Timeline of Nigerian history

Updated on Dec 13, 2024

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This is a timeline of Nigerian history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in Nigeria and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of Nigeria. See also the list of heads of state of Nigeria.

Early history

8000 B.C. – Creation of oldest currently known artifacts and stone shelters. Igboland mostly occupied by foragers, including Bantu ancestors.

3000–500 B.C. – Development of agriculture (probably including yam cultivation) and animal husbandry.

500 B.C. – A.D. 200 – Nok culture flourishes in Northern Nigeria.

400–100 B.C. – Ironworking develops around Opi.

Rise of Igbo, Yoruba, Edo, and Muslim civilisations

770 A.D. – Early Ijaw settlement.

800 – Yoruba civilization already well established, based on thirteen farming villages centered at Ilé-Ifẹ̀. Mega-state at Igbo-Ukwu has complex social structure, produces copious artifacts including bronzes.

1000 – The reign of the Kingdom of Nri began.

1100 – The Islamic state of Borno was established.

1200 – Ilé-Ifẹ̀ becomes Yoruba metropolis.

1255 – Oba Ewedo comes to power in Benin Empire.

1450 – Beginning of European contact on the Atlantic coast.

1500 – The nominally Muslim Hausa Kingdoms were established in Northern Nigeria.

References

Timeline of Nigerian history Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Contents

Early history

Rise of Igbo, Yoruba, Edo, and Muslim civilisations

References