Chapter 3: Nile Civilizations

Section 3 - The Nubian Kingdoms

Main Idea

One of ancient Africa’s most advanced civilizations, Kush developed along the Nile south of Egypt in a region called Nubia.

Focus

• What were the land and people of Nubia like?

• How did Kush grow into a major civilization?

• How did Kushite society change in its later period?

Section 3 - The Nubian Kingdoms

With the collapse of the New Kingdom in the 750s BC, Piankhi, King of Kush, sent his army north to crush the Egyptians. He told his troops, “It is a year for making an

end, for putting the fear of me in Lower Egypt, and inflicting on them a great and severe beating!” Within a few years the army reached the Nile Delta and Piankhi

ruled all of Egypt; a foreigner had become Egypt’s pharaoh

I. The Region of Nubia

Extended south of Egypt from first cataract to merging of Blue and White Nile

I. The Region of Nubia

Nubia had great mineral wealth - gold, granite, precious stones

Egyptian wall painting depicting Nubians taking offerings of gold to Egypt around 1850 BC

I. The Region of Nubia

Trade goods from central Africa passed through Nubia

I. The Region of NubiaWere superb traders, skilled potters, and expert archers

Libyans, Nubians, Syrians, Egyptians

I. The Region of Nubia

Egypt conquered much of Nubia during the Middle Kingdom

Nubians bringing gold to the pharaoh

II. The Growth of Kush

A powerful Nubian state called Kush began to develop

II. The Growth of Kush

1700s BC Kush expanded to rule all Nubia

Statues of soldiers from the Middle Kingdom of Egypt

II. The Growth of Kush

Kush was free of Egypt’s control by 1100 BC

Sphinx of Shepenwepet II, representative of the Kushite royalty

II. The Growth of Kush

Piankhi led Kushites north and conquered all of Egypt

II. The Growth of Kush

Mid-600s BC, Assyrians pushed Kushites back into Nubia

III. Later Kush

Mid-200s BC, Kushites moved their capital south from Napata to Meroë

III. Later Kush

Iron became Kush’s most valuable product

Iron Ore

III. Later Kush

AD 200s - Iron trade declined because forests were destroyed, weakening kingdom

AD 350 - Aksum invaded, destroyed Meroë, Kushite civilization faded away

Pyramids of Meroe