Byzantine Africa (Exarchate)

Byzantine Africa (Exarchate) was an empire in Maghreb (North and West Africa) that lasted from 534 to 698 CE, about 164 years. Its people spoke Greek languages (Mycenaean, Classical, Hellenistic, Byzantine, modern Greek).

Reconquered Roman Africa, ruled from Carthage and from 590 as an exarchate. Heraclius sailed from here to seize the imperial throne in 610. The Arabs took Carthage in 698.

See Byzantine Africa (Exarchate) on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

534 to 698 CE

Duration

164 years

Type

Empire

Region

Maghreb, North and West Africa

Language family

Greek

Capital

Carthage

Came from

• Vandal Kingdom 435 to 534 CE

Became

• Umayyad and Abbasid Ifriqiya 670 to 800 CE

Events in North and West Africa during its time

• 641 Arab conquest of Egypt
• 652 The Baqt treaty
• 670 Founding of Kairouan

Neighbours in North and West Africa

• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE
• Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE
• Makuria c. 450 to 1312 CE
• Vandal Kingdom 435 to 534 CE
• Garamantes c. 500 BCE to 700 CE
• Alodia c. 500 to 1504 CE
• Nobatia c. 400 to 700 CE
• Byzantine Egypt 395 to 641 CE
• Arab caliphal Egypt 641 to 868 CE
• Mauro-Roman Kingdom c. 429 to 578 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
• Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
• Teotihuacan c. 100 BCE to 550 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Tiwanaku c. 400 to 1000 CE, South America
• Sasanian Empire 224 to 651 CE, Middle East
• Tang dynasty 618 to 907 CE, East Asia
• Gupta Empire c. 320 to 550 CE, South Asia

Questions