Hausa city-state of Kano

Timeline

1. c. 1000–1100Dala Hill · Kano StateHausa tradition attributes Kano's origin to Dala Hill; during this period the settlement expanded and early walls were built, handicrafts and regional exchange began to concentrate, establishing the city-state's core political and economic position.
2. c. 1260–1270Old city of Kano · Kano StateBy the mid-13th century Kano was already an important Islamic scholarly and commercial center among the Hausa states, with its dyeing industry (Kano indigo) renowned; merchants traveled between North Africa and the Sahel, and the city's administrative and religious institutions stood side by side.
3. c. 1500–1700Kano · Kano StateKano repeatedly expanded its walls and palace district, maintaining its handicraft and trade advantages amid competition among the Hausa states, becoming one of the largest cities in the West African interior, with significant growth in population and workshop scale.