 
 <prompt> Which one dey south pass, the steppes or the Islamic heartland? Based on di previous question, write a context wey contain di answer. E fit be 1 - 20 sentences. Context: <response>: The Kushan Empire, wey be collection of Yuezhi tribes, take control of di region for di first century CE and rule until di 4th century CE during wey time Buddhism, Nestorian Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Manichaeism dey practiced for di region. Later di Hephthalite Empire, wey be collection of nomadic tribes, move enter di region and Arabs carry Islam come for early eighth century. Central Asia continue for im role as commercial crossroads, wey dey link China, di steppes for di north, and di Islamic heartland. 