–705 BC

Tags: 25th Dynasty, Pharaoh, Monarchy, Political History, Dynasty

Taharqa, a king of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty, ascends the throne of Egypt (approximate date).

Tags: Pharaoh, Monarchy, Succession, Dynasty

Shabaka, king of Egypt (25th Dynasty), r. 705–690 BC

Tags: Pharaoh, 25th Dynasty, Kingdom, Governance, Succession

Psammetichus I succeeds Necho I as king of Lower Egypt.

Tags: Pharaoh, Dynasty, Succession, Kingdom

Taharqa appoints his nephew Tantamani as his successor of Upper Egypt.

Tags: Succession, Pharaoh

Psammetichus extends his control over all of Egypt. End of Twenty-fifth Dynasty.

Tags: Dynasties, Pharaoh, Political Unification, Monarchy

Atlanersa becomes ruler of the Napatan kingdom of Kush after the collapse of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt.

Tags: Kush, Napatan Kingdom, Pharaoh, Dynasty, Succession, Political Leadership

Necho II succeeds Psammetichus I as king of Egypt.

Tags: Pharaoh, Monarchy, Succession, Nile Valley, Dynasty

Psammetichus II succeeds Necho II as King of Egypt.

Tags: Pharaoh, Dynasty, Succession, Nile Valley, Kingdom

Apries succeeds Psammetichus II as King of Egypt.

Tags: Pharaoh, Dynasty, Succession, Monarchy, Governance

Amasis II succeeds Apries as King of Egypt.

Tags: Pharaoh, Dynasty, Succession, Governance, Kingdom

Amtalqa succeeds his brother Aspelta as King of Kush.

Tags: Kush, Monarchy, Pharaoh, Succession, Napatan Period

Cambyses II succeeds Cyrus as King of Persia.

Tags: Achaemenid Empire, Monarchy, Succession, Cambyses II, Political Transition, Imperialism, Governance

Psammetichus III succeeds Amasis II as King of Egypt.

Tags: Pharaoh, Monarchy, Succession, Achaemenid Empire, Dynasty, Political History

Siaspiqa becomes ruler of the Kushite kingdom of Meroe.

Tags: Kush, Kings and Rulers, African Kingdoms

The Kingdom of D'mt is disestablished.

Tags: Kingdom, Political Transition, Regional Power, Decline, Governance

The Pharaoh of Egypt, Hakor (Akoris), concludes a tripartite alliance with Evagoras, king of Cyprus, and Athens.

Tags: Ancient greece, Diplomacy, Alliance, Pharaoh, Military Strategy

The end of the 4th century BC, and the start of the 3rd century BC.

Tags: Ancient greece, Diadochi, Alexander the Great, Monarchy, Ptolemaic Dynasty, Seleucid Empire, Political Instability, Empire Building

In 116 BC, Ptolemy VIII of Egypt died, leaving his throne to Cleopatra III and Ptolemy IX. This period also saw the beginnings of the Cimbrian War, th...

Tags: Ptolemaic Dynasty, Succession, Monarchy, Pharaoh, Ancient greece

Cyrene is left to the people of Rome by its ruler Ptolemy Apion.

Tags: Ancient rome, Legacy, Ancient greece, Annexation, Territorial Expansion, Ptolemaic Dynasty, Succession

Ptolemy XIII deposes his co-regent Cleopatra, beginning the Ptolemaic civil war in Egypt

Tags: Ptolemaic Kingdom, Civil War, Political Intrigue, Cleopatra, Ancient greece, Monarchy, Succession

Cleopatra restored to the Ptolemaic throne after the Battle of the Nile (47 BC)

Tags: Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ancient rome, Civil War, Monarchy, Succession

Julius Caesar re-founds Carthage and Corinth as Roman colonies.

Tags: Ancient rome, Julius Caesar, Colonialism, Urban Planning, Expansionism, Military Campaign, Ancient greece

Cleopatra and Mark Antony perform the Donations of Alexandria.

