Learn the countries of Africa in 1500
The plan: 7 batches of five
How the pieces are shared out, five at a time and by area of the map (in brackets, the capital when its name differs). Each batch starts next to the last one.
- Batch 1: Portuguese Atlantic islands (Ribeira Grande (Cidade Velha)), Jolof Empire (Linguère), Mali Empire (in decline) (Kangaba), Peoples of the Upper Guinea coast (Sapi, Kru, Mande) (No capital), Mossi kingdoms (Ouagadougou)
- Batch 2: Songhai Empire (Gao), Hausa city-states (Kano), Yoruba kingdoms (Oyo and Ife) (Ife), Akan states and Ewe peoples (No capital), Kingdom of Benin (Benin City)
- Batch 3: Igbo, Nupe and other peoples of the Niger–Benue (No capital), Kanem–Bornu Empire (Ngazargamu), Sultanate of Agadez (Aïr) (Agadez), Peoples of the equatorial forest (Fang, Tikar, Bantu) (No capital), Kingdom of Loango (Loango)
- Batch 4: Saharan peoples (Tuareg, Tubu, Moors) (No capital), Zayyanid Kingdom of Tlemcen (Tlemcen), Hafsid Sultanate (Tunis), Wattasid Sultanate of Morocco (Fez), Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt (Cairo)
- Batch 5: Kingdom of Alodia (Nubia) (Soba), Nilotic peoples (Shilluk, Dinka, Nuer) (No capital), Ethiopian Empire (No fixed capital (itinerant court)), Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom (No capital), Adal Sultanate (Dakkar)
- Batch 6: Ajuran Sultanate (Mogadishu), Swahili city-states (Kilwa, Mombasa, Malindi) (Kilwa Kisiwani), Bantu peoples of the interior (Maravi, Bemba, Kikuyu…) (No capital), Great Lakes kingdoms (Rwanda, Burundi) (No capital), Peoples of the Congo basin (Luba and others) (No capital)
- Batch 7: Madagascar (chiefdoms and kingdoms) (No capital), Mutapa Empire (No fixed capital (itinerant court)), Peoples of the south (Khoisan, Nguni, Herero) (No capital), Kingdom of Kongo (Mbanza Kongo)
Learn the countries of Africa in 1500 at your own pace: we show you 34 pieces five at a time, each named on the map, and you go over the ones you miss until you know them. Free, no sign-up.
Test yourself
What is the easiest way to learn the countries of Africa in 1500?
By area and in small groups: learn five neighbouring pieces, find them on the map with no rush, and go over the ones you miss a little later, then the next day. Reviewing just before you would forget is what makes them stick.
How long does it take to learn the countries of Africa in 1500?
There are 34 pieces in 7 batches of five: about a minute per batch to see them all, then short reviews over a few days so you don't forget them.