Final answer:
The Bantu speakers were responsible for spreading their language, ironworking, and agricultural knowledge to eastern Africa. Their migrations started as early as 3000 BCE and had a significant impact on the cultural and linguistic landscape of the region.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bantu Migrations and Their Impact on Eastern Africa
The linguistic group that spread their language, ironworking, and knowledge of agriculture to eastern Africa is the Bantu speakers. These people originated in West and Central Africa and began their gradual migrations eastward and southward as early as 3000 BCE. As they moved, they introduced new agricultural practices and ironworking techniques, which allowed them to clear forests and establish farms with greater efficiency than before. Their use of iron tools and weapons facilitated farming and provided a military advantage over the hunter-gatherer societies they encountered. This transformative migration resulted in the widespread proliferation of Bantu languages and cultures throughout much of subequatorial Africa.
The Bantu migrations involved multiple streams, one heading eastward and another south along the West African coast, with smaller groups branching off inland. Their agricultural knowledge, such as farming sorghum and millet, along with iron smelting, played a critical role in their ability to thrive in the new lands. This also led to significant cultural and linguistic changes in the regions they settled. By displacing, assimilating, or mixing with local hunter-gatherers and other indigenous peoples, the Bantu speakers created a strong cultural foundation that still influences many parts of Africa today.