1. Ancient Nubia

2. Which Nile culture developed first?
Egypt
Nubia

3. However, Egypt developed more quickly!
Nubia
However, Egypt developed more quickly!

4. Nubia Located in present day Sudan; south of Egypt
Called Kingdom of Kush

5. Nubia Nubia was more fertile in ancient times
Silt from flooding (Nile)
Rich in minerals – gold, copper, stone

6. Nubian Civilization Similar to Egypt Farming developed about 3500 B.C.
Some farmers grew wealthy; became leaders

7. Nubian Civilization 2000 B.C. – leader united the region & became king
Kingdom – Kush
1st capital – Kerma (south of 3rd cataract) – natural barrier

8. Kushite society Began evolving
Influenced by people in the south and Egypt in the North

9. Nubia’s Wealth Nubian kings gained wealth from trade
Nubians raised cattle and hunted for food because they lived in a rocky region

10. Conflict Arises Peaceful at times
Egypt / Nubia border shifted many times
Was influenced by Egypt because of close contact, but did develop its own culture
Kush grew wealthy and strong
Egyptians feared the growth of Kush

11. During Egypt’s Old Kingdom, pharaohs often controlled Lower Nubia

12. Egypt VS Nubia Egypt sought to control the mines and trade in Nubia
In times of strong governments (pharaohs) in Egypt, Egypt pushed into Nubia; weak governments were driven out of Nubia

13. Egypt VS Nubia Egypt’s New Kingdom
1500 B.C. - Thutmose I sent army to conquer Kush
Conquered Nubia north of 5th cataract
Destroyed Kerma
Nubians enslaved
Forced to make payments of gold
Built Egyptian temples

14. Egyptian Control Controlled Kush 450 years Egyptians settled in Kush
Egyptian language
Egyptian names, clothing, religious practices

15. King’s Sons of Kush Pharaoh’s officials Kept watch over local rulers
Sent sons of rulers to Egypt as hostages

16. Egypt eventually retreated because of problems at home!

17. Egypt’s New Kingdom Ends
Mid 1000s
Egypt’s pharaoh lost power
Kushite leaders regained control of Kush
Kush became independent once again
No history of Kush for next 200 years

18. Kush Regains Power
850 B.C.
Kushites build new capital in Napata (south of Kerma)

19. Kush Invades Egypt 700s B.C. King Kashta attacked Egypt
751 B.C. – conquered Lower Egypt

20. Kushite Rule Piankhi (son of Kashta) – 751-716 B.C.
Continued to attack Egypt
Believed gods wanted him to rule Egypt – fueled passion for war
Controlled from Delta to Kushite capital

21. Egypt under Nubian rule
Nubians allowed Egyptians to keep their own culture
Nubians helped to restore forgotten or lost parts of their culture

22. Shabaka Brother of Piankhi Declared himself Pharaoh Began 25th Dynasty
Believed they were heirs of great Egyptian pharaoh’s of the past

23. Shabaka Restored Egyptian culture and infrastructure
Tried to restore old traditions and cultural practices
Worked to restore Egyptian writing
Restored temples

24. End of Nubian Rule Nubians only ruled Egypt 40-60 years
670s B.C. – Assyrians invaded Egypt
in 10 years Kushites had been back into Nubia

25. Kushite Success
Became farmers and traders
Prosperous and powerful

26. Kushite Iron Industry Meroe – new capital and industrial center
Location on Nile aided growth
Large deposits of ….
-gold
-forests – ebony & other wood
-iron ore

27. Kushite Trade
Trade network – system of people in different lands who trade goods
Kush to Egyptians; Egyptians to Greeks; then to entire Mediterranean region and Red Sea ports

28. Kush Exports and Imports
Exports – items sent to other places – gold, pottery, iron tools and weapons, slaves, ivory
Imports – goods brought in from other countries – fine jewelry and luxury items

29. Cultural Diffusion
Trade led to combined cultures of Kushites and others
Most obvious – Egypt – borrowed many aspects of Egyptian culture

30. Unique Kushite Culture
Houses
Daily life
Worshipped some of own gods
Own written language – Meroitic (we still can’t decode)
Different view on women

31. Kushite Women Expected to be active Some rose to positions of power
Co-rulers
Queens
Queen Shankhdakheto – 1st woman to rule Kush (170 B.C. – 150 B.C.)

32. Decline of Kush Problems within the kingdom weakened the economy
Overgrazed the land (cattle); led to soil blown away by wind; less farming
Cut down too many trees to fuel furnaces; furnaces shut down; fewer weapons and tools to trade

33. Decline of Kush Weakened by loss of trade
Foreigners set up new trade routes that bypassed Kush
Aksum

34. Aksum Located on Red Sea Present day Ethiopia and Eritrea
Grew wealthy quickly (200 years)
A.D. 350 Emperor Ezana took advantage of Kush’s loss of wealth and military power – destroyed Kushite capital (Meroe)

35. Aksum Late A. D. 300s Aksum became Christian
200 years later converted Nubians
Influence of Kush disappeared

36. Egypt and Nubia had lost their power and NEVER regained full strength!