Tags: Ancient rome, Ancient greece, Cleopatra, Mark Antony, Succession, Civil War, Dynasty

Octavian annexes Egypt.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Ptolemaic Kingdom, Octavian, Political Transition, Imperialism, Expansionism, Ancient greece, Annexation

the Roman Senate votes Octavian the title of Augustus. Augustus eventually assumes all authority formerly held by the Roman senate becoming the first ...

Tags: Roman Empire, Principate, Augustus, Ancient rome, Republic, Emperor, Political Transition, Imperialism, Governance

Amanishakheto, queen of Kush (Nubia)

Tags: Kush, Queen, Monarchy, African History, Governance

The rule of Emperor Augustus is renewed for a ten-year period.

Tags: Roman Empire, Augustus, Emperor, Imperial Rule, Leadership, Ancient rome

Cleopatra Selene II, Egyptian ruler of Cyrenaica and Libya (b. 40 BC)

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient greece, Succession, Political Control

Emperor Augustus initiates his third census of the Roman Empire after 20 years.

Tags: Roman Empire, Augustus, Census, Governance, Administration, Taxation, Population, Ancient rome, Political History

Augustus' third (and final) 20-year census of the Roman Empire reports a total of 4,973,000 citizens.

Tags: Roman Empire, Census, Augustus, Governance, Population, Ancient rome, Administration, Citizenship

September 18 – Tiberius succeeds his stepfather Augustus as Roman emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Emperor, Tiberius, Augustus, Succession

The Hellenistic period ends, according to some scholars (usual date 31 BC).

Tags: Ancient greece, Seleucid Empire, Ancient rome, Roman Empire, Political Transition, Cultural Influence

Natakamani, King of Kush, r. (1 BC – AD 20)

Tags: Kush, Pharaoh, Napatan Period, Succession, Political History

The Masinissa line of the rulers of Carthage ends.

Tags: Ancient rome, Carthage, Punic Wars, Dynasty, Succession

Amanitore, Nubian Queen Regnant of the Kushitic Kingdom of Meroë

Tags: African Kingdoms, Political Leadership

Juba II, king of Mauretania (b. c. 50 BC)

Tags: Ancient rome, Roman Empire, Client Kingdom, Governance, Roman Influence, Imperialism

Noricum and Mauretania are incorporated into the Roman Empire.

Tags: Roman Empire, Expansion, Imperialism, Annexation, Province, Political History, Ancient rome

The territories of the current Algeria and Morocco become a Roman province.

Tags: Roman Empire, Province, Ancient rome, Imperialism, Political Control

Mauretania becomes a Roman province.

Tags: Roman Empire, Province, Imperialism, Ancient rome, Claudius, Annexation, Military

Ptolemy of Mauretania, Roman client king (executed by Caligula)

Tags: Roman Empire, Client Kingdom, Caligula, Execution, Imperial Politics, Roman Emperors, Political Intrigue

Under Nero, Rome annexes Aden to protect the maritime route between Alexandria and Asia.

Tags: Roman Empire, Nero, Annexation, Colonialism, Trade Routes, Maritime Trade, Imperialism, Ancient rome

Vitellius is (possibly) proconsul of the province of Africa.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Vitellius, Governorship

Vespasian becomes governor of Africa (estimated year).

Tags: Roman Empire, Governance, Provincial Administration, Military Command, Vespasian, Imperial Expansion

July 1 – two legions in Egypt, a legion in Syria, and a legion in Judea declare Vespasian emperor

Tags: Roman Empire, Vespasian, Emperor, Civil War, Ancient rome, Military, Succession

July 1 – Tiberius Julius Alexander orders his legions in Alexandria to swear allegiance to Vespasian as emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Civil War, Vespasian, Ancient rome, Succession, Military

Servius Sulpicius Galba, Roman emperor (b. 3 BC)

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Civil War, Assassination, Ancient rome, Galba, Military

Emperor Vespasian and his son Caesar Vespasian (the future Emperor Titus) become Roman consuls.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Vespasian, Titus, Political Office, 70s AD

Ze-Hakèlé (Zoskales in Greek) becomes king of Aksum.

