Oyo Empire
Oyo Empire was an empire in West Africa coast and forest (North and West Africa) that lasted from c. 1400 to 1836 CE, about 436 years. Its people spoke Niger-Congo languages (Mande, Yoruba, Akan, Fula, Wolof, Igbo (non-Bantu)).
Yoruba empire whose cavalry dominated the savanna and forced Dahomey to pay tribute. Civil war, an Ilorin revolt and the Sokoto jihad led to the abandonment of Oyo-Ile around 1836.
See Oyo Empire on the interactive timeline
Facts
- Dates
- c. 1400 to 1836 CE
- Duration
- 436 years
- Type
- Empire
- Region
- West Africa coast and forest, North and West Africa
- Language family
- Niger-Congo
- Capital
- Oyo-Ile
Events in North and West Africa during its time
- Portuguese build Elmina
- Battle of Shimbra Kure
- Battle of Tondibi
- Peak of the Atlantic slave trade
- Napoleon invades Egypt
- Usman dan Fodio's jihad
Neighbours in North and West Africa
- Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty)
- Mali Empire
- Mamluk Sultanate
- Songhai Empire
- Kingdom of Benin
- Bornu Empire
- Ife
- Hafsids
- Funj Sultanate of Sennar
- Regency of Algiers
Elsewhere in the world at the same time
- Republic of Venice
- Byzantine Empire
- Byzantine Empire
- Swahili city-states
- Holy Roman Empire
- Khmer Empire
- Ottoman Empire
- Ottoman Empire
- Portuguese Empire
- Kingdom of Kongo
Questions
When did Oyo Empire exist?
c. 1400 to 1836 CE, about 436 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.
Where was Oyo Empire?
West Africa coast and forest, in North and West Africa. Its capital was Oyo-Ile.
What language did Oyo Empire speak?
Niger-Congo. This family includes Mande, Yoruba, Akan, Fula, Wolof, Igbo (non-Bantu).