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Historical map · 500

Map of Africa in 500

In 500, the historical border data behind our interactive map draws 11 states, empires and other polities in Africa. By the land they held inside this region, the largest were the Allegiance of Ostrogothic Kingdom to Eastern Roman Empire, the Eastern Roman Empire and the Sasanian Empire. The Allegiance of Ostrogothic Kingdom to Eastern Roman Empire reached well beyond Africa: its whole territory measured about 4.4 million km².

See this map live. The interactive map opens on Africa in 500. 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 500 ON THE MAP →Ask the history guide about 500
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States and empires in Africa in 500

StateIn this regionWhole stateIn the data
Allegiance of Ostrogothic Kingdom to Eastern Roman Empire Wikipedia1.3 million km²4.4 million km²500–560
Eastern Roman Empire Wikipedia1.2 million km²2.0 million km²31 BC–AD 632
Sasanian Empire Wikipedia903,000 km²2.2 million km²215–643
Himyarite Kingdom Wikipedia297,000 km²297,000 km²110 BC–AD 601
Lakhmid Kingdom Wikipedia259,000 km²259,000 km²270–633
Vandal Kingdom Wikipedia203,000 km²249,000 km²439–533
Nobatia Wikipedia148,000 km²148,000 km²347–655
Alodia Wikipedia124,000 km²124,000 km²347–1506
Kingdom of Axum Wikipedia97,000 km²97,000 km²50 BC–AD 946
Visigothic Kingdom Wikipedia89,000 km²689,000 km²426–723
Makuria Wikipedia65,000 km²65,000 km²347–1518

"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 400

New on the map: Allegiance of Ostrogothic Kingdom to Eastern Roman Empire, Vandal Kingdom, Visigothic Kingdom.

Gone from the map: Allegiance of Kidarites to Sasanian Empire, Western Roman Empire, Huns, Visigoths.

What comes next: 600

Appear by 600: Ghassanids.

Gone by 600: Allegiance of Ostrogothic Kingdom to Eastern Roman Empire, Vandal Kingdom.

Read the history of 500

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 500?

The map data draws 11 states and other polities in Africa in 500. The largest by land were the Allegiance of Ostrogothic Kingdom to Eastern Roman Empire, the Eastern Roman Empire, the Sasanian Empire, the Himyarite Kingdom and the Lakhmid Kingdom.

What was the largest empire in Africa in 500?

Of the states on this map, the Allegiance of Ostrogothic Kingdom to Eastern Roman Empire held the most land in total: about 4.4 million km² in the reconstruction used here. Ancient and frontier borders are approximate, so treat areas as estimates.

Can I explore Africa in 500 interactively?

Yes. Open the interactive map at 500, 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 500