1. The Kingdom of Kush/Nubia: 3800 BCE to 150 CE

2. Map of Nubia

3. Egypt Names Nubia “Kush”

4. Main Ideas of Ancient Kush
The Geography of Early Nubia helped civilization develop there
Kush and Egypt traded, but they also fought
Later Kush became a trading power with a unique culture
Both internal and external factors led to the demise of Kush

5. Geography of Nubia South of Egypt Situated along the Nile River
Unlike Egypt, they were not dependent upon the flooding of the Nile for good soil. They enjoyed tropical rainfall all year long.
Cataracts keep Nubia safe from invaders for some time

6. Nubia – “Land of Gold”
Nubia was a land of natural wealth. They had gold mines, ivory, incense, copper and iron ore.

7. Ancient Kushite Religion
At first Kush worships the same gods as the Egyptians
Mummified the dead
Built pyramids – similar but were smaller with flat tops

8. The End of Kushite Occupation of Egypt
Kush held Egypt for about 50 years until the Assyrians invaded
They had better iron weapons than the Kushites

9. Kush Becomes the Iron Capital of the Ancient World
After their defeat by the Assyrians, the Kushites retreat back to their homeland – Nubia
There they devoted themselves to trade
The city of Meroe is the economic capital

10. Kush Becomes the Iron Capital of the Ancient World
Meroe is an area full of rich iron ore deposits
This is the place where AFRICA’s first iron industry begins
People need iron to make weapons
To create iron there was a need for wood to burn in furnaces to melt down the iron ore

11. The Demise of Kush
To make iron, they needed to wood to burn. They had used up much of their wood. Their resources were dwindling.
Kush could not produce as much iron as they had in the past, yet demand for iron was growing. Traders began to look elsewhere for iron.
By 300s AD Kush lost its wealth a
military might
The Kingdom of Aksum conquers Kush