Nubia
Nubia was located at the south of Egypt along the Nile river. Looking closely at the map, you will see two rivers, the Blue Nile and the White Nile, that flow together to form the Nile River. The point where these two rivers meet is at modern Khartoum, Sudan which may have been the southern boundary of Nubia. Like the Egyptians, the Nubians depended on the Nile for its water. But, Nubia;s landscape made farming way more difficult. Unlike the flat riverbanks of Egypt, in Nubia the Nile flows through rocky mountains, making farming almost possible.
Wealth
Although the Nubians were not blessed with Egypt's rich farmland, it did have great mineral wealth. Mines produced gold,granite, and precious stones that could be exported and sold.
Nubia's location was a valuable resource. Goods from central Africa flowed into Nubia to be sent to Egypt, lands of the Red Sea an elsewhere. The goods traded through Nubia were ostrich eggs and feathers, animal skins,ivory, ebony and slaves.
Nubia's People
The Nubians were expert traders and skilled markers of pottery. They were regarded expert archers.The Egyptians called Nubia the Land of the Nine Bows. They were so impressed with their Nubian archery that some Egyptian rulers hired them as police and soldiers.
Early History
The history of Egypt is so well documented that it often overshadows the history of Nubia. However, recent research into Nubian history has led to interesting findings. About the same time the Old Kingdom began in Egypt, the Nubians formed a kingdom of their own. This early Nubian kingdom possessed great wealth and traded with Egypt and other lands. Nubia and Egypt then became rivals fighting for control of land and resources. During the time of the Middle Kingdom, this riivalry led to war which Egypt invaded Nubia and conquered much of it. Under Egyptian rule, the Nubians adopted some of the Egyptians’ culture, including their religion and building style.
trolGrowth of Kush
A powerful Nubian state began to develop at the same time northern Nubia was being controlled by Egypt. This state was called Kush, and it was based around the city of Kerma in southern Nubia, in what is now Sudan.
Kushite Power
In around 1700 BC, the Middle Kingdom collapsed and Kush took that opportunity to grow. While in this time, Kush expanded to rule all of Nubia not just the southern part of it.
Rulers of Kush made an alliance with the Hyksos. They were the invaders who had ended the Middle Kingdom and now controlled Egypt. Egyptian trade increased dramatically and riches flowed into Kush while under the Hyksos. The Kushites used this wealth to make royal tombs in Kerma.
In 1550 BC, Egyptian nobles drove the Hyksos out and began the New Kingdom, they wanted revenge on the Hyksos' allies. the Egyptians then invaded Kush, destroyed Kerma and added the land to their empire. Egypt ruled all of Kush by 1500 BC. Ramses the Great and other Egyptian rulers build monuments and temples throughout Kush.
Kushites
Egypt ruled Kush for more than 400 years, eventually Kush regained strength and power. This began to happen as the New Kingdom weakened as the rule of Ramses the Great. By 1100 BC, Kush was free from Egyptian control. The Kushites were left weak and disorganized after years of Egyptian control.
Around 750 BC, a new Kushite kingdom began to grow and gain strength. The capital of this new kingdom was Napata, south of Kerma. Seeing the weakness that had beset Egypt after the fall of the New Kingdom, Kush’s rulers decided to expand their power to the north.
Culture
The Kushite pharaohs saw themselves as guardians of Egyptian tradition and theytried to preserve Egyptian traditions even though they are not Egyptian. As an example, they had their bodies mummified and buried in pyramids like the Old Kingdom pharaohs did, even though New Kingdom rulers were buried in temples. Also the Kushites adopted hieroglyphics as their own writing system.
Though they did not abandon their own customs when they ruled Egypt, they did not adopt their style of clothing to make themselves look Egyptian. Statues of Kushite pharaohs show some Nubian features and clothing. These statues also show the pharaohs wearing a crown with two cobras, symbolizing the union of Egypt and Kush.
Later Kush
Kushite history later resumes in mid-200s BC. During that time, the Kushites moved their capital to Meroë, which is further south along the Nile from Napata. No one knows the exact reason what led to the move or when the exactly when the move took place. It appears that the Kushite culture changed after the move. The degree of the change was so great that some people refer to later Kush as a entirely different period than the earlier period.
Meroë
The new capital was located near the junction of two rivers. Ancient writers often referred to this area as the island of Meroë even though the city did not lie on an island.
The area it was built on was not as dry as some parts of Nubia. The city used wood from nearby forests to build their homes and to obtain valuable trade goods such as ebony. This was home to many wild animals.
Iron Industry
An advantage to Meroë's location is the mineral resources found nearby. Copper, gold and precious stones, iron was most plentiful. Kushites used iron ore they found near Meroë to build a large and profitable iron industry.
Iron quickly became Kush's most valuable product. Iron goods were shipped throughout the Nile Valley. Rulers used this wealth they made form this to support building programs and the expansion for their kingdom.
Later Kush Culture
The move of capitals caused Kush rulers to abandon some customs of Egyptian culture they adopted. They continued to build pyramids but no longer used hieroglyphics. They created their own alphabet and writing system instead. Historians have not been able to translate their language unfortunately.
Decline of Meroë
A decline of trade in the AD 200s contributed to the kingdom's downfall. It was caused by several factors. Hostile people continually raided the Nile Valley, bothering the trade routes that linked Meroë to the outside world. Another factor was environmental. The Kushites needed wood in order to refine the iron from its ore. Eventually, the Kushites could no longer work iron to make tools they needed because centuries of iron-making had taken a toll on Nubia's forests.
The kingdom declined as Meroë's economy did. Invaders were attracted to the weakened Kush. In about AD 350, the kingdom of Aksum invaded and destroyed Meroë. With the capital collapsing and nearby towns; the Kush civilization had faded.