Tags: Monarchy, Political Leadership, Governance

Vespasian and Titus are Roman Consuls.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Vespasian, Titus, Imperial Administration, 70s AD, Roman Government

Domitian became emperor on September 14, solidifying the monarchy and shocking the aristocracy by taking the title "Dominus." His reign saw increased ...

Tags: Roman Empire, Domitian, Emperor, Monarchy, Ancient rome, Romanization, Provinces, Imperialism

Emperor Domitian recalls Agricola back to Rome, where he is rewarded with a triumph and the governorship of the Roman province of Africa, but he decli...

Tags: Roman Empire, Domitian, Agricola, Governorship, Military, Triumph, Imperial Power

The Roman Julius Maternus explores western Africa (approximate date).

Tags: Roman Empire, Exploration, Trade, Geography

The Roman colony of Cuicul is started in Numidia.

Tags: Roman Empire, Colony, Romanization, Imperialism, Ancient rome, City Planning

Upon Nerva's death in January 98 AD, Trajan, the first non-Italian emperor, ascended the throne, immediately restoring the Senate's power, establishin...

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Succession, Governance, Expansion, Ancient rome, Trajan

Nerva, Roman Emperor (AD 96–98)

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Nerva, Ancient rome, Imperialism, Governance, Roman Emperors, Pax Romana

– 192: Reign of Commodus, Roman emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Ancient rome, Imperial Rule, Antiquity, Roman Emperors

Year of the Five Emperors of Rome: Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus and Septimius Severus.

Tags: Roman Empire, Civil War, Imperial Crisis, Emperor, Succession, Political Instability, Power Struggle, Ancient rome

– 211: Reign of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus.

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Civil War, Ancient rome, Military, Imperial Rule

217: Caracalla, Roman Emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Ancient rome, Succession, Military, Government

284: Crisis of the Third Century shook the Roman Empire.

Tags: Roman Empire, Political Instability, Civil War, Emperor, Succession, Military, Barbarian Invasions, Decline

305: Diocletian, Roman Emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Tetrarchy, Imperial Rule, Governance

Roman emperor Theodosius I dies, causing the Roman Empire to split permanently.

Tags: Roman Empire, Succession, Western Roman Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, Emperor, Governance

Justinian I succeeds Justin I as Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Tags: Byzantine Empire, Roman Empire, Emperor, Eastern Roman Empire, Justinian I, Succession, Imperial Rule

Heraclius arrives by ship from Roman Carthage at Constantinople, overthrows Eastern Roman Emperor Phocas and becomes Emperor. His first major act is ...

Tags: Byzantine Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, Emperor, Coup, Political Transition, 600s

661: The First Fitna occurs.

Tags: Islamic History, Caliphate, Civil War, Rashidun Caliphate, Umayyad Dynasty, Sunni Islam, Shia Islam, Political Instability

Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib is assassinated. His successor Hasan ibn Ali abdicated the Caliphate to Muawiyah I, marking the beginning of the Umayyad Cali...

Tags: Islamic History, Caliphate, Umayyad Dynasty, Shia Islam, Sunni Islam, Succession, Civil War, Political Assassination

685: The Second Fitna.

Tags: Islam, Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Civil War, Political Instability, Religious Conflict, Sunni Islam, Shia Islam

Death of Arab caliph Abd al-Malik, his succession by his nominated heir and elder son al-Walid.

Tags: Umayyad Caliphate, Caliph, Succession, Dynasty, Political History, Middle Ages, Early Islam

Death of al-Walid I and he was succeeded by his brother Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik.

Tags: Umayyad Caliphate, Succession, Islamic History, Caliph, Political Transition

Death of caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik and his succession by his cousin and nominated heir Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz.

