The peoples descended from Ham’s four sons (Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Canaanites) were Israel’s most hostile neighbors.
Cush might have been in Ethiopia or ancient Nubia (northern Sudan).
Mizraim was the old name for Egypt (50:11).
Put was in Libya.
Canaan included southern Syria, Phoenicia, and Palestine west of the Jordan River. In the time of Moses, Egypt and Canaan were part of the same empire. Ham's descendants did not receive the blessing given to Shem's family line (9:20–28).