When it comes to ancient civilizations, most people immediately think of Ancient Egypt or Ancient China. However, Africa also harbors many ancient civilizations that perhaps we have never heard of.
Top 5 Ancient Civilizations in Africa That Not Everyone Knows
The Kingdom of Punt
Long before Ancient Egypt, the Kingdom of Punt is believed to have existed. Dating back at least 3000 BCE and originating from the region near present-day Somalia, Punt was known as “the land of the gods” to the ancient Egyptians, according to the Encyclopedia of Ancient History.
Punt was the homeland of several key incense types used in all kinds of Egyptian rituals.
Not only were gods and goddesses like Hathor believed to come from this incredibly wealthy and fertile kingdom, but all types of valuable trade goods also originated there. According to Ancient Origins, a significant trade expedition led by Pharaoh Hatshepsut ventured to Punt and returned with a multitude of spices and live plants, as well as gold, leopard skins, and even a few live elephants.
From what we can gather from Egyptian historical records, Punt was the source of several essential incense types used in all Egyptian ceremonies. Many large expeditions would regularly transport Egyptian goods like tools and wood to Punt, returning with precious luxury items.
However, to this day, scholars have yet to definitively determine the location of the Kingdom of Punt… as historical records and pharaohs kept that a secret.
The Kingdom of Yam
Yam was extremely wealthy, supplying ivory, ebony wood, and furs to neighboring regions.
Historians are still uncertain whether Yam truly existed, as no physical traces of this civilization have yet been discovered. Historical records date it back to around 2500 BCE. Yam is mentioned in several tomb texts of ancient Egyptians and is associated with the Nubian-Kushite empire. According to David O’Connor, if it was real, it could be located somewhere in present-day Chad or Sudan, and scholars suggest it lay south of modern Egypt.
From inscriptions dated to 2200 BCE found in the tomb of Harkhuf, a governor of Upper Egypt, we know that Yam had significant potential—enough to pose a threat to Egypt, prompting Harkhuf to undertake expeditions to determine whether to engage in warfare or trade with this kingdom. Like the Kingdom of Punt, Yam was exceedingly wealthy, offering ivory, ebony wood, and furs to nearby regions.
The Kingdom of Aksum
The Kingdom of Aksum thrived from 100 to 940 AD.
Entering the Common Era, the great civilizations of Africa continued to maintain their global reputation as immensely wealthy trade empires. Aksum thrived from 100 to 940 AD and was a hub connecting major trade routes in Africa and the Middle East. If you wanted to transport goods between these two regions, you had to pass through this kingdom (located in what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea).
Rome, the Byzantine Empire, Indian trade barons, and Arab caravans—all conducted business with Aksum. At the peak of its civilization in the third and fourth centuries, Aksum was considered one of the four great empires of the world. Although historical records suggest that this kingdom developed its own script, known as Ge’ez, archaeologists have yet to discover any remaining records from the Aksumite period.
The Ghana Empire
The ancient Ghana Empire is not geographically linked to modern Ghana.
The ancient Ghana Empire, known to locals as Wagadu, is not geographically connected to modern Ghana—it was actually located near present-day Mauritania and Mali. This empire flourished from around 500 to 1200 AD.
Wagadu was referred to as the “land of gold” by Arab and European traders in the past, according to the Encyclopedia of Ancient History. The kings of Wagadu controlled all gold mining and processing in the region.
Historical records indicate that Arab traders were particularly impressed by the wealth of this empire when they saw the quantity of silver and gold jewelry worn by the populace. Even the king’s dogs were adorned with gold collars.
However, gold was not the only factor that made Wagadu famous. Its capital, Koumbi Saleh, housed 20,000 people despite being on the edge of the Sahara Desert. It is believed that the people of Wagadu had advanced irrigation and agricultural techniques that allowed them to prosper in such a harsh climate.
The Benin Empire
The Benin Empire in West Africa was a center of art and culture in the region.
Much of what Westerners know about Africa’s past is based on the transatlantic slave trade. This horrific practice allowed vast empires in Europe to conduct business without local labor. However, it also enabled African kingdoms to grow and expand, as recognized during Black History Month, with many African nations supplementing their economies through the slave trade—they expanded by conquering neighboring territories to capture individuals to sell to other African, Arab, and European nations, as noted by Dr. Sandra Greene from Cornell University.
The Benin Empire in West Africa was a center of art and culture in the region and also an infamous slave trading nation. They built their influence and wealth from the 1200s to 1897 by selling anything—or anyone—they acquired.
