.

Sudan, the Maghreb region or in West Africa. The world in 1650 BC with over 100000 inhabitants.
Thebes next in the Indus valley presently West Pakistan, where cities flourished between 2500 and 1500
BC then in the Huang Ho by approximately 3000 BC Egypt was probably the most urbanized country.

Furthermore part of the fourth millennium BC in the Mesopotamia valley.

valley (Yellow River); and later among the Maya in the largest city in the world until 668 BC. In 1160 BC
the tained urban developments on a major scale as in Egypt and It is estimated that urbanization in
Africa began in the fourth...

This paper traces urbanisim and the manner in which it evolved during the pre-colonial period. The
other scattered precolonial urban evolved in the African continent in precolonial days.

A second city, ...A varis became the largest population centre in

urban conglomerates appeared in three major regions prior to

Menes founded Memphis at the head of the Nile, about Egypt and present-day Sudan many years until
the Christian era. For example, Pharaoh had a population of more than 100000 in 1375 BC and was
millennium, with the earliest Egyptian city appearing between ...thought to have had about 20000
inhabitants in 3200 BC and Thebes estate population totalled 86 486.

More so the inhabitants were attached to the temple. Then, Alexander

the Mediterranean coastline in the Maghreb region of north

only the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, with 8 million Great founded Alexandria, the new
national capital. By 320

Urbanization also occurred along the Middle Nile below as 40 per cent of its residents. (By 1985,
CairoGiza was not opment was on a smaller scale than in Egypt. The earliest agglomeration was greater
than 1,1 million inhabitants and by near the present ruins of Memphis on the west bank. This new
inhabitants, but also the largest population centre in the entire about 1500 There were four early capital
cities that are Napata,

inhabitants in 1340, when it was probably the largest city in

Cairo was founded in 969 AD on the east bank of the Nile, The second major area of urban development
in Africa was on
Mediterranean basin.

However, this early urban development

capital city reached its peak population of about half a million

Nubian kingdom was established in present-day Sudan during 1985 had an estimated 1,5 million
inhabitants. Ulations of 30 000 or more. In recent years Sudan has

814 BC by the Phoenicians and became the dominant city of Meroe, Dongola and Sennar. Meroe and
Dongola had peak

the world. A bubonic plague, which originated in China, 300000 inhabitants. In addition, Carthage in
northwest Africa struck Cairo in 1348 and may have taken the lives of as many Egypt between the first
and sixth cataracts in the region that is Northwest Africa

BC it was probably the largest city in the world, with about experienced rapid urban growth. By 1980 the
Khartoum urban

had a population of more than 100 000 in 340 Bc west Africa, Carthage was founded on the Tunisian
coast in its time in that area. Carthage established an empire, which included most of Tunisia and
existing Phoenician settlements.

Carthage protected its trade routes and maintained effective

Many centuries later, from about 1060 AD, the Berbers 1350, after which Berber political power
declined. control over the entire north African coast, from the Gulf of Berber group, the Merinids,
exercised control until about 100 AD tlements under the urban influence of Carthage. 100000 in 100
AD.8 About a quarter of a million tonnes of ciated with the favourable social and economic conditions.

As a Roman colony, after the fall of Carthage, northwest Carthage established settlements on the
southern coast of lished the vast Almoravid empire, which comprised Morocco, Spain, in Sicily, Sardinia,
Corsica and the Balearic Islands. Morocco, Algeria and western Libya were Carthaginian set was rebuilt
and the population probably reached a peak of grain and large quantities of olive oil were exported to
Rome. The population of Carthage probably reached a peak of extent that it was then considered the
richest city in the world, economic activity and political power. First, they established Greece and also as
a result of its transSaharan trade to the Sidra off the Libyan coast to the Atlantic coast off Morocco,

146 BC.7 Along the coastal areas of present-day Tunisia, by establishing new settlements where
necessary. In addition,

Berber group, the Almohads, ruled until 1250. Then, African prospered for two or three centuries.
Carthage

200 000 in 200 BC before it was destroyed by the Romans in

annually and the growth in population was undoubtedly associated

Carthage prospered as a result of its trade with Rome and Algeria, Tunisia and southern Spain.
Thereafter another were responsible for initiating a 300year period of flourish

Reproduced by Sabine Gateway under license granted by the Publisher(dated2010)

To add Many centuries later, from about 1060 AD, the Berbers Mediterranean region at this time.
Present-day Western Sahara,

exchanged gold, ivory, grain, skins, gum, spices, ostrich

1350, after which Berber political power declined, the north and south changed hands. Sudanese
traders, Berber group, and the Merinids, exercised control until about 300AD. There were a number of
other smaller African cities in textiles. Christian era and the development of indigenous handicraft
industries. Walata and Timbuktu, located in the Niger River north African country that was not included
in one of the two lished the vast Almoravid empire, which comprised Morocco, The West African areas
of Sudan and Guinea comprised

now engaged in a territorial and sovereignty dispute, is the only

ancient urbanized regions.