Tags: Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Succession, Islamic History, Political Leadership, Middle Ages, Religious Law

Death of caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz and succession of his cousin Yazid II on 4 February 720.

Tags: Caliphate, Umayyad Dynasty, Succession, Islamic History, Political Transition, Religious Leadership, Governance

Death of caliph Yazid II and he was succeeded by his brother and nominated heir Hisham.

Tags: Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Succession, Islamic History, Political Transition, Early Islam, Middle Ages

Death of Arab caliph Hisham and succession of his nephew and heir Al-Walid II.

Tags: Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Succession, Political Transition, Islamic History, Middle Ages, Dynastic Politics

Assassination of Al-Walid II, Succession of Yazid III to the Caliphal throne on 17 April 744.

Tags: Caliphate, Umayyad Dynasty, Succession, Islamic History, Political Instability, Civil War, Leadership Change, Assassination

Death of Yazid III and his succession by his brother and nominated heir Ibrahim ibn al-Walid. On 4 December Ibrahim was forced to Abdicate in favour M...

Tags: Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Succession, Civil War, Islamic History, Political Instability, Middle Ages

The last Umayyad Caliph Marwan II (744–750) is overthrown and executed by the first Abbasid Caliph, Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah. The Caliphate is moved to...

Tags: Caliphate, Islamic History, Umayyad Dynasty, Political Transition, Middle Ages, Islamic Golden Age

Death of Abbasid caliph al-Saffah and ascension of caliph al-Mansur to Arab Caliphate.

Tags: Caliphate, Abbasid Caliphate, Islamic History, Succession, Political Transition, Middle Ages, Islam, Dynastic Change

Death of Abbasid caliph al-Mahdi and succession of al-Hadi on 24 July 785. The Tang dynasty begins landing regular maritime missions on the coast of E...

Tags: Abbasid Caliphate, Tang Dynasty, Succession, Maritime Trade, Political Transition, Diplomacy, Economy

909: Rule of Aghlabids as an autonomous province of Caliphate in North Africa, with their capital at Tunis.

Tags: Islamic World, Caliphate, Dynasty, Political History, Governance, Middle Ages

Beginning of the ancient West African state of Takrur or Tekrour, which flourished roughly parallel to the Ghana Empire.

Tags: Kingdom, Political Formation, Empire, Trade, Early States

The Ghana (Wagadu) Empire is established.

Tags: Empire, Middle Ages, Monarchy, Political Development, Trade, Governance, Sahel

Ahmad ibn Tulun breaks away from the Abbasid Caliphate and establishes the independent Tulunid dynasty.

Tags: Dynasty, Caliphate, Abbasid Caliphate, Independence, Military, Political Fragmentation, Middle Ages, Islamic World

c. 909: The Fatimid Caliphate arises in Kabylie, Kutama Tribe.

Tags: Caliphate, Islam, Political History, Shia Islam

c. 948: The Nri Kingdom in what is now Southeastern Nigeria starts.

Tags: Kingdom, Political Organization, Pre-Colonial Africa, Monarchy, African History

Cairo is founded near Fustat by the Fatimid dynasty.

Tags: Fatimid Caliphate, Islamic History, Middle Ages, City Founding, Political History, Dynasties

the Kingdom of Nri of West Africa is said to have started in this year with Eze Nri Ìfikuánim

Tags: Monarchy, Middle Ages, Political Formation, Pre-Colonial Africa

The Zirids, a Berber dynasty of North Africa, break their allegiance with the Fatimid court of Egypt and recognize the Abbasids of Baghdad as the true...

Tags: Berber, Dynasty, Caliphate, Islam, Religious Authority

A new Berber dynasty, the Almohads, led by Emir Abd al-Mu'min, takes North Africa from the Almoravides and soon invades the Iberian Peninsula. The Alm...

Tags: Islam, Religious Movements, Conquest, Middle Ages

Saladin deposes the last Fatimid Caliph Al-'Āḍid and establishes the Ayyubid dynasty.

