The following is a list of key events in the political history of East Africa.
Antiquity 25th century BC: Earliest recorded Egyptian expedition to the Land of Punt in the Horn of Africa organized by Pharaoh Sahure of the Fifth Dynasty. c. 800 BC: Foundation of the Kingdom of D`mt in northern Ethiopia and Eritrea (capital: Yeha) c. 1st century AD: Periplus of the Erythraean Sea reports trade connecting Somalis in present-day Berbera and Ras Hafun in northern Somalia to other communities along the Indian coast. c. 250: Foundation of the Kingdom of Aksum, in northern Ethiopia and Eritrea (capital: Axum) c. 614 AD: Islam is first introduced into northern Somalia. 7th century: Foundation of the Sultanate of Zeila in the Awdal region of modern-day Somalia. c. 950: Possible conquest of Axum by Gudit, continued by the Zagwe dynasty 957: Foundation of the Sultanate of Kilwa Kisiwani, in Tanzania. c. 11th century – 13th century – founding of numerous Sultanates in Ethiopia (Muslim in the east, Pagan and Muslim in the west), including Bale, Damot, Dawaro, Fetegar, Hadiya Kingdom, Ifat, Mora, Shewa (see also Shewa), and Wag. c. 1137: A later possible date for the rise of the Zagwe and fall of Aksum. 1203: Foundation of the Sultanate of Pate, in Kenya, splitting from the Kingdom of Kilwa Kisiwani. c. 1250: Foundation of the Kingdom of Welayta, in Ethiopia. Ruled by the Tegra'i dynasty from the 17th century. 1250-1300: Foundation of the Sultanate of Mogadishu in Somalia. 1270: Solomonic dynasty comes to prominence in Ethiopia, displacing the Zagwe dynasty rulers. 14th century: Foundation of the Kingdom of Malindi, in Kenya. Foundation of the Kingdom of Ambohidratima, in Madagascar. Foundation of the Kingdom of Buganda, in Uganda. c. 1330: Foundation of the Kingdom of Munhumutapa Empire, in Zimbabwe. 1331: Ibn Battuta visits Mogadishu in Somalia. 1332: Foundation of the Adal Sultanate in present-day northwestern Somalia, southern Djibouti, and the Somali, Oromia, and Afar regions of Ethiopia.Franz Amadeus Dombrowski, "Ethiopia's Access to the Sea", (E.J. Brill: 1985), p. 17 c. 1390: Foundation of the Kingdom of Kaffa in Ethiopia.
Islam expansion and early European conquests 15th century: Foundation of the Karemera dynasty in Burundi, replaced by the Baganwa dynasty before the end of the 17th century. Foundation of the Rwanda Kingdom, rules by the Naoro dynasty from the 16th century. Foundation of the Kingdoms of Ankole and Bunyoro-Kitara, in Uganda. 1420: First mention of the Kingdom of Karanga, in Mozambique. c. 1450: Foundation of the Kingdom of Innarya, in Ethiopia. c. 1480: The Empire of Changamire proclaims independence from Karanga. 1485: Foundation of the Sultanate of Angoshe, in Mozambique. 1494: First mention of the Kingdom of Manyika, in Mozambique, under the Nguruve dynasty. 1 March 1498: Portugal claims Mozambique. 16th century: Foundation of the Kingdom of Pemba. c. 1500: Foundation of the Sultanate of Ndzuwani (Anjouan), in the Comoros. Foundation of the Sultanate of Maore, in Mayotte. 10 August 1500: Portugal discovers Madagascar. 1501: Portugal establishes the Captaincy of Sofala in Mozambique, a dependency of Goa, then settles at Mozambique Island in 1507, Sena in 1531 and Quelimane in 1534. 1502: Foundation of the Sultanate of Mombasa, in Kenya. 1503: Portugal discovers Comoros and Mayotte, and annexes Zanzibar in Tanzania. 1505: Portugal discovers Mauritius and names it Ilho de Cerne, then Mascarene Islands from 1513. Portugueses occupy Kilwa Kisiwani until 1512. 8 September 1507: The Captaincy of Sofala becomes the Captaincy of Sofala and Moçambique. c.1520: Oromo bands raid north across the Shebelle River, which over following generations leads to a migration into their modern northern and western territories. 1527: Beginning of invasion of Solomonic Ethiopia by Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi of Adal. 1528: Portugal discovers Ilha Rodriguez, in Mauritius. 1530s: Foundation of the Kingdom of Yengar, in Ethiopia, under the Mowa dynasty. 