West Africa the third major region that experienced precolonial urban Africans for salt, dates, horses,
silk, swords, mirrors, beads development. Urbanization occurred mainly as a result of

Berber rule. For example, Fez, with about 200000 inhabi

basin of the Sahel on the edge of the Sahara, grew as commering economic activity and political power.
First, they established

Meknes with a population of 200 000 in 1727. Many urban centres experienced rapid growth during

1170 to 1180. Other North African cities were Marrakesh, long distance trans Saharan trading that
started before the

150000 inhabitants in 1200; Tunis with 65000 inhabitants in 1500; Algiers with 10 000 residents in 1634;
and Berber group, the Almohads, ruled until 1250. Then, a third tants, was probably the largest city in
the world during about commercial centres which started as trading centres where goods from Algeria,
Tunisia and southern Spain. Thereafter another feathers, kola nuts, woven cloth, and slaves with the
North were responsible for initiating a 300year period of flourish Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under
licence granted by the Publisher(dated2010)

In addition the Sudanese-Sahelian kingdoms

and his six sons established seven Hausa states which were
had 60 000 in 1700. Ghana. Then, in the fourteenth century the weakened and area of present-day
Nigeria, in central Sudan, east of the west and somewhat larger empire the Mali empire superseded
Hausa states, with Kano being the most prominent. Kano had between 1050 and 1170 AD. However,
they played a compar were prominent but smaller trading centres in Western Sudan. Kanem on the east
and Bornu on the west side of Lake Chad. doms being the Wagadugu and Yatenga, both founded largely
independent of each other. The ancient walled capital Africans for horses. The small capital of Njimi was
on the

Saleh, Niani and Gao were the capital cities of these three

atively limited role in shaping the great events of the Sudan in

sent-day Mali, was founded during the fifth century AD. Not

cities were well fortified. Kano, Katsina and Zaria were major

in 590 AD. This kingdom controlled the trans-Saharan trade three major empires in western Sudan and
was known as the route to Tripoli, where slaves were exchanged with the north

land of gold because of the Bambuk and Bure goldfields. Its

ters region of the Volta River, below Jenne and Gao, were

inhabited by numerous ethnic groups. The largest and most

Ghana empire during the thirteenth century. A new, vigorous, declining Mali empire was replaced by the
Songhay empire, Ghana, situated between the Senegal and Niger rivers, in prelization which existed at
that time. Berbers from North Africa, during a series of religious wars,

the pre-colonial period. The Songhay kingdom fell to the

ed population of75000 by 1585,12 and Niani had an estimated

ern Sudan kingdoms. In 999 AD, as tradition has it, a father

capital city, Koumbi-Saleh, fell to the Almoravids, who were The region south of the Songhay kingdom,
in the headwa

According to one traditional account, both empires were

Moors of Morocco in 1591, ending the promising local civi

founded by Prince Ibrahim, who was exiled when Sheba fell

Hausaland, was at one time two separate empires, with

respective major kingdoms. Koumbi-Saleh probably had

30000 inhabitants when it was sacked,l1 Gao had an estimat

The Hausa states were located in the northern grassland

an estimated 25000 inhabitants in 1200 and 75000 in 1585.

60000 inhabitants in 1324. I3 Jenne, Timbuktu and Walata

Zaria had an estimated 60000 in 1600, and Katsina probably

and was eventually destroyed in 1076, as was the entire

The kingdom of Kanem-Bornu, in central Sahel east of

which was larger than the Mali empire had been. Koumbi

important were the Mossi, with the two largest Mossi king

to be confused with modem Ghana, it was the earliest of the east of Lake Chad and Ngazargamu, a later
Bornuese capital, had about 60000 inhabitants in 1324. After the demise of these initial urban centres in
West place in the period 16001850 as a result of conflicts, unrest, inhabitants in 1750. part of Western
Nigeria, the Benin to the east of the Yoruba

southeast Nigeria, the AkanAshanti in central Ghana, and the and flourished for varying periods.
However, they did not result lower Guinea before 1400, were the Yorubas in the western

and shifting trade patterns including the slave trade.

