Ife Empire

The Ife Empire was the first empire in Yoruba history. It was founded in what is now southwestern Nigeria and eastern Benin. The Ife Empire lasted from 1200 to 1420. The empire was formed by Odùduwà, and became well-known for its sophisticated art pieces. Although Yoruba was the main language of the empire, there were also various spoken dialects and languages. It rose to power through trade with Sahelian and forest states. Its capital city, Ilé-Ife, was one of the largest urban centers in 14th century West Africa.

Empire of Ife
c. 1200 - 1420 AD
Ife Empire during mid 14th century
StatusEmpire
Capital
Common languagesYoruba
Edo
Djerma
Nupe
Bariba
Religion
Yoruba religion, Islam,
GovernmentElective Monarchy
Oba 
Historical eraPostclassical Era
CurrencyPossibly Glass beads
Succeeded by
Oyo Empire
Benin Kingdom
Ijebu Kingdom
Today part ofNigeria
Benin
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.