Map of Africa in 1500
In 1500 CE the atlas maps 13 states and empires with territory in Africa. The largest by mapped territory was Mamluk Sultanate, at about 1.48M km², followed by Songhai Empire. The map below is set to 1500 CE; the table lists every state shown, with the modern countries its borders covered.
- States Mapped
- 13
- Largest
- 1.48M km²
- Modern Countries Covered
- 29
- Longest Established
- 347–1500 CE
Map of Africa in 1500 CE
Borders are drawn for 1500 CE. Drag the timeline to move to another year.
The Major Powers of 1500 CE
Mamluk Sultanate
1241–1518 CEThe Mamluk Sultanate, also known as Mamluk Egypt or the Mamluk Empire, was a state that ruled Egypt, the Levant and the Hejaz from the mid-13th to early 16th centuries, with Cairo as its capital. It was ruled by a military caste of mamluks headed by a sultan.
Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 1.48M km²
Songhai Empire
1463–1608 CEThe Songhai Empire was a state located in the western part of the Sahel during the 15th and 16th centuries. At its peak, it was one of the largest African empires in history.
Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 629,260 km²
Ethiopian Empire
1272–1935 CEThe Ethiopian Empire, historically known as Abyssinia or simply Ethiopia, was a country that encompassed the present-day territories of Ethiopia and Eritrea. It existed from the establishment of the Solomonic dynasty by Yekuno Amlak around 1270 until the 1974 coup d'état by the Derg, which ended the reign of the final Emperor, Haile Selassie.
Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 392,042 km²
Wattasid dynasty
1468–1555 CEThe Wattasid dynasty was a ruling dynasty of Morocco. Like the Marinid dynasty, its rulers were of Zenata Berber descent.
Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 383,974 km²
The Mali Empire
1236–1611 CEThe Mali Empire was an empire in West Africa from c. 1235 to 1610.
Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 346,027 km²
Hafsid Dynasty
1236–1571 CEThe Hafsid dynasty was a Sunni Muslim dynasty of Berber descent that ruled Ifriqiya from 1229 to 1574. The dynasty was founded by Abu Zakariya Yahya, who was initially appointed governor of the region by the Almohad caliph before declaring his independence.
Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 224,190 km²
Descriptions are the opening of each state's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
States and Empires in 1500 CE
13 mapped, largest territory first. Dates are the span of each state's mapped borders.
| # | State | Mapped area | Dates | Modern countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mamluk Sultanate | 1.48M km² | 1241–1518 CE | Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan and 4 more |
| 2 | Songhai Empire | 629,260 km² | 1463–1608 CE | Mali, Mauritania |
| 3 | Ethiopian Empire | 392,042 km² | 1272–1935 CE | Ethiopia, Eritrea |
| 4 | Wattasid dynasty | 383,974 km² | 1468–1555 CE | Morocco |
| 5 | The Mali Empire | 346,027 km² | 1236–1611 CE | Mali, Senegal, Guinea, Gambia, Guinea Bissau |
| 6 | Hafsid Dynasty | 224,190 km² | 1236–1571 CE | Algeria, Tunisia, Libya |
| 7 | Makuria Kingdom | 212,627 km² | 1415–1518 CE | Sudan |
| 8 | Bornu Empire | 200,964 km² | 1385–1894 CE | Nigeria, Niger |
| 9 | Adal Sultanate | 149,495 km² | 1415–1546 CE | Ethiopia, Djibouti |
| 10 | Kingdom of Kongo | 131,583 km² | 1440–1669 CE | DR Congo, Angola |
| 11 | Zayyanid dynasty | 126,172 km² | 1236–1555 CE | Algeria |
| 12 | Alodia | 123,780 km² | 347–1506 CE | Sudan |
| 13 | Kingdom of Portugal | 113,407 km² | 1147–1911 CE | Morocco, Portugal, Equatorial Guinea, Cape Verde |
1500 CE by Region
1500 CE: Quick Answers
- What empires and states existed in Africa in 1500 CE?
- The atlas maps 13 states in Africa in 1500 CE. The largest by mapped territory were Mamluk Sultanate, Songhai Empire, Ethiopian Empire, Wattasid dynasty, The Mali Empire, Hafsid Dynasty.
- What was the largest empire in Africa in 1500 CE?
- Mamluk Sultanate had the largest mapped territory among states present in Africa in 1500 CE, about 1.48M km², followed by Songhai Empire (629,260 km²). Areas are measured from the mapped borders and are approximate.
- What did the map of Africa look like in 1500?
- In 1500 CE the map of Africa was divided between 13 mapped states and empires. Mamluk Sultanate held the largest territory, followed by Songhai Empire. Their borders covered parts of 29 present-day countries.
- How many states are shown on the map for 1500 CE?
- 13. The map shows the states recorded in the atlas's dated border dataset for that year; states and peoples absent from that dataset are not shown.