Edo City, in the medieval kingdom of Benin, developed ever seemed to reach a population as great as
100 000 in pre Guinea kingdoms

Among the many kingdoms that were established in upper and

colonial days. Wolof in Senegal.

kingdoms were, of course, small urban centres in terms of

city and Katunga, an Oyo capital, had an estimated 75000

somewhat later than the centres in the Yoruba kingdom.

population of about 70000 in 1850, was the dominant Yoruba

were comparatively populous settlements performing trading

Great Zimbabwe, Kilwa and Axum, appeared at different times

od in Nigeria and Ghana west of the Niger River delta (not to be confused with the

modem standards. Although many persisted for years, none

However, handicraft industries were quite highly advanced

and administrative functions for large areas. Ibadan, with a

Other scattered precolonial urban settlements in Africa, such as

However, urbanization took off again during the colonial peri

Other pre-colonial urban areas

presentday Benin Republic), the little Ibo democracies in and differentiated in both areas and workers
became relatively.

The early capital cities of the major Sahel and Guinea coast

Africa in preEuropean days, very little urbanization took prosperous. Along the forested Guinea coast,
Yoruba cities directly in sustained urban development on a marked scale.

Sustained urban developments appeared in three major New York Macmillan, 1961. occurred in a more
modest way in another subSaharan. The vast loosely defined area, comprising the Sudan (Soudan) and
Memoires de l}nstitut Fancais d' Afrique Noire, Dakar: Ifan, 1961 Janet AbuLughod, Cairo: JODi years of
the city victorious, Prince University of Chicago Press, 1906; J Beloch, Die Bevolkerung der urban
developments during the colonial period. It was the

areas of Africa in the pre-colonial period. Since the l870s the

discovery of diamonds and gold in South Africa led to its

present-day Nigeria. University Press, 1975 griechisch·Romischen Welt, Leipzig: Duncker & Humbolt

the forested areas to the south.

G Sjoberg, The preindustrial city, Glencoe, Illinois: The Free Press,

colonies in the colonial period. However, it was not until after

Princeton University Press, 1988.

the Sahel, is that part of Africa lying between the Sahara Desert and J M Abun-Nasr, A History of the
Maghrib, Cambridge: Cambridge R A Mauny, "Tableau Geographique de l'Ouest Africain au Moyen J H
Breasted, Ancient records of Egypt, Volume IV, Chicago: printed in New York, Amo Press, 1979), 1886.

References

Hall,1992.

3 T Chandler, Four thousand years of urban growth, Lewistown,

nineteenth century. In the 50 years that followed, urbanization

NY St David's University Press, 1987

independence that urbanization greatly accelerated in Africa.

most prominent urbanized colony to emerge at the tum of the

France, 1962.

4 D J Thompson, Memphis under the Ptolemies, Princeton, NJ:

ton, NJ Princeton University Press, 1971.

2 W A Schwab, The sociology of cities, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice

1988.

7 Gilbert Charles-Picard, Daily life in Carthage at the time of Hanibal,

10 In pre-colonial times Guinea extended along the West African coast

II J J Maquet, Afrique Les Civilisations Noires, Paris: Horizons de

Age d'Apres les Sources Ecrites, la Tradition et l'Archeologie",

from Cape Verde in presentday Senegal to the Niger River delta in

13 T Chandler, op cit.

Sudan, the Maghreb region or in West Africa. The world in 1650 BC with over 100000 inhabitants.
Thebes next in the Indus valley presently West Pakistan, where cities flourished between 2500 and 1500
BC then in the Huang Ho by approximately 3000 BC Egypt was probably the most urbanized country.

Furthermore part of the fourth millennium BC in the Mesopotamia valley.

valley (Yellow River); and later among the Maya in the largest city in the world until 668 BC. In 1160 BC
the tained urban developments on a major scale as in Egypt and It is estimated that urbanization in
Africa began in the fourth...

This paper traces urbanisim and the manner in which it evolved during the pre-colonial period. The
other scattered precolonial urban evolved in the African continent in precolonial days.

A second city, ...A varis became the largest population centre in

urban conglomerates appeared in three major regions prior to

Menes founded Memphis at the head of the Nile, about Egypt and present-day Sudan many years until
the Christian era. For example, Pharaoh had a population of more than 100000 in 1375 BC and was
millennium, with the earliest Egyptian city appearing between ...thought to have had about 20000
inhabitants in 3200 BC and Thebes estate population totalled 86 486.

