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Ifat Sultanate

Type Object Region Horn of Africa Time c. 1285–1415

An important Islamic sultanate of the Horn of Africa from the 13th to 15th centuries, located around today's eastern Ethiopia–Somalia border, control…

Timeline

  1. c. 1285–1300Eastern Ethiopian highlands · EthiopiaIn the late 13th century the Ifat Sultanate was established in the eastern Horn of Africa, controlling trade routes to Red Sea ports such as Zeila, linking the inland Ethiopian highlands with the Indian Ocean trade network.
  2. c. 1301–1310Ifat Sultanate · IfatBetween 1301 and 1310, Ifat and the Christian Solomonic Kingdom of Ethiopia were in sustained tension, competing over trade taxes and religious influence; Ifat participated in Red Sea–Indian Ocean commerce through the port of Zeila.
  3. c. 1310–1415Eastern Horn of Africa · Horn of AfricaIfat fought multiple wars with Ethiopia during the 14th century; conflicts were especially intense under Sultan Haqq ad-Din from 1387 to 1415, and around 1415 Ifat was conquered by Dawit I, ending its status as an independent sultanate.

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