Your challenge is to have a sub-Saharan African empire expand into Europe and hold some European territory. It doesn't have to be for very long, it just has to happen.
AHC: Sub-Saharan African Empire gains European territory
- Thread starter Mort the Reaper
- Start date
Geography is your enemy. Eurasia is way bigger than Sub Saharan Africa. Crossing over to either side is almost impossible without fairly modern technology.
Sub Saharan Africa has only so much land to develop a Civilization that advanced, without outside help/influence. If they cross over, in almost all probability, they can't go back.
Sub Saharan Africa has only so much land to develop a Civilization that advanced, without outside help/influence. If they cross over, in almost all probability, they can't go back.
I think at least partly, so IMO, it's close enough for government work.
The Mali heartland is in the Sahel which is by definition the border-zone on the south side of the Sahara so I think it counts. Heck the original capital of Mali, Niani is in modern Guinea which is well Sub-Saharan by any standard.
Dolan
Banned
Yes, pretty much southwest past Sahara, and have some Algerian cities actually sworn off to Mansa Musa, mind you.
Mansa Musa originally died soon after returning from the Hajj, there are debates about if he were assassinated in North Africa because he planned to invade the Marinids, who in turn, still struggling with the remnants of Almohads.
If he doesn't die, as he already amassed such wealth before, he might actually used his gold to bought mercenaries and go conquering North Africa, uniting the feuding Moors before reinforcing Granada, therefore getting a foothold in Europe.
Other Sub-Saharan Kingdoms just didn't have the potential of 13-14th century Mali. Too bad, the later ends up in civil war too soon after Mansa Musa died.
Have Ethiopian contacts with Iberia be more solid in the 1300s-1400s and intermarry into what will eventually become the Spanish Royal Family?
I think this could make an interesting timeline. Even the just the base premise of Mansa Musa living longer could have some pretty significant effects.
Dolan
Banned
Yes, Mansa Musa was the richest man who ever lived, if the wealth is defined by gold and silver hoards.
IOTL, he died early on and his successors squander that wealth in brutal series of power struggles that ultimately brings decline to Mali Empire.
Let's say he live longer ITTL, going on with what he already do by fighting the Marinids and tried to get fealty of the Almohad remnants. It won't be a stretch that he could reunite Maghreb North Africa, and from there, maybe either spending years building and consolidating, or the faster route, invading the recently lost Al Andalus, using the Lost Muslim Land as the Casus Belli.
Heck, even if he only reunite North Africa, Granada will eventually fal into the alt-Mali Sphere of Influence, so mucb that when The Spaniards attacked again, therr will be massive counterattack coming to Andalusia.