Our Ancient World

Our Ancient WorldBETA

Africa

Abbasid Aksumite Almoravid Arab Arma Bamana Berber Bornu British Byzantine Carthaginian Crusader Cyrene Dur Edo Egyptian Fatimid French (Kingdom) Gao Garamante Genoa Ghana Greek Idrisid Italian Karamanli Kerma Kilwa Kunta Kush Macedonian Mali Mamluk Massina Nabta Playa Neolithic Ottoman Ouaddai Oyo Pashalik of Timbuktu Phoenician Predynastic Ptolemaic Rashidun Roman Sassanid Songhai South African Tellem Toucouleur Umayyad Vandal Zulu

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Current Name

Founded

Destroyed

Age

City

Province/State

Country

Abéché

c. 1700 AD

1909 AD

209

Ouéré

Ouaddai

Chad

Ouaddai
Abéché
c. 1700 AD -- 1909 AD

Abu Simbel

1264 BC

c. 600 BC

664

Abu Simbel

Aswan

Egypt

Egyptian
Abu Simbel
1264 BC -- c. 600 BC

Adulis

c. 100 AD

c. 900 AD

800

Semenawi K'eyih Bahri

Eritrea

Aksumite
Adulis
c. 100 AD -- c. 900 AD

Aghmat

1058 AD

c. 1147 AD

Maraksh

Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz

Morocco

Almoravid
Aghmat
1058 AD -- c. 1147 AD

Aksum

c. 100 AD

c. 900 AD

800

Akesum

Tigray

Ethiopia

Aksumite
Aksum
c. 100 AD -- c. 900 AD

Alexandria

c. 500 BC

c. 1500 AD

2000

Egypt

Egyptian
Rhacotis
c. 500 BC -- 331 BC

Macedonian
Alexandria
331 BC -- 80 BC

Roman
Alexandria
80 BC -- 619 AD

Sassanid
Alexandria
619 AD -- 642 AD

Arab
Alexandria
642 AD -- 645 AD

Byzantine
Alexandria
645 AD -- c. 1500 AD

Altava

c. 0 AD

c. 600 AD

600

Aine Tellout

Tlemcen

Algeria

Roman
Altava
c. 0 AD -- 429 AD

Berber
Altava
429 AD -- c. 600 AD

Aramis

c. 4000000 BC

c. 500000 BC

3500000

Afar

Ethiopia

Unknown
Aramis
c. 4000000 BC -- c. 500000 BC

Avaris

c. 3000 BC

c. 305 BC

2695

Fakous

Ash Sharqiyah

Egypt

Egyptian
Avaris
c. 3000 BC -- c. 305 BC

Bandiagara

c. 1000 AD

c. 1500 AD

500

Bandiagara

Mopti

Mali

Tellem
Bandiagara
c. 1000 AD -- c. 1500 AD

Benghazi

c. 525 BC

1943 AD

2468

Banghazi

Libya

Greek
Euesperides
c. 525 BC -- c. 323 BC

Ptolemaic
Euesperides
c. 323 BC -- 96 BC

Roman
Berenice
96 BC -- c. 430 AD

Vandal
Berenice
c. 430 AD -- c. 500 AD

Byzantine
Berenice
c. 500 AD -- c. 650 AD

Rashidun
Barneeq
c. 650 AD -- 661 AD

Umayyad
Barneeq
661 AD -- 750 AD

Abbasid
Barneeq
750 AD -- c. 900 AD

Fatimid
Barneeq
c. 900 AD -- c. 1200 AD

Unknown
Barneeq
c. 1200 AD -- c. 1500 AD

Unknown
Marsa ibn Ghazi
c. 1500 AD -- 1578 AD

Ottoman
Benghazi
1578 AD -- 1711 AD

Karamanli
Benghazi
1711 AD -- 1835 AD

