Kanem Empire

Kanem Empire was an empire in Lake Chad basin (North and West Africa) that lasted from c. 700 to 1387 CE, about 687 years. Its people spoke Nilo-Saharan languages (Kanuri, Songhai, Nubian, Luo, Maasai).

Kanuri state northeast of Lake Chad whose Sayfawa kings converted to Islam around 1085 and controlled the trans-Saharan route to the Fezzan. Bulala attacks drove the court west to Bornu in the late 14th century.

See Kanem Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 700 to 1387 CE

Duration

687 years

Type

Empire

Region

Lake Chad basin, North and West Africa

Language family

Nilo-Saharan

Capital

Njimi

Became

• Bornu Empire c. 1387 to 1893 CE

Events in North and West Africa during its time

• 969 Fatimids found Cairo
• 1050 Banu Hilal migration
• 1235 Battle of Kirina
• 1324 Mansa Musa's pilgrimage
• 1347 Black Death reaches Egypt

Neighbours in North and West Africa

• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE
• Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE
• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE
• Mali Empire c. 1235 to 1670 CE
• Mamluk Sultanate 1250 to 1517 CE
• Fatimid Caliphate 909 to 1171 CE
• Almoravid dynasty 1040 to 1147 CE
• Makuria c. 450 to 1312 CE
• Kingdom of Benin c. 1180 to 1897 CE
• Bornu Empire c. 1387 to 1893 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
• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
• Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
• Khmer Empire 802 to 1431 CE, Southeast Asia
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East

Questions