More so the inhabitants were attached to the temple. Then, Alexander

the Mediterranean coastline in the Maghreb region of north

only the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, with 8 million Great founded Alexandria, the new
national capital. By 320
Urbanization also occurred along the Middle Nile below as 40 per cent of its residents. (By 1985,
CairoGiza was not opment was on a smaller scale than in Egypt. The earliest agglomeration was greater
than 1,1 million inhabitants and by near the present ruins of Memphis on the west bank. This new
inhabitants, but also the largest population centre in the entire about 1500 There were four early capital
cities that are Napata,

inhabitants in 1340, when it was probably the largest city in

Cairo was founded in 969 AD on the east bank of the Nile, The second major area of urban development
in Africa was on

Mediterranean basin.

However, this early urban development

capital city reached its peak population of about half a million

Nubian kingdom was established in present-day Sudan during 1985 had an estimated 1,5 million
inhabitants. Ulations of 30 000 or more. In recent years Sudan has

814 BC by the Phoenicians and became the dominant city of Meroe, Dongola and Sennar. Meroe and
Dongola had peak

the world. A bubonic plague, which originated in China, 300000 inhabitants. In addition, Carthage in
northwest Africa struck Cairo in 1348 and may have taken the lives of as many Egypt between the first
and sixth cataracts in the region that is Northwest Africa

BC it was probably the largest city in the world, with about experienced rapid urban growth. By 1980 the
Khartoum urban

had a population of more than 100 000 in 340 Bc west Africa, Carthage was founded on the Tunisian
coast in its time in that area. Carthage established an empire, which included most of Tunisia and
existing Phoenician settlements.

Carthage protected its trade routes and maintained effective

Many centuries later, from about 1060 AD, the Berbers 1350, after which Berber political power
declined. control over the entire north African coast, from the Gulf of Berber group, the Merinids,
exercised control until about 100 AD tlements under the urban influence of Carthage. 100000 in 100
AD.8 About a quarter of a million tonnes of ciated with the favourable social and economic conditions.

As a Roman colony, after the fall of Carthage, northwest Carthage established settlements on the
southern coast of lished the vast Almoravid empire, which comprised Morocco, Spain, in Sicily, Sardinia,
Corsica and the Balearic Islands. Morocco, Algeria and western Libya were Carthaginian set was rebuilt
and the population probably reached a peak of grain and large quantities of olive oil were exported to
Rome. The population of Carthage probably reached a peak of extent that it was then considered the
richest city in the world, economic activity and political power. First, they established Greece and also as
a result of its transSaharan trade to the Sidra off the Libyan coast to the Atlantic coast off Morocco,

146 BC.7 Along the coastal areas of present-day Tunisia, by establishing new settlements where
necessary. In addition,

Berber group, the Almohads, ruled until 1250. Then, African prospered for two or three centuries.
Carthage

200 000 in 200 BC before it was destroyed by the Romans in

annually and the growth in population was undoubtedly associated

Carthage prospered as a result of its trade with Rome and Algeria, Tunisia and southern Spain.
Thereafter another were responsible for initiating a 300year period of flourish

Reproduced by Sabine Gateway under license granted by the Publisher(dated2010)

To add Many centuries later, from about 1060 AD, the Berbers Mediterranean region at this time.
Present-day Western Sahara,

exchanged gold, ivory, grain, skins, gum, spices, ostrich

1350, after which Berber political power declined, the north and south changed hands. Sudanese
traders, Berber group, and the Merinids, exercised control until about 300AD. There were a number of
other smaller African cities in textiles. Christian era and the development of indigenous handicraft
industries. Walata and Timbuktu, located in the Niger River north African country that was not included
in one of the two lished the vast Almoravid empire, which comprised Morocco, The West African areas
of Sudan and Guinea comprised

now engaged in a territorial and sovereignty dispute, is the only

ancient urbanized regions.

West Africa the third major region that experienced precolonial urban Africans for salt, dates, horses,
silk, swords, mirrors, beads development. Urbanization occurred mainly as a result of

Berber rule. For example, Fez, with about 200000 inhabi

basin of the Sahel on the edge of the Sahara, grew as commering economic activity and political power.
First, they established

Meknes with a population of 200 000 in 1727. Many urban centres experienced rapid growth during

1170 to 1180. Other North African cities were Marrakesh, long distance trans Saharan trading that
started before the

150000 inhabitants in 1200; Tunis with 65000 inhabitants in 1500; Algiers with 10 000 residents in 1634;
and Berber group, the Almohads, ruled until 1250. Then, a third tants, was probably the largest city in
the world during about commercial centres which started as trading centres where goods from Algeria,
Tunisia and southern Spain. Thereafter another feathers, kola nuts, woven cloth, and slaves with the
North were responsible for initiating a 300year period of flourish Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under
licence granted by the Publisher(dated2010)

