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Historical map · 900

Map of Africa in 900

In 900, the historical border data behind our interactive map draws 22 states, empires and other polities in Africa. By the land they held inside this region, the largest were the Allegiance of Ziyadid dynasty to Abbasid Caliphate, the Abbasid Caliphate and Tulunids. The Alliance between Samanid Empire and Ziyadid dynasty reached well beyond Africa: its whole territory measured about 5.1 million km².

See this map live. The interactive map opens on Africa in 900. 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 900 ON THE MAP →Ask the history guide about 900

States and empires in Africa in 900

StateIn this regionWhole stateIn the data
Allegiance of Ziyadid dynasty to Abbasid Caliphate Wikipedia1.9 million km²2.9 million km²866–1138
Abbasid Caliphate Wikipedia1.7 million km²2.4 million km²750–1259
Tulunids Wikipedia974,000 km²974,000 km²875–910
Rustamid dynasty Wikipedia470,000 km²470,000 km²778–910
Aghlabid Dynasty Wikipedia246,000 km²246,000 km²800–910
Alliance between Samanid Empire and Ziyadid dynasty Wikipedia216,000 km²5.1 million km²886–999
Makuria Wikipedia213,000 km²213,000 km²347–1518
Ghana Empire Wikipedia205,000 km²205,000 km²793–1201
Idrisids Wikipedia195,000 km²195,000 km²793–979
Byzantine Empire Wikipedia130,000 km²634,000 km²633–1474
Alodia Wikipedia124,000 km²124,000 km²347–1506
Kingdom of Axum Wikipedia97,000 km²97,000 km²50 BC–AD 946
Emirate of Córdoba Wikipedia89,000 km²406,000 km²757–935
Qarmatians Wikipedia42,000 km²65,000 km²899–1071
Barghawata Conference Wikipedia36,000 km²36,000 km²793–1065
Zaydi Alid dynasties Wikipedia30,000 km²41,000 km²866–935
Emirate of Sicily Wikipedia20,000 km²23,000 km²850–1093
Cyprus Condominium11,000 km²11,000 km²692–959
Emirate of Nekor Wikipedia7,040 km²7,040 km²750–1027
Sajid Dynasty Wikipedia6,490 km²58,000 km²898–935
Bagratid Armenia Wikipedia6,350 km²98,000 km²886–1045
Emirate of Crete Wikipedia5,500 km²5,500 km²830–960

"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 800

New on the map: Allegiance of Ziyadid dynasty to Abbasid Caliphate, Tulunids, Alliance between Samanid Empire and Ziyadid dynasty, Qarmatians, Zaydi Alid dynasties, Emirate of Sicily, Sajid Dynasty, Bagratid Armenia, Emirate of Crete.

What comes next: 1000

Appear by 1000: Fatimid Caliphate, Hamdanid Emirates, Caliphate of Córdoba, Zagwe dynasty, Kingdom of Vaspurakan.

Gone by 1000: Tulunids, Rustamid dynasty, Aghlabid Dynasty, Alliance between Samanid Empire and Ziyadid dynasty, Idrisids, Kingdom of Axum, Emirate of Córdoba, Zaydi Alid dynasties, Cyprus Condominium, Sajid Dynasty, Bagratid Armenia, Emirate of Crete.

Questions about this map

Which countries were in Africa in 900?

The map data draws 22 states and other polities in Africa in 900. The largest by land were the Allegiance of Ziyadid dynasty to Abbasid Caliphate, the Abbasid Caliphate, Tulunids, Rustamid dynasty and the Aghlabid Dynasty.

What was the largest empire in Africa in 900?

Of the states on this map, the Alliance between Samanid Empire and Ziyadid dynasty held the most land in total: about 5.1 million km² in the reconstruction used here. Ancient and frontier borders are approximate, so treat areas as estimates.

Can I explore Africa in 900 interactively?

Yes. Open the interactive map at 900, 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 900