African History: Did you mean...?

On the eve of the American Revolution (1765-1789), the Thirteen Colonies had a population of roughly 2.1 million people. Around 500,000 of these were African Americans, of whom approximately 450,000 were enslaved. Comprising such a large...

This collection presents a small sampling of the many great African kingdoms that rose and fell from the ancient period when Punt traded with Egypt up through the common era. Each kingdom developed a distinct culture and corresponding art...

African slave life in Colonial British America was far worse than slavery practiced in the Americas prior to the arrival of Europeans. The indigenous tribes took people as slaves in raids, enslaved those convicted of crimes, and traded slaves...

In this gallery, we look at striking examples of art from across the African continent. In gold, stone and metals, ancient and medieval African artists have not only given us unique pieces of art to admire but their works are also an insight...

A map indicating the major ancient and medieval states in sub-Saharan Africa. Areas and dates relate to a state at its peak. In addition, shaded areas are approximate indicators only. For the majority of the states, their precise borders...

This marble sculpture from Rome, Italy dates to sometime between the 1st Century BCE and the 1st Century CE. It portrays a young male Aethiopian, or black African, acrobat balancing on a crocodile. (British Museum, London)

A July 1941 photograph showing a South African desert patrol in North Africa during the Western Desert Campaigns of the Second World War (1939-45). (Imperial War Museums)

A handled flask depicting a crouching African. Roman period, probably made in Campania (in modern-day Italy) in the 1st century CE. (The British Museum, London).

South African troops training looking for enemy mines during the Western Desert Campaigns (June 1940 to January 1943) in North Africa. (Imperial War Museums)

This figure was made of a slipped and brown pigmented earthenware. It represents a male dancer, possibly an African or Indonesian. It was found in a Chinese tomb. Tang Dynasty, 8th century CE. (The British Museum, London).