Tags: Saladin, Ayyubid Dynasty, Fatimid Caliphate, Caliphate, Political Transition, Islamic History, Middle Ages

The Mandinka kingdoms unite to form the Mali Empire which leads to the downfall of Sosso in the 1230s.

Tags: Empire Building, Mali Empire, Political Consolidation, Military Conflict, Monarchy

The Mamluk dynasty is founded in Egypt.

Tags: Mamluks, Dynasty, Islamic World, Military, Slavery, Ayyubid Dynasty

The Zagwe dynasty is displaced by the Solomonic dynasty.

Tags: Dynasty, Political Transition, Middle Ages, Monarchy, Ethiopian History, Succession

Barquq rise to power to start the Burji dynasty, the Circassian Mamuluk Dynasty in Egypt.

Tags: Mamluks, Dynasty, Sultanate, Political Power, Middle Ages, Military

The settlement of the Canary Islands signals the beginning of the Spanish Empire.

Tags: Spanish Empire, Colonialism, Territorial Expansion, Castile, Indigenous Peoples, Conquest

In Sub-saharan Africa the Ife Empire has collapsed.

Tags: African History, Pre-Colonial Africa, Empire, Political Collapse, Nigeria

Oba Ewuare comes to power in the West African city of Benin, and turns it into an empire.

Tags: Empire Building, Political Consolidation, African History, Expansion

The 1465 Moroccan revolt ends in the murder of the last Marinid Sultan of Morocco Abd al-Haqq II.

Tags: Sultanate, Rebellion, Political Instability, Maghreb

Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya becomes the first Wattasid Sultan of Morocco.

Tags: Sultanate, Political History, Middle Ages, Maghreb, Dynasty, Islam

Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão becomes the first European to enter the Congo.

Tags: Age of Exploration, Portuguese Empire, Colonialism, Atlantic Slave Trade, Maritime History

Following Sunni Ali Ber's death, Mamadou Toure seized the throne in 1493, becoming Askia Muhammad and expanding Songhai into the largest empire in Wes...

Tags: Songhai Empire, Succession, Political Upheaval, Monarchy, Empire Building, Decline

Foundation of the Sultanate of Sennar by Amara Dunqas, in what is modern Sudan

Tags: Sultanate, African History, Kingdom, Middle Ages, Nile Valley, Political Formation

The first European diplomatic mission to Ethiopia, sent by the Portuguese, arrives at Massawa 9 April, and reaches the imperial encampment of Emperor ...

Tags: Diplomacy, Exploration, Portuguese Empire, Ethiopian Empire, Foreign Relations

Emperor Fasilides founds the city of Gondar, which becomes the capital of Ethiopia for the next two centuries.

Tags: Capital City, Imperial History, Monarchy, Political Development

Ashanti Empire is formed under Osei Kofi Tutu I.

Tags: Empire, Kingdom, Political Formation, Centralization

The Fulani nomads take complete control of Futa Jallon and set up the first of many Fulani jihad states to come.

Tags: Fulani, Jihad, State Formation, Political Islam, Religious Conflict, Nomadic Peoples

Spain acquires its first permanent holding in Africa from the Portuguese, which is administered by the newly-established La Plata Viceroyalty.

Tags: Colonialism, Imperialism, Spanish Empire, Portuguese Empire, Territorial Acquisition, Political Administration

The Tuareg occupy Timbuktu until the 19th century.

Tags: Timbuktu, Political Control, Pre-Colonial Africa, City-State, Governance

1805–1848: Muhammad Ali modernizes Egypt.

Tags: Modernization, Ottoman Empire, Muhammad Ali, Political Reform, Military Reform, Nation Building, Imperialism

Cape Colony becomes part of the British Empire.

Tags: British Empire, Colonialism, Expansionism, Imperialism, Napoleonic Wars, Cape Colony, Political Control

Sierra Leone becomes British colony.