Nubia was located at the south of Egypt along the Nile river. Looking closely at the map, you will see two rivers, the Blue Nile and the White Nile, that flow together to form the Nile River. The point where these two rivers meet is at modern Khartoum, Sudan which may have been the southern boundary of Nubia. Like the Egyptians, the Nubians depended on the Nile for its water. But, Nubia;s landscape made farming way more difficult. Unlike the flat riverbanks of Egypt, in Nubia the Nile flows through rocky mountains, making farming almost possible.
Wealth
Although the Nubians were not blessed with Egypt's rich farmland, it did have great mineral wealth. Mines produced gold,granite, and precious stones that could be exported and sold.
Nubia's location was a valuable resource. Goods from central Africa flowed into Nubia to be sent to Egypt, lands of the Red Sea an elsewhere. The goods traded through Nubia were ostrich eggs and feathers, animal skins,ivory, ebony and slaves.
Nubia's People
The Nubians were expert traders and skilled markers of pottery. They were regarded expert archers.The Egyptians called Nubia the Land of the Nine Bows. They were so impressed with their Nubian archery that some Egyptian rulers hired them as police and soldiers.
Early History
The history of Egypt is so well documented that it often overshadows the history of Nubia. However, recent research into Nubian history has led to interesting findings. About the same time the Old Kingdom began in Egypt, the Nubians formed a kingdom of their own. This early Nubian kingdom possessed great wealth and traded with Egypt and other lands. Nubia and Egypt then became rivals fighting for control of land and resources. During the time of the Middle Kingdom, this riivalry led to war which Egypt invaded Nubia and conquered much of it. Under Egyptian rule, the Nubians adopted some of the Egyptians’ culture, including their religion and building style.
trolGrowth of Kush
A powerful Nubian state began to develop at the same time northern Nubia was being controlled by Egypt. This state was called Kush, and it was based around the city of Kerma in southern Nubia, in what is now Sudan.
Kushite Power
In around 1700 BC, the Middle Kingdom collapsed and Kush took that opportunity to grow. While in this time, Kush expanded to rule all of Nubia not just the southern part of it.
Rulers of Kush made an alliance with the Hyksos. They were the invaders who had ended the Middle Kingdom and now controlled Egypt. Egyptian trade increased dramatically and riches flowed into Kush while under the Hyksos. The Kushites used this wealth to make royal tombs in Kerma.
In 1550 BC, Egyptian nobles drove the Hyksos out and began the New Kingdom, they wanted revenge on the Hyksos' allies. the Egyptians then invaded Kush, destroyed Kerma and added the land to their empire. Egypt ruled all of Kush by 1500 BC. Ramses the Great and other Egyptian rulers build monuments and temples throughout Kush.
Kushites
Egypt ruled Kush for more than 400 years, eventually Kush regained strength and power. This began to happen as the New Kingdom weakened as the rule of Ramses the Great. By 1100 BC, Kush was free from Egyptian control. The Kushites were left weak and disorganized after years of Egyptian control.
Around 750 BC, a new Kushite kingdom began to grow and gain strength. The capital of this new kingdom was Napata, south of Kerma. Seeing the weakness that had beset Egypt after the fall of the New Kingdom, Kush’s rulers decided to expand their power to the north.
Culture
The Kushite pharaohs saw themselves as guardians of Egyptian tradition and theytried to preserve Egyptian traditions even though they are not Egyptian. As an example, they had their bodies mummified and buried in pyramids like the Old Kingdom pharaohs did, even though New Kingdom rulers were buried in temples. Also the Kushites adopted hieroglyphics as their own writing system.
Though they did not abandon their own customs when they ruled Egypt, they did not adopt their style of clothing to make themselves look Egyptian. Statues of Kushite pharaohs show some Nubian features and clothing. These statues also show the pharaohs wearing a crown with two cobras, symbolizing the union of Egypt and Kush.
Later Kush
Kushite history later resumes in mid-200s BC. During that time, the Kushites moved their capital to Meroë, which is further south along the Nile from Napata. No one knows the exact reason what led to the move or when the exactly when the move took place. It appears that the Kushite culture changed after the move. The degree of the change was so great that some people refer to later Kush as a entirely different period than the earlier period.
Meroë
The new capital was located near the junction of two rivers. Ancient writers often referred to this area as the island of Meroë even though the city did not lie on an island.
The area it was built on was not as dry as some parts of Nubia. The city used wood from nearby forests to build their homes and to obtain valuable trade goods such as ebony. This was home to many wild animals.
Iron Industry
An advantage to Meroë's location is the mineral resources found nearby. Copper, gold and precious stones, iron was most plentiful. Kushites used iron ore they found near Meroë to build a large and profitable iron industry.
Iron quickly became Kush's most valuable product. Iron goods were shipped throughout the Nile Valley. Rulers used this wealth they made form this to support building programs and the expansion for their kingdom.
Later Kush Culture
The move of capitals caused Kush rulers to abandon some customs of Egyptian culture they adopted. They continued to build pyramids but no longer used hieroglyphics. They created their own alphabet and writing system instead. Historians have not been able to translate their language unfortunately.
Decline of Meroë
A decline of trade in the AD 200s contributed to the kingdom's downfall. It was caused by several factors. Hostile people continually raided the Nile Valley, bothering the trade routes that linked Meroë to the outside world. Another factor was environmental. The Kushites needed wood in order to refine the iron from its ore. Eventually, the Kushites could no longer work iron to make tools they needed because centuries of iron-making had taken a toll on Nubia's forests.
The kingdom declined as Meroë's economy did. Invaders were attracted to the weakened Kush. In about AD 350, the kingdom of Aksum invaded and destroyed Meroë. With the capital collapsing and nearby towns; the Kush civilization had faded.