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Nubia and Kush
The 2 regions of Nubia differed geographically as Lower Nubia
was in the north and was flooded by the Nile annually, giving it fertile farmland; Upper Nubia was in the south and had a
rugged landscape with rocky cliffs and hills, making it terrible for farming!
The economic resource that Upper
Nubia possessed that might have led neighboring kingdoms to try and conquer it was its mineral resources.
The Egptians made northern Nubia part of their empire around 2,100 B.C., during Egypt's Middle Kingdom.
One can infer the following about the importance of trade to the strength of kingdoms along the Nile: Establishing contacts
and trade routes were very important to the growth of a society.
The work of northern Nubian craftworkers and architects
was influenced by ancient Egypt after 2,000 B.C. because around that time, Egypt's pharaohs made northern Nubia part of the
Egyptian Empire. As a result, Nubian artisans (a.k.a. craftsman) and builders were influenced by the architecture and
art of Egypt.
Egypt may have finally been able to conquer Kush in 1525 B.C. because Egypt continued to get more
powerful while Kush was getting weaker.
Egypt ruled Kush for more than 500 years!
Archaeologists determined
that cultures other than Egypt influenced Kush because they found items in the Kush region that indicate contact with other
cultures all over Africa and western Asia.
One can infer based on the fact that Kushite rule of Egypt lasted for
only 50 years that although Kush was able to conquer Egypt, it was not strong enough to maintain control.
The people
of Kush used to make iron from the ore they mined using a furnace. Archaeologists have found furnaces for making iron
that are 2,500 years old!
By A.D. 350, Kush was conquered by Aksum.
Kush moved its capital to
Meroe to better protect itself from Egyptian attacks!
Some characteristics of the Nubian civilization were Nubia
was divided into lower and upper regions; it developed cities, trade, and government run by kings, and complicated religous
beliefs.
Trade affected the lives of the people of ancient Nubia for centuries as Nubians were active traders which
made them very wealthy!
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