Tags: Colonialism, British Empire, Imperialism, Political History, Atlantic Slave Trade, Slavery, Governance, Sierra Leone

1816–1828: Shaka's Zulu Kingdom becomes the largest in Southern Africa.

Tags: African History, Monarchy, Military Expansion, Political Development

Napoleon Bonaparte dies in exile on the island of Saint Helena.

Tags: Napoleon Bonaparte, Exile, French Empire, European History, Leadership, Legacy

Slavery Abolition Act 1833 bans slavery throughout the British Empire; owners are reimbursed.

Tags: Abolitionism, Slavery, British Empire, Colonialism, Human Rights, Legislation, Social Reform, Economic Impact

1884–1885: The Berlin Conference signals the start of the European "scramble for Africa".

Tags: Imperialism, Colonialism, Scramble for Africa, European Expansion, Diplomacy, International Relations, Otto von Bismarck

Germany gains control of Cameroon.

Tags: Colonialism, Imperialism, Scramble for Africa, German Empire, Protectorate, Expansionism, European Powers

King Leopold II of Belgium establishes the Congo Free State as a personal fiefdom.

Tags: Colonialism, Imperialism, Scramble for Africa, Exploitation, Human Rights

Britain establishes a protectorate over Bechuanaland (modern Botswana).

Tags: Colonialism, British Empire, Protectorate, Imperialism, Diplomacy, Territorial Expansion

Italy annexes Eritrea.

Tags: Colonialism, Imperialism, Scramble for Africa, Italian Empire, Annexation, European Powers

March 31: The First Moroccan Crisis begins, going until April 1906.

Tags: Imperialism, Colonialism, Diplomacy, International Relations, Pre-World War I, Entente Cordiale, Scramble for Africa

May 31: Union of South Africa is created.

Tags: Colonialism, Apartheid, British Empire, South African History, Political Union, Self-governance

April – November: Agadir Crisis.

Tags: Imperialism, Colonialism, Diplomacy, Weltpolitik, Entente Cordiale, Arms Race, Pre-World War I

February 8: The African National Congress is founded.

Tags: Political Organization, Anti-Apartheid Movement, Nationalism, Civil Rights, Activism, Nelson Mandela, African Politics

March 30: Morocco becomes a protectorate of France.

Tags: Colonialism, Imperialism, Protectorate, French Empire, Diplomacy, Geopolitics

December 19: The United Kingdom establishes the Sultanate of Egypt as a protectorate.

Tags: British Empire, Imperialism, Protectorate, Colonialism, World War I

July: The 1919 Egyptian revolution erupts.

Tags: Anti-Colonialism, Nationalism, British Empire, Independence Movements

February 28: Egypt gains independence from the United Kingdom, though British forces still occupy the Suez Canal.

Tags: Independence, Decolonization, British Empire, Nationalism, Suez Canal, Political Transition, Mandate System, Interwar Period

April 2: Haile Selassie becomes Emperor of Abyssinia.

Tags: Monarchy, Emperor, African History, Imperialism, Coronation

December 11: Statute of Westminster creates the British Commonwealth of Nations. Independence of South Africa.

Tags: Decolonization, Commonwealth, British Empire, Independence, Self-governance, International Relations, Diplomacy, Imperialism

Independence of South Africa.

Tags: Independence, Decolonization, British Empire, Commonwealth, Imperialism, Nationalism, South African History

Beginning of apartheid in South Africa.

Tags: Apartheid, Human Rights, Discrimination, Legislation, Colonialism

July 23: Egyptian Revolution under Gamal Abdel Nasser overthrows King Farouk and ends British occupation.

Tags: Revolution, Cold War, Nationalism, Decolonization, British Empire, Monarchy, Political Change

April 18 – 24: Bandung Conference.

Tags: Decolonization, Cold War, International Relations, Diplomacy, Post-Colonialism

January 1: Independence of Sudan from Britain.