21 February 1543: Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi of Adal is defeated and killed in the Battle of Wayna Daga, ending Muslim rule over Ethiopia. c. 1550: Foundation of the Kingdom of Bulamogi, in Uganda. Foundation of the Kingdom of Bulozi, in Zambia. 1557: Massawa (in modern-day Eritrea) occupied by the Ottoman Empire, which becomes the start of the province of Habesh 1560: Foundation of the Kingdom of Sheka, in Ethiopia. 1567: Foundation of the Kingdom of Bosha, in Ethiopia. 1569: The Captaincy of Sofala and Moçambique becomes the Captaincy-general of Moçambique and separate from Goa. 1577: The Adal Sultanate in Ethiopia splits into the Kingdom of Harar, and the Imamate of Aussa. c. 1590: Foundation of the Kingdom of Imamo, in Madagascar. 1593: Portugal occupies Mombasa. 1597: Portugal conquers Kilwa Kisiwani. 20 September 1598: Netherlands claim Mascarene Islands. 17th century: Foundation of the Kingdom of Wanga, in Kenya. Foundation of the Kingdoms of Bara and Manandriana, in Madagascar. Foundation of the Kingdom of Malawi, it will ceases to exist at the end of the 19th century under British rule. Foundation of the Kingdoms of Bugama-Kiganda, Buhoma, Bukonya, Bushiru, Bwanamwari, Cyingogo, Kibari, Ruhengeri and Rwankeri, in Rwanda. Portugal conquers Pemba. Foundation of the Kingdom of Bemba, in Zambia. First mention of the Kingdom of Torwa, in Zimbabwe. c. 1600: Foundation of the Sultanate of Majerteen, in Somalia. 1609: The Captaincy-general of Moçambique becomes the colony of Moçambique, Sofala, Ríos de Cuama and Monomatapa, a dependency of Goa. 1615: Foundation of the Kingdom of Konta, in Ethiopia. 1625: Ilha Rodriguez is claimed by France under the name Rodrigues, settlements established from 1735. 1629: Portugal conquers Munhumutapa. c. 1635: Foundation of the Kingdom of Maungwe, in Zimbabwe. 1638: Portugal establishes a colony in Mombasa, a dependency of Goa. 7 May 1638: Mascarene Islands become a Dutch colony under the name Mauritius, controlled by the United East India Company. It will be abandoned 17 February 1710. 24 September 1642: Foundation of the French colony of Fort-Dauphin, in Madagascar. It will be abandoned 27 August 1674 and a vain effort to found it again will take place from 1768 to 1771. 1646: The Kingdom of Harar becomes an Emirate. December 1649: Réunion is annexed by France under the name Bourbon Island. c. 1650: Foundation of the Kingdom of Hadimu, in Tanzania. After 1672: End of the Imamate of Aussa 1 December 1674: Bourbon Island is under the rule of the French Eastern India Company. c. 1675: First mention of the Kingdom of Ambohimanga, in Madagascar, under the Imerina dynasty. c. 1680: Foundation of the Kingdom of Burundi. Torwa is annexed by Changamire. 1680: The Sultanate of Kilwa Kisiwani proclaims independence from Portugal. c. 1683: Foundation of the Kingdom of Busiki, in Uganda. c. 1685: Foundation of the Kingdom of Menabe, in Madagascar, under the Volamena dynasty. c. 1690: Foundation of the Kingdom of Boina, in Madagascar. 1695: Changamire conquers Manyika and places the Tembo-Shumba dynasty to govern it. 1698: Zanzibar and Pemba are ceded to Oman. 12 December 1698: Mombasa is ceded to the Sultanate of Oman, but is occupied again by the Portuguese from 12 March 1728 to 21 September 1729. 18th century: Foundation of the kingdoms of Arindrano, Fisakana, Isandra and Lalangina, in Madagascar. First mention of the Kingdom of Mpororo, in Uganda. Foundation of the Kingdoms of Bugabula, Bugweri Bufutulu, Bukono, Bukooli, Bukwanga Kiki, Bunha, Buzaaya, Buzimba-Busoga and Luuka, in Uganda. Foundation of the Kingdom of Kazembe, in Zambia. First mention of the Kingdom of Bocha, in Zimbabwe. c. 1700: The Kingdom of Kafa becomes an Empire. c. 1710: Foundation of the Kingdom of Tananarive, in Madagascar. First mention of the Kingdom of Nhowe, in Zimbabwe, under the Mangwende dynasty. 1712: Foundation of the Kingdom of Betsimisaraka, in Madagascar by Ratsimilaho. 