Indigenous populations were made up of hunter gatherer tribes
By 1000 the farming of rice and millet had become widespread
The development of iron tools and weapons improved warfare and agriculture
Bantu migration had an impact on local culture
Early social hierarchies developed, with kings, chiefs and councils
Trade began with neighbouring regions, with materials such as nuts, ivory and gold
The Temne Kingdom grew in the Northern parts of the region
The Sherbro Kingdom dominated the coastal areas
Conflicts between local tribes were common

The Portuguese arrived in 1460s and began trade with the coastal populations. They then began trading enslaved Africans

Mane people of the Mali Empire invaded and began to establish dominance over the local populations

The British and Dutch competed with the Portuguese for control of the nations slaves and other resources
Slave forts were built as infrastructure to help facilitate the capture and trade of slaves

British abolitionists founded the Province of Freedom as a settlement for freed slaves in 1787 and Freetown was founded in 1792

Sierra Leone became a British colony with Freetown it’s capital

Sierra Leone gained freedom in 1961, since then it has experienced Civil War and political unrest