Africa had up to 10,000 different states and groups before European colonization, mostly determined by tribal identities. Major states included Marutse-Manbunda Land, Zulu Land, and Abyssinia. The current map of Africa is a result of European colonization, which led to the current divisions and borders. Africa has more than 50 countries and 800 languages, and is the second most populous continent in the world.
The colonization of Africa remains the most significant factor in the evolution of the destiny of this great continent. But was Africa divided before colonization and if so, how? What did the pre-colonial map of Africa look like?
One of the largest continents and the second most populated continent in the world, Africa indeed had divisions and states before Europeans left for Africa. Before colonial rule, Africa consisted of up to 10,000 different states and groups.
The current map of the African continent is a direct result of the European colonization of Africa that began around 1870. The pre-colonial map of Africa looked different. Pre-colonial native African states were mostly determined by tribal identities. Some of the major African states at the time were: Marutse-Manbunda Land, Great Namaqua, Zulu Land, Somauli Land, Darfoor, Abyssinia, Nubia, Egypt, Tripoli, Tunis, Algeria, Morocco, Barbary, Sene-Gambia, Karta, Bambara, Ashantee, Gando, Yoruba, Benin, Bornoo. The colonization of Africa by France, Portugal, Great Britain, Belgium, Spain and Italy changed the borders of the native African states and led to the current divisions and borders in Africa.
As of 2015, there are more than 50 countries in Africa and more than 800 different languages. After Asia, it is the most populous continent in the world with a population of 1.1 billion.
Read more about Africa:
By 2050, Africa’s population is projected to be 2.3 billion.
Liberia was the first African country to gain independence, in 1847. Eritrea was the last African country to gain independence, in 1993.
Africa is the poorest continent in the world, despite having the world’s largest reserves of precious metals.
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