Ottoman
Benghazi
1835 AD -- 1911 AD

Italian
Benghazi
1911 AD -- 1943 AD

Benin City

c. 1200 AD

c. 1800 AD

600

Benim

Edo

Nigeria

Edo
Benin City
c. 1200 AD -- c. 1800 AD

Busiris

c. 3000 BC

c. 305 BC

2695

Samannud

Al Gharbiyah

Egypt

Egyptian
Busiris
c. 3000 BC -- c. 305 BC

Buto

c. 3100 BC

390 AD

3490

Kafr ash Shaykh

Egypt

Egyptian
Per-Wadjet
c. 3100 BC -- 305 BC

Ptolemaic
Buto
305 BC -- 30 BC

Roman
Buto
30 BC -- 390 AD

Cairo

c. 3000 BC

c. 305 BC

2695

El Kahira

Al Qahirah

Egypt

Egyptian
Cairo
c. 3000 BC -- c. 305 BC

Carthage

c. 650 BC

534 AD

1184

Wadi al Layl

Tunis

Tunisia

Carthaginian
Carthage
c. 650 BC -- 146 BC

Vandal
Carthage
435 AD -- 534 AD

Chinguetti

777 AD

c. 1300 AD

523

Chinguetti

Adrar

Mauritania

Berber
Chinguetti
777 AD -- c. 1300 AD

Cidade Velha

1462 AD

???

98537

Praia

Cape Verde

Genoa
???
1462 AD -- ???

Cyrene

630 BC

643 AD

1273

Al Jabal al Akhdar

Libya

Greek
Cyrene
630 BC -- 323 BC

Ptolemaic
Cyrene
323 BC -- 276 BC

Cyrene
Cyrene
276 BC -- 250 BC

Ptolemaic
Cyrene
250 BC -- 96 BC

Roman
Cyrene
96 BC -- 643 AD

Dahshur

c. 3000 BC

c. 305 BC

2695

Badrashên

Al Jizah

Egypt

Egyptian
Dahshur
c. 3000 BC -- c. 305 BC

Dhar Tichitt

c. 4000 BC

???

103999

Aïoun el Atrouss

Hodh El Gharbi

Mauritania

Unknown
???
c. 4000 BC -- ???

Djenné-Djenno

c. 250 BC

c. 900 AD

1150

Djénné

Mopti

Mali

Unknown
Djenné-Djenno
c. 250 BC -- c. 50 AD

Unknown
Djenné-Djenno
c. 50 AD -- c. 300 AD

Unknown
Djenné-Djenno
c. 300 AD -- c. 900 AD

Gao

c. 1000 AD

c. 1591 AD

591

Gao

Mali

Gao
Gao
c. 1000 AD -- c. 1464 AD

Songhai
Gao
c. 1464 AD -- c. 1591 AD

Giza

c. 2500 BC

c. 305 BC

2195

El Kahira

Al Qahirah

Egypt

Egyptian
Giza
c. 2500 BC -- c. 305 BC

Grand-Bassam

1893 AD

1960 AD

Sud-Comoe

Cote d'Ivoire

French (Kingdom)
Grand-Bassam
1893 AD -- 1960 AD

Heliopolis

c. 6000 BC

c. 300 AD

6300

Al Qahirah

Egypt

Predynastic
Iunu
c. 6000 BC -- c. 3000 BC

Egyptian
Iunu
c. 3000 BC -- 332 BC

Greek
Heliopolis
332 BC -- c. 100 BC

Roman
Heliopolis
c. 100 BC -- c. 300 AD

Helwan

c. 3000 BC

c. 305 BC

2695

Badrashên

Al Jizah

Egypt

Egyptian
Helwan
c. 3000 BC -- c. 305 BC

Heracleion

c. 1500 BC

c. 500 AD

2000

Abou Kir

Al Iskandariyah

Egypt

Egyptian
Heracleion
c. 1500 BC -- c. 305 BC

Ptolemaic
Heracleion
c. 305 BC -- c. 30 BC

Roman
Heracleion
c. 30 BC -- c. 500 AD

Herakleopolis

c. 3000 BC

c. 390 AD

3390

Ihnasiyah al Khadra'