Tags: Decolonization, Independence Movements, British Empire, Post-Colonialism, Self-determination, Political Transition, Nationalism

March 7: The United States recognises Morocco's independence from France

Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Foreign Relations, Cold War, Post-Colonialism, Diplomacy

October 29 – November 7: Nasser's nationalisation of the Suez Canal triggers the Suez crisis.

Tags: Cold War, Nationalization, Decolonization, Middle East Conflict, Suez Canal, International Relations, Imperialism, United Nations

March 6: Independence of Ghana from Britain.

Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Post-Colonialism, British Empire, Nationalism, Self-determination, Cold War

October 2: Guinea gains independence from France.

Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Post-Colonialism, French Empire, Political Transition, Nationalism, Cold War, Pan-Africanism

March 21: The Sharpeville Massacre, in which the police opened fire against a protesting crowd at a police station in the South African township of Sh...

Tags: Apartheid, Human Rights, Protest, Police Brutality, Anti-Apartheid Movement, Massacre

Year of Africa: Independence of 17 African nations.

Tags: Decolonization, Independence Movements, Cold War, Pan-Africanism, Post-Colonialism, Nationalism, Political Transition, Self-determination, African History

January 17: The assassination of Patrice Lumumba begins the Congo Crisis.

Tags: Cold War, Decolonization, African History, Political Assassination, Proxy War, United Nations

March 19: The Algerian War ends with the independence of Algeria.

Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Nationalism, Cold War, Post-Colonialism, Charles de Gaulle

December 10 – 12: Independence of Kenya and Zanzibar and creation of Malaysia.

Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Post-Colonialism, Nationalism, British Empire, Cold War, Kenya, Malaysia, Self-determination

January 12: Zanzibar Revolution overthrows Afro Shiraz ruling class; Zanzibar merges with Tanganyika to form Tanzania.

Tags: Decolonization, Revolution, Pan-Africanism, Political Instability, Post-colonial Africa

July 6: Independence of Malawi.

Tags: Independence, Decolonization, African History, Post-Colonialism, Nationalism, British Empire, Cold War

November 24 – 25: Congo Crisis ends; Joseph Mobutu becomes dictator of the Congo.

Tags: Cold War, Dictatorship, Military Coup, Zaire, Post-Colonialism, African Politics, Political Instability, Authoritarianism

September 30: Independence of Botswana.

Tags: Independence, Decolonization, African History, Post-Colonialism, Commonwealth, Self-determination

September 6: Swaziland gains independence from Great Britain

Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Post-Colonialism, British Empire, Self-determination, Sovereignty

September 1: Muammar Gaddafi overthrows King Idris of Libya in a Coup d'état and establishes the Libyan Arab Republic.

Tags: Coup d'état, Revolution, Dictatorship, Pan-Arabism, Cold War, Muammar Gaddafi, Post-Colonialism, Political Transition

October 15: Anwar Sadat becomes President of Egypt.

Tags: Leadership, President, Cold War, Arab World

January 25: Idi Amin seizes power in Uganda.

Tags: Military Coup, Dictatorship, Cold War, Idi Amin, Political Instability, Post-Colonialism, Uganda

October 27: Joseph Mobutu renames The Republic of the Congo Zaire.

Tags: Decolonization, Dictatorship, Cold War, African History, Post-Colonialism, Mobutu Sese Seko, Nationalism, Political Transition, Zaire

June 27: Djibouti gains independence from France.

Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Nationalism, French Empire, Self-determination, Cold War

April 18: Independence of Rhodesia, which becomes Zimbabwe.

Tags: Independence, Decolonization, Post-Colonialism, Nationalism, Robert Mugabe

October 6: Assassination of Anwar Sadat.

Tags: Assassination, Anwar Sadat, Arab-Israeli Conflict, Islamist Extremism, Cold War

October 19: Samora Machel, the first President of Mozambique, dies in a plane crash.

Tags: Cold War, Decolonization, Plane Crash, Presidency, Apartheid

November 15: Israeli–Palestinian conflict; beginning with the independent State of Palestine being proclaimed from Algiers.