6 September 1715: Mauritius is claimed by France under the name Isle de France, controlled by the Compagnie des Indes from 23 September 1721. March 1721: Netherlands settles at Fort Lijdzaamheid, in Mozambique, a dependency of Cape. The settlement will be abandoned 27 December 1730. 1734: Mudaito dynasty founds the Aussa Sultanate in Ethiopia. 4 June 1735: Isle de France is part of the colony of Mascarene Islands, until 23 March 1746. c. 1740: First mention of the Kingdom of Antakarana, in Madagascar. Foundation of the Kingdom of Mbire, in Zimbabwe. 19 November 1742: Seychelles are claimed by France under the name La Bourdonnais Islands, the Séchelles from 27 August 1770. c. 1744: Foundation of the Kingdom of Shavasha, in Zimbabwe, under the Chinamhora dynasty. 1746: The Sultanate of Mombasa, in Kenya, proclaims independence from Oman. c. 1750: Pemba gains autonomy from Oman. 1750: First mention of the Sheikhdom of Kitangonya, in Mozambique. 26 July 1750: Betsimisaraka cedes Sainte-Marie de Madagascar to France. 1752: The colony of Moçambique, Sofala, Ríos de Cuama and Monomatapa becomes the colony of Moçambique, Zambesi and Sofala. Dissolution of the Kingdom of Mpororo into the Kingdoms of Igara, Kajara, Nshenyi, Obwera, Rujumbura, Rukiga. 1753: Foundation of the Sheikhdom of Sankul, in Mozambique. c. 1760: Foundation of the Kingdom of Walo, in Ethiopia, under the Mamadoch dynasty. 1764: Bourbon Island becomes a crown colony of France. 14 July 1767: Isle de France becomes a crown colony. 1771: Hadimu is under Omani suzerainty. 11 February 1774: Foundation of the Kingdom of Antogil, in Madagascar, by a Hungarian adventurer. 1780s: First mention of the Kingdom of Ufipa, in Tanzania. 23 May 1786: Antogil is annexed to France. c. 1788: Foundation of the Kingdom of Govera, in Zimbabwe. c. 1790: Foundation of the Kingdom of Jimma, in Ethiopia 19 March 1793: Bourbon Island is renamed Réunion Island. 1794: Tananarive is annexed to Ambohimanga. 17 May 1794: Séchelles are occupied by the United Kingdom. c. 1795: Foundation of the Kingdom of Nkamanga, in Malawi. 1797: Ambohidratima is annexed to Ambohimanga. 25 October 1797: Isle de France and Réunion become départements, until 19 April 1801. 19th century: Andrindrano, Bara, Fisakana, Imamo and Mananddriana are annexed to Madagascar. Foundation of the Kingdom of Maseko, in Malawi. First mention of the Kingdoms of Buddu, Buhindi, Bukome, Ilole, Kimwani, Lungemba, Udongwe and Usangu, in Tanzania. Foundation of the Kingdom of Tumbatu, in Tanzania. First mention of the Kingdoms of Buhweju, Bunyaruguru and Kigulu, in Uganda. c. 1800: Ennarea is known as Limmu-Ennarea. Foundation of the kingdoms of Gera, Goma and Kingdom of Gumma, in Ethiopia. The Kingdom of Lyangalile proclaims independence from Ufipa.
Acceleration of European colonization 3 February 1803: Isle de France and Réunion are parts of the colony of French East India, until 2 September 1810. Séchelles are also nominally part of it, despite the British occupation. 15 August 1806: Réunion Island is renamed Bonaparte Island. 4 August 1809: The United Kingdom occupies Rodrigues. 1810: Isandra and Lalangina are annexed to Ambohimanga. First mention of the Kingdom of Buzinja, in Tanzania. 17 May 1810: Séchelles are annexed by the United Kingdom, under the name Seychelles, as a colony subordinated to Mauritius, confirmed 30 May 1814 by the Treaty of Paris. 9 July 1810: Bonaparte Island is occupied by the United Kingdom. 7 August 1810: Bonaparte Island is renamed Bourbon Island. 3 December 1810: Isle de France is ceded to the United Kingdom, and becomes the colony of Mauritius. This possession is confirmed 30 May 1814 by the Treaty of Paris. December 1813: northern Ethiopia (modern-day northern Eritrea) is occupied by Egypt until 1826. 30 May 1814: Rodrigues is annexed by the United Kingdom as a dependency of Mauritius. 1815: Foundation of the Kingdom of Jere, in Malawi. First mention of the Kingdom of Shambalai, in Tanzania.