The Dark Continent

The Dark Continent
In this alternate history universe, African nations become world powers through a series of events starting from the defeat of Rome by the Carthaginians in the Second Punic War. The Carthaginian Empire spans southern Iberia, the Mediterranean and southern Italy, with Rome becoming a Carthaginian client state. Ptolemaic Egypt eventually becomes one of the most powerful post-Alexandrian states, managing to defeat Seleucids and expand into Syria, Anatolia and southern Greece. The Ptolemaic dynasty continues to rule Egypt and Cleopatra lives a long natural life, expanding her territory southwards into the northern part of Nubia.

Other states begin to arise in Africa; Numidia and Mauretania arise under Carthaginian influence. The Libyans organise themselves in a number of tribal confederations as Egypt pushes into its land. The Kingdom of Axum arises in OTL Eritrea and northern Ethiopia which will eventually come to encompass all of the Arabian peninsula and become the forefront of Indian Ocean trade.

The Celts thrive in Western Europe without Roman interference with the Gauls finding allies in the Carthaginians. Illyria allies itself with Egypt in order to defend against Macedonia.

TBC