Other Countries (Africas)

The periodization of African history can be divided into six eras. There is Prehistoric Africa, which encompasses the time period beginning with the start of human evolution to the rise of African civilizations. Africa's ancient historic period involves the rise of Egyptian civilization, the further development of societies outside the Nile River Valley and the interaction between them and civilizations outside of Africa.

Africa's "Medieval" period begins during the mid 8th century with the development and expansion of the Trans-Saharan Trade and ends with the start of the Atlantic Slave Trade. Pre-Colonial African History focuses on the time between the beginning of the 16th century with the forced transport of African peoples and cultures to the New World up to the beginning of Europe's scramble for Africa. Africa's Colonial period lasted from the date of the Berlin Conference in 1884 until the start of Africa's independence movement in 1951 when Libya became the first African colony to become independent. Post-Colonial or Modern African history has been rife with revolutions and wars as well as the growth of Modern African economies and democratization across the continent.