Takrur: Map & History
Takrur, Tekrur, or Tekrour was a state based in the Senegal River in modern-day Senegal which was at its height in the 11th and 12th centuries, roughly parallel to the Ghana Empire.
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Takrur, Tekrur, or Tekrour was a state based in the Senegal River in modern-day Senegal which was at its height in the 11th and 12th centuries, roughly parallel to the Ghana Empire. It lasted in some form into the 18th century.
Modern Countries Once Part of Takrur
At its mapped extent, Takrur covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Takrur's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Takrur in Depth
History
There are a number of conflicting theories about the deep past of the Senegal River valley, where the Kingdom of Takrur would take root. The formation of the state may have taken place as an influx of Fulani from the east settled in the Senegal valley. John Donnelly Fage suggests that Takrur was formed through the interaction of Berbers from the Sahara and "Negro agricultural peoples" who were "essentially Serer". The outsiders may, however, have been Soninke rather than Berber, and the native population may have already spoken Fula. Regardless, the region has been an ethnic melting pot from the earliest traceable periods up to the present, although Fula have come to dominate in more recent centuries.
Historian Andrew Clark writes that the state may have been founded as early as 100 CE.
Economy
Takrur was a trading centre, where gold from the Bambuk region, salt from the Awlil, and Sahel grain were exchanged for wool, copper, beads, and jewelry. The kingdom's cotton cloth was among its most renowned exports.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Takrur (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Takrur: Key Facts
| Capital | Morfil |
|---|---|
| Religion | Islam |
| Dissolved | 1285 |
Facts from Wikidata Q2272880 (CC0).
Takrur Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Takrur appears, with the other states of the time.
Takrur Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 74,469 km² in 1097 CE.
Takrur: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Takrur exist?
Takrur is dated to 1040 CE – 1235 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Takrur?
The capital of Takrur was Tumbere Jiinge (Dya'ogo, Manna dynasties), Taaga (Laam Taga), Hoorewendu (Laam Termess).
How large was Takrur at its peak?
At its peak in 1097 AD Takrur covered about 74,469 km².
How did the map of Takrur change over time?
Takrur appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1100 CE to 1200 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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