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What is happening in Egypt in 1215CE
Although the Fatimids failed to achieve their goal of setting themselves up as the caliphs of the Islamic world, they did succeed in building up a large empire centered on Egypt. Under them, the Egyptian economy prospered. Trade expanded, as, with Fatimid control of the Red Sea, Egypt became once again the great entrepot of long-distance maritime trade between east and west. The Fatimid capital, Cairo, became the chief cultural centre of the Islamic world, with Muslim literature, philosophy and science thriving.
Under Fatimid rule, thousands of Arabs settled in Egypt. At one point these posed such a serious threat to the regime that the Fatimids encouraged two of the largest Arab tribes to emigrate westwards into the Maghreb. Here they destabilize the emirate of Tunis.
By the mid-12th century, Fatimid rule had weakened, and a Turkish general from Syrian, Saladin, was able to gain control of the country (c. 1170) and going on to annex parts of Arabia and Syria. With the capture of Jerusalem from the Crusaders (1187), most of Palestine also came under his rule. Saladin’s descendants, the Ayyubids, have indulged in frequent power-struggles, however, and this has allowed the Crusaders to hold on to their remaining possessions in the Levant.
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What else is happening in the rest of the world...

Africa history 3500BCE
Most of Africa is home to bands of hunter-gatherers, but in the Nile valley, the civilization of Egypt is beginning to emerge

Iraq history 3500BCE
The first city-based civilization in history is appearing in Mesopotamia

Europe history 3500BCE
Stone Age farming villages dot the landscape of Europe
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Iran history 2500BCE
Iran is home to farmers and nomads

Syria history 2500BCE
The lands of Syria and Canaan are home to small cities and important trade routes

Turkey history 2500BCE
Trade is drawing Asia Minor into the orbit of Mesopotamian civilization
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Iraq history 1500BCE
Powerful states such as Babylon and the Mitanni now rule Mesopotamia

Iran history 1500BCE
Iran is home to farmers and nomads

Syria history 1500BCE
Syria and Canaan are lands of small city-states and migrant nomads

Turkey history 1500BCE
The Hittite empire in Asia Minor is one of the leading powers of the age

Greece and the Balkans history 1500BCE
The first literate civilizations in European history flourish - the Minoan on Crete and the Mycenaean in Greece

North East Africa history 1500BCE
The influence of Egypt is beginning to be felt
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Middle East history 1000BCE
Invasions have devastated the old centres of civilization, but important new developments, such as the use of iron, the appearance of the alphabet and the rise of Israel, with its monotheistic religion, have taken place

Europe history 1000BCE
Major population movements in Europe have caused widespread upheaval, and the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations have vanished

Africa history 1000BCE
Farming and cattle herding is spreading in western and central Africa
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Europe history 200BCE
The Celts still dominate much of Europe, but a new power, Rome, is on the rise and is now the leading power in the western Mediterranean

Africa history 200BCE
Trade routes across the Sahara desert are being pioneered, while, to the south, Bantu farmers continue their swift expansion across the continent
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Africa history 30BCE
North Africa is now part of the Roman empire, while in central Africa the Bantu expansion continues
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Britain history 200CE
A Roman province now covers the southern half of the British Isles

Central Europe history 200CE
Central Europe is dominated by German and Sarmatian tribes

Africa history 200CE
All of North Africa is now part of the Roman empire, while to the south the Bantu migration continues
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