What Was the Strongest Empire in Africa? Uncovering Africa's Mighty Past

Well, if you’ve ever wondered about the strongest empire in Africa, you’re in for a fascinating ride. Africa’s history is full of powerful empires that not only shaped the continent but influenced the world in ways we might not always think about. When I first started digging into African history, I was honestly blown away by the incredible strength and reach of these empires. So, let’s dive into this together.

The Great African Empires: Power and Legacy

When talking about the strongest empires in Africa, the first thing that comes to mind is not just military might, but their cultural, economic, and political influence. There were several empires that rose to prominence, but some stand out for their sheer size, strength, and impact on history.

The Mali Empire: Wealth, Military, and Culture

Okay, let’s talk about the Mali Empire. Honestly, this empire was one of the most powerful and wealthy in African history. Founded in the 13th century, the Mali Empire dominated West Africa and reached its peak in the 14th century under the rule of Mansa Musa. If you’ve heard of him, you probably know that he’s often cited as the richest person in history. Imagine an empire so powerful that it could fund entire cities just with gold!

Why was Mali so powerful?

Well, Mali's power stemmed from a combination of factors—most notably, its wealth from gold and salt trade, its strong military, and its advanced administrative structure. The empire controlled large parts of the trans-Saharan trade routes, which allowed it to amass enormous riches. Honestly, it’s hard to overstate just how influential Mali was. I remember reading about Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca, where he gave away so much gold that it caused inflation in the regions he passed through!

The Ancient Egyptian Empire: Legacy of the Pharaohs

Now, we can’t talk about the strongest African empire without mentioning Ancient Egypt. Although it doesn’t fit within the “medieval” or “modern” sense of empire, its power and influence spanned over thousands of years. Egypt was a major force in the ancient world, particularly during the New Kingdom period (around 1550 to 1070 BCE). Pharaohs like Ramses II and Tutankhamun built monuments that still stand today.

Why Egypt stood out

Egypt’s strength came from its strategic location along the Nile River, which provided fertile land for agriculture. Its powerful army, as well as advancements in writing, mathematics, and engineering, helped them remain a dominant force in North Africa for centuries. Honestly, just visiting the pyramids in Egypt gave me chills—these architectural wonders were created by one of the most advanced civilizations of their time.

Other Notable Empires: Carthage and Great Zimbabwe

While Mali and Egypt are often the first to come to mind, there are other powerful empires that were no less impressive.

The Carthaginian Empire: Masters of the Mediterranean

Carthage, located in modern-day Tunisia, was an empire that controlled vast portions of the Mediterranean before it fell to Rome in the Punic Wars. The Carthaginian navy was one of the most feared in the ancient world. Think of it as an ancient naval superpower, controlling major trade routes.

Carthage’s strength

Carthage was powerful not just because of its military strength, but because it was an economic powerhouse, benefiting from trade across the Mediterranean. Their conflicts with Rome, especially the famous general Hannibal’s march across the Alps, are still studied today as incredible military feats.

Great Zimbabwe: The Empire of Stone and Gold

Then there’s Great Zimbabwe, an empire that flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries in southern Africa. The impressive Great Zimbabwe ruins still stand today as a testament to their engineering and architectural prowess. They were the heart of a large trade network, thriving on gold, ivory, and other resources.

Why Great Zimbabwe was strong

The power of Great Zimbabwe lay in its control over gold and trade routes in southern Africa. Its strategic location and skilled builders made it a force to be reckoned with. Honestly, when I first learned about Great Zimbabwe, I was amazed by how little attention it gets in mainstream history, considering the incredible wealth and sophistication of the empire.

Which Empire Was the Strongest?

So, the big question: which empire was the strongest? Well, it really depends on what you mean by "strength." If we’re talking military might and wealth, Mali might just take the crown, especially with Mansa Musa’s reign. But if we’re looking at long-lasting influence and cultural impact, Ancient Egypt holds a special place due to its centuries of dominance and the enduring legacies of the Pharaohs.

What’s fascinating to me

The coolest part about studying these empires is how interconnected they were. Trade routes crossed the continent, and empires like Mali and Egypt didn’t operate in isolation. They influenced each other in ways that shaped Africa—and the world—forever. I’ve always found it fascinating that so many powerful empires existed long before European colonization, which is often overlooked in historical narratives.

Conclusion: A Rich History of Strength and Influence

In the end, Africa’s history is rich with powerful empires, and each one contributed something unique to the world. The Mali Empire, with its immense wealth; Ancient Egypt, with its timeless monuments; Carthage, with its naval supremacy; and Great Zimbabwe, with its impressive stone cities—each of these empires left a mark that we still feel today.

Honestly, when you look at these empires, it’s a reminder of how powerful and influential African civilizations were, long before the modern world started shaping what we know today. The strongest empire? That depends on how you define strength, but each of these empires deserves recognition for its contributions to history.

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The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

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How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

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Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

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Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

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Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

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Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

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Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.