East African hunter-gatherers

East African hunter-gatherers appears on the timeline as a people or culture of Swahili Coast and East Africa (Central and Southern Africa) from c. 3200 BCE to the present, a span of more than 5,225 years. Its people spoke Unknown or undeciphered languages (Indus, Minoan, Moche, Nazca, Chavin, Jomon and other unattested languages).

Foraging peoples held the savannas of Kenya and Tanzania before herders and farmers arrived. The Hadza near Lake Eyasi, who speak a language isolate, still live largely by hunting and gathering.

See East African hunter-gatherers on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 3200 BCE to the present
Duration: more than 5,225 years
Type: People or culture
Region: Swahili Coast and East Africa, Central and Southern Africa
Language family: Unknown or undeciphered

Events in Central and Southern Africa during its time

1000 BCE Bantu farmers reach the Great Lakes
500 BCE Iron smelting in the Great Lakes
50 The Periplus describes Azania
1331 Ibn Battuta visits Kilwa
1350 Great Enclosure built at Great Zimbabwe
1483 Diogo Cão reaches the Congo River
1491 Kongo's king is baptised
1498 Vasco da Gama on the Swahili coast

Neighbours in Central and Southern Africa

Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE
Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE
Kingdom of Zimbabwe c. 1220 to 1450 CE
Zulu Kingdom 1816 to 1897 CE
Republic of South Africa (apartheid era) 1961 to 1994 CE
South Africa 1994 CE to the present
Congo Free State 1885 to 1908 CE
Kingdom of Buganda c. 1300 to 1966 CE
Kilwa Sultanate c. 957 to 1513 CE
Bunyoro-Kitara c. 1400 to 1899 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Minoan civilization c. 3100 to 1450 BCE, Europe
Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE, North and West Africa
Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America

Questions

When did East African hunter-gatherers exist?

c. 3200 BCE to the present, about more than 5,225 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was East African hunter-gatherers?

Swahili Coast and East Africa, in Central and Southern Africa.

What language did East African hunter-gatherers speak?

Unknown or undeciphered. This family includes Indus, Minoan, Moche, Nazca, Chavin, Jomon and other unattested languages.