Tags: Self-determination, PLO, Sovereignty, Independence

February 11: Nelson Mandela is released from Victor Verster Prison outside Cape Town, South Africa after 27 years as a political prisoner.

Tags: Apartheid, Nelson Mandela, Anti-Apartheid Movement, Civil Rights, Human Rights, Post-Apartheid

December 26: Dissolution of the Soviet Union and independence of 15 former Soviet republics. Beginning of the Algerian Civil War.

Tags: Cold War, Soviet Union, Independence, Geopolitics, Civil War, Decolonization, Vladimir Putin

May 24: Independence of Eritrea.

Tags: Independence, Decolonization, African History, Self-determination, Nationalism, Border Disputes

May 10: End of apartheid in South Africa and election of Nelson Mandela.

Tags: Apartheid, Nelson Mandela, Anti-Apartheid Movement, Democracy, Civil Rights, Post-Colonialism, Human Rights

May 17: Kabila ousts Mobutu; Zaire becomes the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Tags: Political Transition, Civil War, African History, Post-Colonialism, Dictatorship, Regime Change, Cold War Aftermath, Mobutu Sese Seko

July 9: The African Union is founded.

Tags: African Union, Pan-Africanism, Political Organization, Regional Cooperation, International Relations

January 16: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf becomes President of Liberia, and thus Africa's first elected female head of state.

Tags: Liberia, Presidential Elections, Democracy, African Politics, Women's Rights

Crisis follows the Kenyan presidential election of 2007, leading to the formation of a coalition government.

Tags: Election, Political Crisis, Violence, Coalition Government, Ethnic Conflict, Human Rights, Post-Colonialism

Arab Spring starts.

Tags: Political Protest, Revolution, Democracy, Authoritarianism, Human Rights, Social Media, Civil Unrest, Geopolitics, Political Islam

July 9: Independence of South Sudan.

Tags: Independence, Self-determination, Post-Colonialism, Civil War, African Politics, Nation-building, Diplomacy

Arab Spring: revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya follow, as well as uprisings in Yemen and Bahrain, and protests in several other Arab countries.

Tags: Political Revolution, Democracy, Authoritarianism, Protests, Civil Unrest, Geopolitics, Arab World, Dictatorship, Social Media, Human Rights

July 3: President of Egypt Mohamed Morsi is deposed by the military in a coup d'état.

Tags: Coup d'état, Military, Political Instability, Arab Spring, Democracy, Authoritarianism

Robert Mugabe is ousted in a coup d'état.

Tags: Coup d'état, Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, Dictatorship, Post-Colonialism, Political Transition, Military Intervention

Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigns as President of Algeria, while Omar al-Bashir is deposed as President of Sudan in a coup d'état amid widespread protests ...

Tags: Political Instability, Protests, Dictatorship, Authoritarianism, Coup d'état, Presidential Resignation, Arab Spring, Human Rights

More than a hundred people are killed after police and Janjaweed attack protesters in Sudan.

Tags: Protests, Political Violence, Human Rights, Authoritarianism, Police Brutality, Civil Unrest

February 22: Luca Attanasio, the Italian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is murdered near Goma.

Tags: Diplomacy, Assassination, Political Violence, International Relations

Coups d'état occur in Myanmar, Mali and Guinea.

Tags: Coup d'état, Military, Authoritarianism, Political Instability, Armed Forces, Governance

January – September: Coups d'état in Burkina Faso.

Tags: Coup d'état, Military, Political Instability, Government, Political Crisis, Governance

November 24: Somalia admitted to East African Community.

Tags: Somalia, International Relations, Political Cooperation, Economic Development, African Union, Diplomacy

May 29: African National Congress loses parliamentary majority for first time since end of Apartheid in South African general election

Tags: Apartheid, Elections, Democracy, Political Transition, Post-Apartheid, Political Parties, Government

Sudanese transition to democracy

Tags: Democracy, Political Reform, Human Rights, Civil Society, Governance, Elections, Political Instability