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Historical map · 100

Map of Africa in 100

In 100, the historical border data behind our interactive map draws 12 states, empires and other polities in Africa. By the land they held inside this region, the largest were the Roman Empire, the Parthian Empire and the Kingdom of Kush. The Roman Empire reached well beyond Africa: its whole territory measured about 4.3 million km².

See this map live. The interactive map opens on Africa in 100. Zoom in, move the year slider to watch the borders change, or ask the history guide a question and it draws the answer on the map.

OPEN 100 ON THE MAP →Ask the history guide about 100
Atlas map: The Pax Romana (Ad 117)
FROM THE ATLAS · ROME, CHAPTER 7: THE PAX ROMANA (AD 117)

States and empires in Africa in 100

StateIn this regionWhole stateIn the data
Roman Empire Wikipedia1.6 million km²4.3 million km²31 BC–AD 632
Parthian Empire Wikipedia889,000 km²2.7 million km²239 BC–AD 237
Kingdom of Kush Wikipedia337,000 km²337,000 km²1000 BC–AD 346
Himyarite Kingdom Wikipedia336,000 km²336,000 km²110 BC–AD 601
Kingdom of Axum Wikipedia97,000 km²97,000 km²50 BC–AD 946
Nabataeans Wikipedia91,000 km²91,000 km²164 BC–AD 105
Hadhramaut Wikipedia86,000 km²86,000 km²700 BC–AD 305
Kingdom of Osroene Wikipedia50,000 km²50,000 km²63 BC–AD 214
Kingdom of Gordyene Wikipedia14,000 km²14,000 km²63 BC–AD 259
Kingdom of Adiabene Wikipedia14,000 km²14,000 km²63 BC–AD 370
Kingdom of Armenia Wikipedia13,000 km²218,000 km²326 BC–AD 646
Kingdom of Sophene Wikipedia2,900 km²24,000 km²256 BC–AD 113

"In the data" gives the first and last year the dataset draws the state under this identity; states often existed earlier or later in another form.

What changed since AD 1

Gone from the map: Mauretania, Judea, Kingdom of Cappadocia, Kingdom of Commagene.

What comes next: 200

Appear by 200: Sabaeans.

Gone by 200: Nabataeans, Kingdom of Sophene.

Read the history of 100

Guided atlas chapters set near this date, each with its own map, causes and consequences:

Questions about this map

Which countries were in Africa in 100?

The map data draws 12 states and other polities in Africa in 100. The largest by land were the Roman Empire, the Parthian Empire, the Kingdom of Kush, the Himyarite Kingdom and the Kingdom of Axum.

What was the largest empire in Africa in 100?

Of the states on this map, the Roman Empire held the most land in total: about 4.3 million km² in the reconstruction used here. Ancient and frontier borders are approximate, so treat areas as estimates.

Can I explore Africa in 100 interactively?

Yes. Open the interactive map at 100, zoom into any region, move through the years, and ask the history guide questions: it answers in plain words and draws places, armies and borders on the map.

About these borders

The borders come from Cliopatria (v0.2.1, Seshat Global History Databank, CC BY 4.0), the dataset behind our interactive map, with our audited name and border corrections. It records each state's territory year by year from 3400 BC to 2024. Borders before modern surveys are reconstructions: the data draws a state where it held control, and frontier zones, nomadic realms and loose overlordships are approximate. Areas are measured on an equal-area projection. Read how we make our maps.

Africa in other years

Other regions in 100