What term describes the migration of peoples throughout Africa that spread language and culture from around 500 B.C. to A.D. 1000?

The term that describes the migration of peoples throughout Africa, notably the spread of language and culture from around 500 B.C. to A.D. 1000, is the Bantu Migration. This significant movement involved the Bantu-speaking peoples as they moved from their origins in West Africa into various regions of central, eastern, and southern Africa. This migration led to the diffusion of their languages, agricultural practices, and ironworking skills across the continent, fundamentally shaping the linguistic and cultural landscape of Africa that is still evident today.

The Bantu Migration is distinguished from other historical migrations mentioned in the options. The Transatlantic Slave Trade refers to the forced movement of enslaved Africans to the Americas from the 16th to the 19th centuries, which is unrelated to the earlier spread of Bantu-speaking cultures. Industrial Migration typically describes movement associated with the industrialization period, which occurred much later than the timeline specified in the question. Celtic Migration pertains to the movements of Celtic peoples in Europe, primarily in the British Isles and surrounding regions, which does not align with the African context of the question.