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History of Mauritania Timeline
(3rd century CE – Present)Mauritania's history spans from ancient Berber kingdoms and trans-Saharan trade routes through the Ghana and Almoravid empires, to French colonial rule beginning in the 19th century, independence in 1960, and decades of coups, droughts, and gradual democratization shaping the modern Islamic Republic of Mauritania. More Less
Ancient and Medieval Period
Berber immigration into Mauritania
200 - 299
Berbers moved south into Mauritania beginning around the 3rd century, gradually settling the region and subjugating and assimilating Mauritania's original inhabitants.
Image source: History of Mauritania
Islamic conquests reach the region
600 - 699
During the Islamic conquests, Arab forces made incursions into Mauritania and were present in the region by the end of the 7th century, followed by Arabs moving south who subjugated and assimilated the original inhabitants.
Black kingdoms of the western Sudan flourish
700 - 1499
From the 8th through the 15th century, black kingdoms of the western Sudan, such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, brought their political culture from the south into the region.
Image source: Ghana Empire
Sanhadja Confederation at its height
700 - 999
The Sanhadja Confederation reached its height from the 8th to the 10th century before being weakened by internecine warfare and succumbing to further invasions from the Ghana Empire.
Formation of the Almoravid movement
1000 - 1099
In the 11th century, several nomadic Berber confederations in the desert regions overlapping present-day Mauritania joined together to form the Almoravid movement.
Image source: Almoravid dynasty
Islamization reaches the Senegal River region
1000 - 1099
By the 11th century, Islamization had spread throughout North Africa and had reached the region around the Senegal River in what is now southern Mauritania.
Decline of the Almoravid Empire
1000 - 1199
The Almoravid Empire, which ruled from the 11th to the 12th century, was weakened by internecine warfare and ultimately succumbed to invasions from the Almohad Empire.
Conquest of the Ghana Empire by the Almoravids
1076
According to Arabic sources, the Almoravid leader led his forces further south to conquer the ancient and extensive Ghana Empire around 1076, though this narrative has been disputed and debated by modern historians.
Banu Ma'qil migration into the Maghreb
1200 - 1299
From the 13th century onward, the Banu Ma'qil, an Arab tribal confederation of Yemeni origin, migrated into the Maghreb and into what is now Morocco, eventually pushing toward Mauritania.
Image source: Banu Ma'qil
Char Bouba war against Ma'qil Arabs
1644 - 1674
From 1644 to 1674, the indigenous peoples of the area that is modern Mauritania made what became their final effort to repel the invading Ma'qil Arabs from their territory.
Image source: Char Bouba war
Key Facts
- Ancient Mauritania was home to Berber kingdoms and became a key crossroads for trans-Saharan gold, salt, and slave trade routes.
- The region was dominated by the Ghana Empire and later the Almoravid dynasty, which spread Islam and founded its capital near present-day Nouakchott in the 11th century.
- France established colonial control over Mauritania in the early 20th century, incorporating it into French West Africa in 1920.
- Mauritania gained full independence from France on November 28, 1960, with Nouakchott as its capital city.
- Since independence, Mauritania has experienced multiple military coups, including in 1978, 2005, and 2008, while formally abolishing slavery only in 1981, though it remains a persistent social issue.
Source
This History of Mauritania timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
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