In the northern Nile valley, Egypt is ruled by Greek-speaking rulers, the Ptolemies, and is a leading power in the Hellenistic world of the eastern Mediterranean. To its south, the civilization of Nubia continues to develop in its own distinctive way.
In the western Sahara, the local Berber tribes are pioneering trade routes across the desert between the Mediterranean and the Sahel.
By this date Bantu tribes occupy a huge stretch of territory taking in the west African and Congo rain forests and the grasslands to their north, right across to the Great Lakes region. The Bantu have mastered both savannah and forest agriculture, and keep sheep, goats and possibly cattle. This mix of food producing capabilities gives them a distinct advantage over the other peoples of sub-Saharan Africa, and the spreading use of iron gives them a further superiority. Their population is beginning to grow rapidly, and to push down towards the south.
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Timeline of World History
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