 |
|
Map of West Africa AD 1850s-1860s |
|
West Africa in the second half of the nineteenth century was a place of development. Large tribal empires had already come and gone in this region of Africa, but now the Tukulor empire swiftly arose and almost immediately butted heads with the strong French colonial presence on its western border. British colonial holdings at Freetown and Accra - the latter being part of British Gold Coast - were gradually expanding as Britain fought to stifle the slave trade and secure its own holdings. In Gold Coast this meant opposing the powerful Asante state, whilst it was French forces which largely dealt with the neighbouring Dahomey empire. It was Britain which opposed the Benin empire, largely in what is now south-western Nigeria. The Sokoto caliphate of what is now areas of Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria was essentially a confederation of emirates which recognised a caliph (acting essentially in the form of a high king). It suffered intrusions by the French initially, and then by the British and Germans. It was the first two of these which largely subdued the caliphate. A clickable version of this map is available for desktop displays. To select a kingdom, state, or tribe for further information, click on its name.
Map navigation: |
|
Original text and map copyright © P L Kessler and the History Files. An original feature for the History Files. Go back or return home. |
