Editing History of Ivory Coast (section)

== Pre-European era ==
Five important states flourished in Ivory Coast in the pre-European era.<ref name=":2" /> The [[Bono people|Bono]] kingdom of [[Gyaaman|Gyaman]] was established in the 17th century by the [[Abron tribe|Abron]], an [[Akan people|Akan]] group that fled the developing [[Ashanti Empire]] in [[Ghana]].<ref name=":3" /> From their settlement south of [[Bondoukou]], the Abron gradually extended their dominance of the [[Dyula people|Juula]], recent emigrants from the market city of [[Begho]].<ref name=":3" /> Bondoukou developed into a major center of commerce and Islam.<ref name=":3" /> The kingdom's [[Quranic]] scholars attracted students from all parts of West Africa.<ref name=":3" /> 

In the mid-18th century in east-central Ivory Coast, other Akan groups fleeing the Ashanti Empire established a [[Baoulé people|Baoulé]] kingdom at [[Sakasso]] and two [[Anyi people|Agni]] kingdoms, [[Indénié]] and [[Sanwi]].<ref name=":3" /> The Baoulé, like the Ashanti, elaborated a highly centralized political and administrative structure under three successive rulers, but it finally split into smaller [[chiefdoms]].<ref name=":3" /> Despite the breakup of their kingdom, the Baoulé strongly resisted French subjugation.<ref name=":3" /> The descendants of the rulers of the Agni kingdoms tried to retain their separate identity long after Ivory Coast's independence; as late as 1969, the [[Kingdom of Sanwi|Sanwi]] of [[Krinjabo]] attempted to break away from Ivory Coast and form an independent kingdom.<ref name=":3" />

In the early 18th century, the [[Juula]] established the Muslim [[Kong Empire]] in the north-central region inhabited by the [[Sénoufo]], who fled Islamization under the [[Mali Empire]].<ref name=":2" />  The Kong Empire was a prosperous center of agriculture, trade, and crafts but weakened gradually because of ethnic diversity and religious discord.<ref name=":3">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Cote d'Ivoire: a country study |publisher=[[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]] |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/90005878/ |date=1988 |editor-last=Handloff |editor-first=Robert Earl |page=7 |pages= |isbn= |oclc=44238009 |postscript=. {{PD-notice}}}}.</ref> The city of Kong was destroyed in 1895 by [[Samori Touré]].<ref name=":3" />