Bani Suwayf

Egypt

Egyptian
Herakleopolis
c. 3000 BC -- c. 305 BC

Ptolemaic
Herakleopolis
c. 305 BC -- c. 30 BC

Roman
Herakleopolis
c. 30 BC -- c. 390 AD

Kawinza

c. 670 AD

c. 880 AD

210

Niafounké

Tombouctou

Mali

Unknown
Kawinza
c. 670 AD -- c. 880 AD

Kerma

c. 7500 BC

c. 500 BC

7000

Darfur

Sudan

Neolithic
Kerma
c. 7500 BC -- c. 3000 BC

Kerma
Kerma
c. 2500 BC -- c. 1504 BC

Egyptian
Kerma
c. 1540 BC -- c. 1000 BC

Kush
Kerma
c. 1000 BC -- c. 500 BC

Kilwa Kisiwani

c. 1000 AD

c. 1500 AD

500

Ikwiriri

Pwani

Tanzania

Kilwa
Kilwa Kisiwani
c. 1000 AD -- c. 1500 AD

Kintampo

c. 2500 BC

c. 2015 AD

4515

Kintampo

Brong-Ahafo

Ghana

Unknown
Kintampo
c. 2500 BC -- c. 2015 AD

Kirikongo

c. 1000 BC

???

100999

Nouna

Kossi

Burkina Faso

Unknown
???
c. 1000 BC -- ???

Ksar el Barka

1690 AD

c. 1900 AD

210

Ksar el Barka

Tagant

Mauritania

Kunta
Ksar el Barka
1690 AD -- c. 1900 AD

Lahun

c. 3000 BC

c. 305 BC

2695

Bani Suwayf

Egypt

Egyptian
Lahun
c. 3000 BC -- c. 305 BC

Loropéni

c. 1100 AD

???

98899

Gaoua

Poni

Burkina Faso

Unknown
???
c. 1100 AD -- ???

Marrakesh

1062 AD

c. 1147 AD

Maraksh

Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz

Morocco

Almoravid
Marrakesh
1062 AD -- c. 1147 AD

Matara

c. 100 AD

c. 900 AD

800

Semenawi K'eyih Bahri

Eritrea

Aksumite
Matara
c. 100 AD -- c. 900 AD

Meidum

c. 3000 BC

c. 305 BC

2695

Bani Suwayf

Egypt

Egyptian
Meidum
c. 3000 BC -- c. 305 BC

Meroë

c. 800 BC

c. 100 AD

900

Kabbashi

Al Khartum

Sudan

Kush
Meroë
c. 800 BC -- c. 100 AD

Nabta Playa

c. 6900 BC

c. 3400 BC

3500

Wadi Halfa'