In addition the Sudanese-Sahelian kingdoms

and his six sons established seven Hausa states which were

had 60 000 in 1700. Ghana. Then, in the fourteenth century the weakened and area of present-day
Nigeria, in central Sudan, east of the west and somewhat larger empire the Mali empire superseded
Hausa states, with Kano being the most prominent. Kano had between 1050 and 1170 AD. However,
they played a compar were prominent but smaller trading centres in Western Sudan. Kanem on the east
and Bornu on the west side of Lake Chad. doms being the Wagadugu and Yatenga, both founded largely
independent of each other. The ancient walled capital Africans for horses. The small capital of Njimi was
on the

Saleh, Niani and Gao were the capital cities of these three

atively limited role in shaping the great events of the Sudan in

sent-day Mali, was founded during the fifth century AD. Not

cities were well fortified. Kano, Katsina and Zaria were major

in 590 AD. This kingdom controlled the trans-Saharan trade three major empires in western Sudan and
was known as the route to Tripoli, where slaves were exchanged with the north

land of gold because of the Bambuk and Bure goldfields. Its

ters region of the Volta River, below Jenne and Gao, were

inhabited by numerous ethnic groups. The largest and most

Ghana empire during the thirteenth century. A new, vigorous, declining Mali empire was replaced by the
Songhay empire, Ghana, situated between the Senegal and Niger rivers, in prelization which existed at
that time. Berbers from North Africa, during a series of religious wars,

the pre-colonial period. The Songhay kingdom fell to the

ed population of75000 by 1585,12 and Niani had an estimated

ern Sudan kingdoms. In 999 AD, as tradition has it, a father

capital city, Koumbi-Saleh, fell to the Almoravids, who were The region south of the Songhay kingdom,
in the headwa

According to one traditional account, both empires were

Moors of Morocco in 1591, ending the promising local civi

founded by Prince Ibrahim, who was exiled when Sheba fell

Hausaland, was at one time two separate empires, with

respective major kingdoms. Koumbi-Saleh probably had

30000 inhabitants when it was sacked,l1 Gao had an estimat

The Hausa states were located in the northern grassland

an estimated 25000 inhabitants in 1200 and 75000 in 1585.

60000 inhabitants in 1324. I3 Jenne, Timbuktu and Walata

Zaria had an estimated 60000 in 1600, and Katsina probably

and was eventually destroyed in 1076, as was the entire

The kingdom of Kanem-Bornu, in central Sahel east of

which was larger than the Mali empire had been. Koumbi

important were the Mossi, with the two largest Mossi king

to be confused with modem Ghana, it was the earliest of the east of Lake Chad and Ngazargamu, a later
Bornuese capital, had about 60000 inhabitants in 1324. After the demise of these initial urban centres in
West place in the period 16001850 as a result of conflicts, unrest, inhabitants in 1750. part of Western
Nigeria, the Benin to the east of the Yoruba

southeast Nigeria, the AkanAshanti in central Ghana, and the and flourished for varying periods.
However, they did not result lower Guinea before 1400, were the Yorubas in the western

and shifting trade patterns including the slave trade.

Edo City, in the medieval kingdom of Benin, developed ever seemed to reach a population as great as
100 000 in pre Guinea kingdoms

Among the many kingdoms that were established in upper and

colonial days. Wolof in Senegal.

kingdoms were, of course, small urban centres in terms of

city and Katunga, an Oyo capital, had an estimated 75000

somewhat later than the centres in the Yoruba kingdom.

population of about 70000 in 1850, was the dominant Yoruba

were comparatively populous settlements performing trading

Great Zimbabwe, Kilwa and Axum, appeared at different times

od in Nigeria and Ghana west of the Niger River delta (not to be confused with the
modem standards. Although many persisted for years, none

However, handicraft industries were quite highly advanced

and administrative functions for large areas. Ibadan, with a

Other scattered precolonial urban settlements in Africa, such as

However, urbanization took off again during the colonial peri

Other pre-colonial urban areas

presentday Benin Republic), the little Ibo democracies in and differentiated in both areas and workers
became relatively.

The early capital cities of the major Sahel and Guinea coast

Africa in preEuropean days, very little urbanization took prosperous. Along the forested Guinea coast,
Yoruba cities directly in sustained urban development on a marked scale.

