Timeline of Nigerian history

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.

Centuries: 17th·18th·19th·20th·21st

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, Nsukka
 * 500 A.D. - End of the Nok culture

Rise of Igbo, Yoruba, Edo, and Muslim civilizations

 * 700 A.D – Early Ijaw settlement.
 * 800 A.D –
 * Mega-state at Igbo-Ukwu has complex social structure, produces copious artifacts including bronzes.
 * Yoruba civilization already well established, based on thirteen farming villages centered at Ilé-Ifẹ̀.
 * Kingdom of Kanem (later Kanem-Bornu) founded by Saif.
 * 900 – The reign of the Kingdom of Nri began.
 * 1100 – Rulers of the Kanem empire embrace Islam. Mai Dunama I (r. 1097–1150) drowns at Suez in 1150. Kanem establish diplomatic ties with Tunisia.
 * 1200 –
 * Ilé-Ifẹ̀ becomes Yoruba metropolis.
 * Kanem increase influence in the Islamic world throughout the century. It establishes a hostel in Cairo for students and pilgrims from its domain. The empire conquers Fezzan during the reign of Dunama II (r. 1221–1259).
 * Oba Ewedo comes to power in Benin Empire in 1255.
 * 1300 – Fulani Muslim scholars settle in Kanem from the Mali empire. The Kanem civil war begins. Mai Daud expelled from his capital of N'jimi and subsequently killed in 1376.
 * 1400 –
 * Beginning of European contact on the Atlantic coast in 1450.
 * Mai Ali Ghaji (r. 1472–1504) establishes Birnin N'gazargamu and founds the Bornu empire. He conquers Borku and Tibesti, and further exacts tribute from some Hausa states, including Kano.
 * 1500 –
 * The nominally Muslim Hausa Kingdoms were established in Northern Nigeria.
 * The ascension of Idris Alauma (r. 1571–1602/03) to the Bornu throne towards the end of this century. The empire reaches its zenith. The Kanem civil war ends resulting in Kanem being incorporated as a province within the Bornu Empire. Idris sends a diplomatic envoy to Istanbul requesting the return of the Fezzan region. However, the request was ultimately declined by the Ottoman authorities. Fezzan recaptured by Bornu in 1585.