Nigeria Timeline
A History: Nigeria on Dipity.
The Population of Nigeria
The first advanced civilization in Nigeria were the Nok. These people lived on the Jos Plateau from 500 BCE to 200 BCE. In the earliest settlements of what is now present day Nigeria there were many regional kingdoms. The earliest of these kingdoms was the Igbo kingdom of the Nri in the Southeast of Nigeria. In the 1100's people were united in the Southwest under the Yoruba Kingdom. Around the same time Hausa farmers settled in the North and organized many Hausa states that had their own economic specialties. Most of Nigeria's present day population can trace their ancestors back to one of these three groups of people. Today most Hausa live in the North, Yoruba in the Southwest, and Igbo in the Southeast.
In 1472, Portugal was the first European country to venture into Nigeria. Not long after the slave trade was established. Many kings sold people to the Europeans in exchange for great wealth. The people most heavily affected by the slave trade were the Yoruba and Igbo peoples. During this time Europeans also brought with them their religion thus causing there to be a split in the population between Muslims and Christian Nigerians.
Today Nigeria is the 8th most populated country in the world and most in Africa. Of over the 150 million people most live in poverty. English is the official language of the country but over 500 languages are spoken by Nigerian people. These languages derive from Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo; each of these have varying dialects and variations.
In 1472, Portugal was the first European country to venture into Nigeria. Not long after the slave trade was established. Many kings sold people to the Europeans in exchange for great wealth. The people most heavily affected by the slave trade were the Yoruba and Igbo peoples. During this time Europeans also brought with them their religion thus causing there to be a split in the population between Muslims and Christian Nigerians.
Today Nigeria is the 8th most populated country in the world and most in Africa. Of over the 150 million people most live in poverty. English is the official language of the country but over 500 languages are spoken by Nigerian people. These languages derive from Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo; each of these have varying dialects and variations.
Population Pyramids
After viewing the population pyramids it seems that Nigeria's population has grown rapidly in the past 50 years. It has tripled since 1960. The population of Nigeria is also young, the majority of the population falls beneath the age of 35. The pyramids also show that the number of adults older than 40 has grown smaller than it was in 1960. The oldest people of Nigeria are older than the oldest people were in 1960, I feel that it is safe to say that the life expectancy in Nigeria has probably increased as well.
The Settlement of Nigeria
In Nigeria stone tools and human remains can be dated back as early as 9000 BCE. Regionally, as people settled in the North they tended to trade with north Africa and Nigeria's central forestland. In the south people thrived on farming and coastal trading. As mentioned before there were many Kingdoms. The Yoruba Kingdom was well organized and farmers grew crops and people were able to produce works of art made of bronze, brass, copper, wood, ceramic, and ivory. The Kanem Kingdom was known for their ostrich feathers, ivory, trading of enslaved people.
The slave trade began after the Portuguese reached Nigeria in 1472. In 1884 at the Berlin Conference Great Britain claimed Nigeria. Following this in the 1900's the British established political rule until October 1, 1960 when Nigeria claimed its independence from Britain.
In 1908 oil was found in the Niger Delta and was not significant until commercial oil production began in the 1950's. Between the years of 1973-1974, Nigeria became one of the world's top oil producers, and oil became the basis of Nigeria's economy. Even though Nigeria is full of fertile land, non-oil industries struggled as many left their farms for jobs in oil, manufacturing and construction. Up until that point Nigeria was successful enough agriculturally, that they could export food. Due to the lack of fostering non-oil industries Nigeria has to import many of its food.
Many of Nigeria's natural resources include natural gas, coal, tin, columbite, iron ore, gypsum, limestone, gold, and gemstones. Many Nigerians also grow cassava and manioc which is a starchy root and the basis of their diet.
The southern parts of Nigeria receive lots of rainfall throughout the year. This region grows yams, cassava, taro, sweet potatoes, and cashew trees. This area produces cacao and rubber which are the countries leading exports.
In the middle portion of Nigeria the grow sesame, which in turn creates sesame oil as well as soybeans.
In the North which is much drier compared to the rest of the country, they grow legumes; such as cow peas, millet, and Guinea corn.
The slave trade began after the Portuguese reached Nigeria in 1472. In 1884 at the Berlin Conference Great Britain claimed Nigeria. Following this in the 1900's the British established political rule until October 1, 1960 when Nigeria claimed its independence from Britain.
In 1908 oil was found in the Niger Delta and was not significant until commercial oil production began in the 1950's. Between the years of 1973-1974, Nigeria became one of the world's top oil producers, and oil became the basis of Nigeria's economy. Even though Nigeria is full of fertile land, non-oil industries struggled as many left their farms for jobs in oil, manufacturing and construction. Up until that point Nigeria was successful enough agriculturally, that they could export food. Due to the lack of fostering non-oil industries Nigeria has to import many of its food.
Many of Nigeria's natural resources include natural gas, coal, tin, columbite, iron ore, gypsum, limestone, gold, and gemstones. Many Nigerians also grow cassava and manioc which is a starchy root and the basis of their diet.
The southern parts of Nigeria receive lots of rainfall throughout the year. This region grows yams, cassava, taro, sweet potatoes, and cashew trees. This area produces cacao and rubber which are the countries leading exports.