Sustained urban developments appeared in three major New York Macmillan, 1961. occurred in a more
modest way in another subSaharan. The vast loosely defined area, comprising the Sudan (Soudan) and
Memoires de l}nstitut Fancais d' Afrique Noire, Dakar: Ifan, 1961 Janet AbuLughod, Cairo: JODi years of
the city victorious, Prince University of Chicago Press, 1906; J Beloch, Die Bevolkerung der urban
developments during the colonial period. It was the

areas of Africa in the pre-colonial period. Since the l870s the

discovery of diamonds and gold in South Africa led to its

present-day Nigeria. University Press, 1975 griechisch·Romischen Welt, Leipzig: Duncker & Humbolt

the forested areas to the south.

G Sjoberg, The preindustrial city, Glencoe, Illinois: The Free Press,

colonies in the colonial period. However, it was not until after

Princeton University Press, 1988.

the Sahel, is that part of Africa lying between the Sahara Desert and J M Abun-Nasr, A History of the
Maghrib, Cambridge: Cambridge R A Mauny, "Tableau Geographique de l'Ouest Africain au Moyen J H
Breasted, Ancient records of Egypt, Volume IV, Chicago: printed in New York, Amo Press, 1979), 1886.

References

Hall,1992.

3 T Chandler, Four thousand years of urban growth, Lewistown,

nineteenth century. In the 50 years that followed, urbanization

NY St David's University Press, 1987

independence that urbanization greatly accelerated in Africa.

most prominent urbanized colony to emerge at the tum of the

France, 1962.

Sudan, the Maghreb region or in West Africa. The world in 1650 BC with over 100000 inhabitants.
Thebes next in the Indus valley presently West Pakistan, where cities flourished between 2500 and 1500
BC then in the Huang Ho by approximately 3000 BC Egypt was probably the most urbanized country.

Furthermore part of the fourth millennium BC in the Mesopotamia valley. valley (Yellow River); and later
among the Maya in the largest city in the world until 668 BC. In 1160 BC the tained urban developments
on a major scale as in Egypt and It is estimated that urbanization in Africa began in the fourth...

This paper traces urbanisim and the manner in which it evolved during the pre-colonial period. The
other scattered precolonial urban evolved in the African continent in precolonial days.

A second city, ...A varis became the largest population centre in

urban conglomerates appeared in three major regions prior to

Menes founded Memphis at the head of the Nile, about Egypt and present-day Sudan many years until
the Christian era. For example, Pharaoh had a population of more than 100000 in 1375 BC and was
millennium, with the earliest Egyptian city appearing between ...thought to have had about 20000
inhabitants in 3200 BC and Thebes estate population totalled 86 486.

More so the inhabitants were attached to the temple. Then, Alexander

the Mediterranean coastline in the Maghreb region of north

only the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, with 8 million Great founded Alexandria, the new
national capital. By 320

Urbanization also occurred along the Middle Nile below as 40 per cent of its residents. (By 1985,
CairoGiza was not opment was on a smaller scale than in Egypt. The earliest agglomeration was greater
than 1,1 million inhabitants and by near the present ruins of Memphis on the west bank. This new
inhabitants, but also the largest population centre in the entire about 1500 There were four early capital
cities that are Napata,

inhabitants in 1340, when it was probably the largest city in

Cairo was founded in 969 AD on the east bank of the Nile, The second major area of urban development
in Africa was on

Mediterranean basin.
However, this early urban development

capital city reached its peak population of about half a million

Nubian kingdom was established in present-day Sudan during 1985 had an estimated 1,5 million
inhabitants. Ulations of 30 000 or more. In recent years Sudan has

814 BC by the Phoenicians and became the dominant city of Meroe, Dongola and Sennar. Meroe and
Dongola had peak

the world. A bubonic plague, which originated in China, 300000 inhabitants. In addition, Carthage in
northwest Africa struck Cairo in 1348 and may have taken the lives of as many Egypt between the first
and sixth cataracts in the region that is Northwest Africa

BC it was probably the largest city in the world, with about experienced rapid urban growth. By 1980 the
Khartoum urban

had a population of more than 100 000 in 340 Bc west Africa, Carthage was founded on the Tunisian
coast in its time in that area. Carthage established an empire, which included most of Tunisia and
existing Phoenician settlements.

Carthage protected its trade routes and maintained effective

Many centuries later, from about 1060 AD, the Berbers 1350, after which Berber political power
declined. control over the entire north African coast, from the Gulf of Berber group, the Merinids,
exercised control until about 100 AD tlements under the urban influence of Carthage. 100000 in 100
AD.8 About a quarter of a million tonnes of ciated with the favourable social and economic conditions.

