<P> Under Egypt's Pharaoh Amasis (570--526 BC) a Greek mercantile colony was established at Naucratis, some 50 miles from the later Alexandria . Greeks also colonised Cyrenaica around the same time . There was also an attempt in 513 BC to establish a Greek colony between Cyrene and Carthage, which resulted in the combined local and Carthaginian expulsion two years later of the Greek colonists . </P> <P> Alexander the Great (356--323 BC) founded Alexandria during his conquest of Egypt . This became one of the major cities of Hellenistic and Roman times, a trading and cultural centre as well as a military headquarters and communications hub . </P> <P> Phoenicians established a number of colonies along the coast of North Africa . Some of these were founded relatively early . Utica, for example, was founded c. 1100 BC . Carthage, which means New City, has a traditional foundation date of 814 BC . It was established in what is now Tunisia and became a major power in the Mediterranean by the 4th century BC . The Carthaginians themselves sent out expeditions to explore and establish colonies along Africa's Atlantic coast . A surviving account of such is that of Hanno, which Harden who quotes it places at c. 425 BC . </P> <P> Carthage encountered and struggled with the Romans . After the third and final war between them, the Third Punic War (150--146 BC), Rome completely destroyed Carthage . Scullard mentions plans by such as Gaius Gracchus in the late 2nd century BC, Julius Caesar and Augustus in the mid - and late 1st century BC to establish a new Roman colony near the same site . This was established and under Augustus served as the capital city of the Roman province of Africa . </P>

Which were the only parts of africa to remain free of colonial rule