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Conflict Africa

Rise of the Zulu Kingdom (Mfecane)

1816 CE – 1828 CE · 12 years

Shaka Zulu's military revolution transformed a small chiefdom into southern Africa's most powerful kingdom. The resulting Mfecane ('crushing') displaced millions and reshaped the demographic map of the entire region.

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Belligerents

The main peoples, kingdoms and states involved.

  • Zulu Kingdom (Shaka)
  • Ndwandwe, Mthethwa & neighbouring peoples

Key moments

Defining events in the Rise of the Zulu Kingdom (Mfecane).

  1. 1818 Battle of Gqokli Hill
  2. 1819–1820 Battle of Mhlatuze River

Elsewhere in Africa at the time

Records whose own span overlaps this one, found by the same test the canvas draws with. The bar under each card is where it sits inside this one.

See the whole view

Landmark · Africa

Taï National Park

3000 BCE – still standing

Conflict · Africa

Oyo–Dahomey Wars

1726 CE – 1823 CE

Polity · Africa

Liberia

Founded 1822 CE · attested to 2026 CE

Trade route · Africa

Atlantic Middle Passage

1600 CE – 1850 CE

Landmark · Africa

Rwenzori Mountains

3000 BCE – still standing

Conflict · Africa

Anglo-Ashanti Wars

1824 CE – 1900 CE

Polity · Africa

Angola

Attested 1815 CE – 2026 CE

Landmark · Africa

Serengeti National Park

3000 BCE – still standing

Dated moments inside this span

Events the timeline places between 1816 CE and 1828 CE.

1824 CE Anglo-Ashanti Wars 1817 CE Seminole Wars 1817 CE Cisplatine Province conflicts 1820 CE Peruvian War of Independence 1821 CE Greek War of Independence

And in the rest of the world

Records running through the same years, on the other side of the map.

Portobelo Landmark · Americas 1597 CE – 1821 CE Brazil Polity · Americas Founded 1822 CE · attested to 2026 CE Tea Horse Road Trade route · East Asia 700 CE – 1950 CE Argentine War of Independence Conflict · Americas 1810 CE – 1818 CE John Adams Figure · America 1735 CE – 1826 CE Levuka Landmark · Oceania 1820 CE – still standing
Image credits6 pictures from Wikimedia Commons