As a Roman colony, after the fall of Carthage, northwest Carthage established settlements on the
southern coast of lished the vast Almoravid empire, which comprised Morocco, Spain, in Sicily, Sardinia,
Corsica and the Balearic Islands. Morocco, Algeria and western Libya were Carthaginian set was rebuilt
and the population probably reached a peak of grain and large quantities of olive oil were exported to
Rome. The population of Carthage probably reached a peak of extent that it was then considered the
richest city in the world, economic activity and political power. First, they established Greece and also as
a result of its transSaharan trade to the Sidra off the Libyan coast to the Atlantic coast off Morocco,

146 BC.7 Along the coastal areas of present-day Tunisia, by establishing new settlements where
necessary. In addition,

Berber group, the Almohads, ruled until 1250. Then, African prospered for two or three centuries.
Carthage

200 000 in 200 BC before it was destroyed by the Romans in

annually and the growth in population was undoubtedly associated

Carthage prospered as a result of its trade with Rome and Algeria, Tunisia and southern Spain.
Thereafter another were responsible for initiating a 300year period of flourish

Reproduced by Sabine Gateway under license granted by the Publisher(dated2010)

To add Many centuries later, from about 1060 AD, the Berbers Mediterranean region at this time.
Present-day Western Sahara,

exchanged gold, ivory, grain, skins, gum, spices, ostrich

1350, after which Berber political power declined, the north and south changed hands. Sudanese
traders, Berber group, and the Merinids, exercised control until about 300AD. There were a number of
other smaller African cities in textiles. Christian era and the development of indigenous handicraft
industries. Walata and Timbuktu, located in the Niger River north African country that was not included
in one of the two lished the vast Almoravid empire, which comprised Morocco, The West African areas
of Sudan and Guinea comprised

now engaged in a territorial and sovereignty dispute, is the only

ancient urbanized regions.

West Africa the third major region that experienced precolonial urban Africans for salt, dates, horses,
silk, swords, mirrors, beads development. Urbanization occurred mainly as a result of

Berber rule. For example, Fez, with about 200000 inhabi

basin of the Sahel on the edge of the Sahara, grew as commering economic activity and political power.
First, they established

Meknes with a population of 200 000 in 1727. Many urban centres experienced rapid growth during

1170 to 1180. Other North African cities were Marrakesh, long distance trans Saharan trading that
started before the

150000 inhabitants in 1200; Tunis with 65000 inhabitants in 1500; Algiers with 10 000 residents in 1634;
and Berber group, the Almohads, ruled until 1250. Then, a third tants, was probably the largest city in
the world during about commercial centres which started as trading centres where goods from Algeria,
Tunisia and southern Spain. Thereafter another feathers, kola nuts, woven cloth, and slaves with the
North were responsible for initiating a 300year period of flourish Reproduced by Sabinet Gateway under
licence granted by the Publisher(dated2010)

In addition the Sudanese-Sahelian kingdoms

and his six sons established seven Hausa states which were

had 60 000 in 1700. Ghana. Then, in the fourteenth century the weakened and area of present-day
Nigeria, in central Sudan, east of the west and somewhat larger empire the Mali empire superseded
Hausa states, with Kano being the most prominent. Kano had between 1050 and 1170 AD. However,
they played a compar were prominent but smaller trading centres in Western Sudan. Kanem on the east
and Bornu on the west side of Lake Chad. doms being the Wagadugu and Yatenga, both founded largely
independent of each other. The ancient walled capital Africans for horses. The small capital of Njimi was
on the

Saleh, Niani and Gao were the capital cities of these three

atively limited role in shaping the great events of the Sudan in

sent-day Mali, was founded during the fifth century AD. Not

cities were well fortified. Kano, Katsina and Zaria were major

in 590 AD. This kingdom controlled the trans-Saharan trade three major empires in western Sudan and
was known as the route to Tripoli, where slaves were exchanged with the north

land of gold because of the Bambuk and Bure goldfields. Its

ters region of the Volta River, below Jenne and Gao, were

inhabited by numerous ethnic groups. The largest and most

Ghana empire during the thirteenth century. A new, vigorous, declining Mali empire was replaced by the
Songhay empire, Ghana, situated between the Senegal and Niger rivers, in prelization which existed at
that time. Berbers from North Africa, during a series of religious wars,

the pre-colonial period. The Songhay kingdom fell to the

ed population of75000 by 1585,12 and Niani had an estimated

ern Sudan kingdoms. In 999 AD, as tradition has it, a father

capital city, Koumbi-Saleh, fell to the Almoravids, who were The region south of the Songhay kingdom,
in the headwa

According to one traditional account, both empires were

Moors of Morocco in 1591, ending the promising local civi

founded by Prince Ibrahim, who was exiled when Sheba fell

Hausaland, was at one time two separate empires, with

respective major kingdoms. Koumbi-Saleh probably had

30000 inhabitants when it was sacked,l1 Gao had an estimat

The Hausa states were located in the northern grassland

an estimated 25000 inhabitants in 1200 and 75000 in 1585.

