Africa is one of the most diverse continents on earth. Africa is also a very populated continent. A lot of large civilizations are based around the Nile River, the longest river in the world. Egypt, Nubia, and Ethiopia were the biggest civilizations in Africa up to the 1800s.

Egypt was the most well-known and most powerful country in Africa. The country was based around the Nile River, where crops flourished. Egypt grew very wealthy under the rule of their pharaohs. Rome conquered Egypt around 31 BC and remained in control of it for a long time, until the fall of the Roman Empire. Egypt’s main religion was Islam.

Nubia was another powerful country located south of Egypt. They remained independent of Egypt, but started to decline at around 400 AD. Nubia was thought to be the place where ironworking originated.

Ethiopia, also called Axum, was unique in that it remained independent for its whole history. It was particularly strong and rich during the first century under its line of powerful kings. It was built up through trade along the coast of the Red Sea. Ethiopia was influenced by Egyptian and Greek culture.

In the west and south of Africa, lots of small tribal nations flourished, and they fought with each other but stayed mostly independent. The Europeans would buy prisoners of war from the different tribes, and the slave trade boomed. The rest of Africa stayed very decentralized until more modern times.

Africa had lots of natural resources, but most remained unused until the Europeans showed up and started to rapidly colonize Africa. They made lots of money off of the natural resources that they had discovered.

Africa has been fighting for independence from other countries for a long time, but they still need their support to advance.