Africa (African World)

Africa is the world's second largest continent, second to Asia. Covering about 12 million miles², Africa contains 20% of the Earth's land mass, and 6% of its surface.

The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, both the Suez Canal and the Red Sea along the Sinai Peninsula to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Pre-History
Africa is considered to be the oldest inhabited continent, which humanity was found to have been first origions from the Horn of Africa. By the year 2000 CE there was known remains of early humans as old as 8 million years. Remains of what is beleived to have evolved into man had been found as old as 10 million years.

Early Civilizations
At about 3300 BC, the historical record opens in Northern Africa with the rise of literacy in the civilization of Ancient Egypt. One of the world's earliest and longest-lasting civilizations, the Egyptian state continued, with varying levels of influence over other areas, until about 1900 CE when the empire of Egypt started to decline.

The Great Golden Age
The First African Golden Age (About 200 CE - 1000 CE) was the first continental, and longest golden age of Africa. It was an age of prosperity in Africa. It marked great scientific, and military inventions and also it modernized most African areas to the date. Contact with Europe, and Asia starts.

African Dark Ages
The African Dark Ages (1000 CE - 1450 CE) started in 1000 CE when a massive famine and disease broke though most of Northern, West, and the Horn of Africa. This followed by warfare, and the end of the Great Golden Age.

Age of Discovery
The Age of Discovery (1450 CE - 1550 CE) marked the end of the African Dark Ages. Little was known of Asia, and Europe past their coast and their ports. This age was statred when Ethiopian emperor Zara Yakob launched a expiditionary force of 1,000 to map Southern Europe, and they found little civilization, that were far less developed then their own. Several nations launched their own forces and started mapping the land. Hardely any colonization efforts began.

Age of Colonization
The Age of Colonization (1550 CE - 1770 CE) was an era were large African powers started claiming and setteling mass land masses in Europe and Asia.