60000 inhabitants in 1324. I3 Jenne, Timbuktu and Walata

Zaria had an estimated 60000 in 1600, and Katsina probably

and was eventually destroyed in 1076, as was the entire

The kingdom of Kanem-Bornu, in central Sahel east of

which was larger than the Mali empire had been. Koumbi

important were the Mossi, with the two largest Mossi king

to be confused with modem Ghana, it was the earliest of the east of Lake Chad and Ngazargamu, a later
Bornuese capital, had about 60000 inhabitants in 1324. After the demise of these initial urban centres in
West place in the period 16001850 as a result of conflicts, unrest, inhabitants in 1750. part of Western
Nigeria, the Benin to the east of the Yoruba

southeast Nigeria, the AkanAshanti in central Ghana, and the and flourished for varying periods.
However, they did not result lower Guinea before 1400, were the Yorubas in the western

and shifting trade patterns including the slave trade.

Edo City, in the medieval kingdom of Benin, developed ever seemed to reach a population as great as
100 000 in pre Guinea kingdoms

Among the many kingdoms that were established in upper and

colonial days. Wolof in Senegal.

kingdoms were, of course, small urban centres in terms of

city and Katunga, an Oyo capital, had an estimated 75000

somewhat later than the centres in the Yoruba kingdom.

population of about 70000 in 1850, was the dominant Yoruba

were comparatively populous settlements performing trading

Great Zimbabwe, Kilwa and Axum, appeared at different times

od in Nigeria and Ghana west of the Niger River delta (not to be confused with the

modem standards. Although many persisted for years, none

However, handicraft industries were quite highly advanced

and administrative functions for large areas. Ibadan, with a

Other scattered precolonial urban settlements in Africa, such as

However, urbanization took off again during the colonial peri

Other pre-colonial urban areas

presentday Benin Republic), the little Ibo democracies in and differentiated in both areas and workers
became relatively.
The early capital cities of the major Sahel and Guinea coast

Africa in preEuropean days, very little urbanization took prosperous. Along the forested Guinea coast,
Yoruba cities directly in sustained urban development on a marked scale.

Sustained urban developments appeared in three major New York Macmillan, 1961. occurred in a more
modest way in another subSaharan. The vast loosely defined area, comprising the Sudan (Soudan) and
Memoires de l}nstitut Fancais d' Afrique Noire, Dakar: Ifan, 1961 Janet AbuLughod, Cairo: JODi years of
the city victorious, Prince University of Chicago Press, 1906; J Beloch, Die Bevolkerung der urban
developments during the colonial period. It was the

areas of Africa in the pre-colonial period. Since the l870s the

discovery of diamonds and gold in South Africa led to its

present-day Nigeria. University Press, 1975 griechisch·Romischen Welt, Leipzig: Duncker & Humbolt

the forested areas to the south.

G Sjoberg, The preindustrial city, Glencoe, Illinois: The Free Press,

colonies in the colonial period. However, it was not until after

Princeton University Press, 1988.

the Sahel, is that part of Africa lying between the Sahara Desert and J M Abun-Nasr, A History of the
Maghrib, Cambridge: Cambridge R A Mauny, "Tableau Geographique de l'Ouest Africain au Moyen J H
Breasted, Ancient records of Egypt, Volume IV, Chicago: printed in New York, Amo Press, 1979), 1886.

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3 T Chandler, Four thousand years of urban growth, Lewistown,

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NY St David's University Press, 1987

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4 D J Thompson, Memphis under the Ptolemies, Princeton, NJ:

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2 W A Schwab, The sociology of cities, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice

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7 Gilbert Charles-Picard, Daily life in Carthage at the time of Hanibal,

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II J J Maquet, Afrique Les Civilisations Noires, Paris: Horizons de

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2 W A Schwab, The sociology of cities, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice

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7 Gilbert Charles-Picard, Daily life in Carthage at the time of Hanibal,

10 In pre-colonial times Guinea extended along the West African coast

II J J Maquet, Afrique Les Civilisations Noires, Paris: Horizons de

Age d'Apres les Sources Ecrites, la Tradition et l'Archeologie",

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