Ash Shamaliyah

Sudan

Nabta Playa
Nabta Playa
c. 6900 BC -- c. 3400 BC

Napata

c. 1500 BC

c. 100 AD

1600

Kareima

Darfur

Sudan

Egyptian
Napata
c. 1500 BC -- c. 1075 BC

Kush
Napata
c. 1075 BC -- c. 100 AD

Ngazargamu

1460 AD

1809 AD

349

Maïné-Soroa

Diffa

Niger

Bornu
Ngazargamu
1460 AD -- 1809 AD

Ouadane

c. 1000 AD

c. 1800 AD

800

Chinguetti

Adrar

Mauritania

Unknown
Ouadane
c. 1000 AD -- c. 1800 AD

Oualata

c. 1000 AD

c. 1600 AD

600

Oualâta

Hodh Ech Chargui

Mauritania

Ghana
Oualata
c. 1000 AD -- c. 1200 AD

Mali
Oualata
c. 1200 AD -- c. 1600 AD

Ounjougou

c. 10000 BC

c. 500 BC

9500

Douentza

Mopti

Mali

Unknown
Ounjougou
c. 10000 BC -- c. 500 BC

Porto-Novo

c. 1400 AD

c. 1900 AD

500

Porto-Novo

Oueme

Benin

Oyo
Porto-Novo
c. 1400 AD -- c. 1900 AD

Ptolemais

c. 700 BC

c. 600 AD

1300

Libya

Greek
Ptolemais
c. 700 BC -- 331 BC

Ptolemaic
Ptolemais
331 BC -- c. 0 AD

Roman
Tolmeta
c. 0 AD -- c. 330 AD

Byzantine
Tolmeta
c. 330 AD -- c. 600 AD

Rosetta

c. 2500 BC

c. 1900 AD

4400

Al Buhayrah

Egypt

Egyptian
Khito
c. 2500 BC -- c. 300 BC

Ptolemaic
Bolbitine
c. 300 BC -- c. 30 BC

Roman
Rosetta
30 BC -- 390 AD

Unknown
Rosetta
390 AD -- c. 750 AD

Abbasid
Rosetta
c. 750 AD -- c. 1100 AD

Crusader
Rosetta
c. 1100 AD -- c. 1250 AD

Mamluk
Rosetta
c. 1250 AD -- c. 1500 AD

Ottoman
Rosetta
c. 1500 AD -- c. 1900 AD

Sabha

c. 500 BC

1835 AD

2335

Sebhah

Sabha

Libya

Garamante
Sabha
c. 500 BC -- c. 500 AD

Unknown
Sabha
c. 500 AD -- c. 1500 AD

Ottoman
Sabha
c. 1500 AD -- 1711 AD

Karamanli
Sabha
1711 AD -- 1835 AD

Sais

c. 3100 BC

305 BC

2795

Basyun

Al Gharbiyah

Egypt

Egyptian
Zau
c. 3100 BC -- 305 BC

Saqqara

c. 2700 BC

c. 305 BC

2395

Hawamidyah

Al Jizah

Egypt

Egyptian
Saqqara
c. 2700 BC -- c. 305 BC

Ségou

c. 1700 AD

1890 AD

190

Segoukoro

Segou

Mali

Bamana
Ségou
c. 1700 AD -- 1848 AD

Toucouleur
Ségou
1848 AD -- 1890 AD

Sine Ngayène

c. 300 BC

c. 1500 AD

1800

Yallal

Lower River

The Gambia

Unknown
Sine Ngayène
c. 300 BC -- c. 1500 AD

Songo Mnara

c. 1000 AD

c. 1500 AD

500

Lindi

Tanzania

Kilwa
Songo Mnara
c. 1000 AD -- c. 1500 AD

Sukur

c. 1600 AD

c. 1900 AD

300

Borno

Nigeria

Dur
Sukur
c. 1600 AD -- c. 1900 AD

Tanis

c. 1100 BC

c. 500 AD

1600

San al Hajar al Qibliyah

Ash Sharqiyah

Egypt

Egyptian
Djanet
c. 1100 BC -- c. 305 BC

Ptolemaic
Tanis
305 BC -- 30 BC

Roman
Tanis
30 BC -- c. 500 AD

Tell Basta

c. 3000 BC

c. 30 BC

2970

Ash Sharqiyah

Egypt

Egyptian
Bubastis
c. 3000 BC -- c. 305 BC

Ptolemaic
Bubastis
c. 305 BC -- c. 30 BC

Thebes

c. 3200 BC

???

103199

El Karnak

Qina

Egypt

Egyptian
Thebes
c. 3200 BC -- ???

Tichit

c. 1000 AD

???

98999

Aïoun el Atrouss

Hodh El Gharbi

Mauritania

Unknown
???
c. 1000 AD -- ???

Timbuktu

c. 1100 AD

1890 AD

790

Timboctú

Tombouctou

Mali

Unknown
Timbuktu
c. 1100 AD -- c. 1325 AD

Mali
Timbuktu
c. 1325 AD -- c. 1425 AD

Berber
Timbuktu
c. 1425 AD -- c. 1475 AD

Songhai
Timbuktu
c. 1475 AD -- 1591 AD

Pashalik of Timbuktu
Timbuktu
1591 AD -- 1608 AD

Arma
Timbuktu
1608 AD -- 1826 AD

Massina
Timbuktu
1826 AD -- 1865 AD

Toucouleur
Timbuktu
1865 AD -- 1890 AD

Ulundi

c. 1816 AD

???

98183

Ulundi

KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa

Zulu
Ulundi
c. 1816 AD -- 1897 AD

British
Ulundi
1897 AD -- 1910 AD

South African
Ulundi
1910 AD -- ???

Volubilis

c. 300 BC

c. 974 AD

1274

Mekinez

Meknes-Tafilalet

Morocco

Phoenician
Volubilis
c. 300 BC -- c. 100 AD

Roman
Volubilis
c. 100 AD -- c. 330 AD

Umayyad
Volubilis
708 AD -- c. 800 AD

Idrisid
Volubilis
c. 800 AD -- c. 974 AD

Wassu

c. 300 BC

c. 1500 AD

1800

Madina

Central River

The Gambia

Unknown
Wassu
c. 300 BC -- c. 1500 AD

Yeha

c. 100 AD

c. 900 AD

800

Adoduwa

Tigray

Ethiopia

Aksumite
Yeha
c. 100 AD -- c. 900 AD