In the middle portion of Nigeria the grow sesame, which in turn creates sesame oil as well as soybeans.
In the North which is much drier compared to the rest of the country, they grow legumes; such as cow peas, millet, and Guinea corn.
Maps
Here are some maps depicting Nigeria's natural resources, climate, and physical features.
Summary of Findings
After researching about Nigeria and the population and settlement of the country, a few events and factors stick out. For a very long time now, Nigeria has been inhabited by several groups of people that organized themselves into kingdoms. Each kingdom had its own individual specialties. One thing that is consistent was that they were able to grow enough food so that other members of their society were able to create art and trade with neighboring peoples.
Each region is also defined by the amount of rain that is received throughout the year. The southern parts of Nigeria are able to grow plants and produce products that rely on a lot of rain because of this annual rainfall. Another natural resource that separates the South from the North is oil. The southern region of Nigeria contains so much oil that it is one of the world's top oil producers.
A few events that shaped Nigeria's history of settlement and population are the arrival of Europeans, Great Britain claiming Nigeria, and the commercial production of oil. With the arrival of the Europeans, the people of the area that would become Nigeria were introduced to Christianity and some were sold into slavery. This religious divide between Muslim and Christian Nigerians is still effecting the history of Nigeria. When Great Britain claimed Nigeria it set up a government system that is still evident in Nigeria today. One of the largest events that effected Nigeria was the commercial production of oil. This event catapulted Nigeria into one of the top oil producers in the country. It also caused a lot of Nigerians to leave their farms and other non-oil industries. In turn this caused a country that exported food to now import food. It also left their non-oil industries under developed.
Each region is also defined by the amount of rain that is received throughout the year. The southern parts of Nigeria are able to grow plants and produce products that rely on a lot of rain because of this annual rainfall. Another natural resource that separates the South from the North is oil. The southern region of Nigeria contains so much oil that it is one of the world's top oil producers.
A few events that shaped Nigeria's history of settlement and population are the arrival of Europeans, Great Britain claiming Nigeria, and the commercial production of oil. With the arrival of the Europeans, the people of the area that would become Nigeria were introduced to Christianity and some were sold into slavery. This religious divide between Muslim and Christian Nigerians is still effecting the history of Nigeria. When Great Britain claimed Nigeria it set up a government system that is still evident in Nigeria today. One of the largest events that effected Nigeria was the commercial production of oil. This event catapulted Nigeria into one of the top oil producers in the country. It also caused a lot of Nigerians to leave their farms and other non-oil industries. In turn this caused a country that exported food to now import food. It also left their non-oil industries under developed.
Additional Resources
This site is a general listing of facts about the basics of Nigeria. It goes more in depth about the economy and the people of Nigeria.
This site is from National Geographic and contain quick basic facts about Nigeria for kids, along with colorful pictures.
This site is from National Geographic and contain quick basic facts about Nigeria for kids, along with colorful pictures.
References
U.S. Census Bureau. (Designer). (2009). Nigeria: 2000. [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://www.4shared.com/photo/6y1mxVIZ/Nigeria_population_pyramid.html - population pyramid Nigeria 2000
U.S. Census Bureau. (Photographer). (2012). Nigeria: 2010. [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://kieranbellew.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/nigeria-tested-by-rapid-rise-in-population/
National Weather Service. (Designer). (2010). Average monthly rainfall. [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://kieranbellew.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/nigeria-tested-by-rapid-rise-in-population/
Adam, R. (Artist). (2012). Africa's biomes . [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://10000birds.com/africas-biomes-the-guinea-congo-forests.htm
Guckenberger, C. (Photographer). (n.d.). Land of hope . [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://back2back.org/2009/12/vision-for-nigeria-land-of-hope-campaign-by-corrie-guckenberger-back2back-nigeria/
Heinrichs, A. (2010). Nigeria:enchantment of the world. New York: Children's Press Scholastic Inc.
Wulf, M. D. (Designer). (2011). Population pyramid. [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://populationpyramid.net/Nigeria/2010/
Wulf, M. D. (Photographer). (2011). Population pyramid. [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://populationpyramid.net/Nigeria/1960/
U.S. Census Bureau. (Photographer). (2012). Nigeria: 2010. [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://kieranbellew.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/nigeria-tested-by-rapid-rise-in-population/
National Weather Service. (Designer). (2010). Average monthly rainfall. [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://kieranbellew.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/nigeria-tested-by-rapid-rise-in-population/
Adam, R. (Artist). (2012). Africa's biomes . [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://10000birds.com/africas-biomes-the-guinea-congo-forests.htm
Guckenberger, C. (Photographer). (n.d.). Land of hope . [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://back2back.org/2009/12/vision-for-nigeria-land-of-hope-campaign-by-corrie-guckenberger-back2back-nigeria/
Heinrichs, A. (2010). Nigeria:enchantment of the world. New York: Children's Press Scholastic Inc.
Wulf, M. D. (Designer). (2011). Population pyramid. [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://populationpyramid.net/Nigeria/2010/
Wulf, M. D. (Photographer). (2011). Population pyramid. [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://populationpyramid.net/Nigeria/1960/