Nubia and Kush

VOCABULARY WORDS

� ceramic � trade route � mineral � obelisk

� independence � ally � trading network � decipher

Ceramic

� Ceramic: A product that is made from baked clay.

� Trade Route

� Trade route: A path that traders use as they exchange goods.

� Mineral

� Mineral: A natural resource found in rocks.

Obelisk

� Obelisk: A tall slender stone pillar with four sides and a pointed top.

Independence

� Independence: The freedom to govern oneself.

ally

� ally: A supporter

� trading network

� trading network: A system in which buyers and sellers from different places can exchange goods.

� decipher

� decipher: To interpret the meaning of something.

Early People in Nubia

� The ancient land of Nubia stretched along the Nile River between the first and sixth cataracts.

Early People in Nubia

� Nubia was a source of trade and natural resources to ancient Egyptians.

Early People in Nubia

Although Egypt had a strong influence over the Nubians, the Nubians: 1.  Kept their own culture 2.  Worshipped their own gods 3.  Had their own forms of architecture

Early People in Nubia

� Nubians were among the first people to make ceramic.

� They began to offer ceramic bowls and jars as trade items.

Early People in Nubia

Nubia’s location (between Egypt and Central Africa) made it an ideal trading center. Nubian merchants served as go- between for trade between Northern and Central Africa.

Early People in Nubia

�  Nubians also traded:

Ostrich eggs

leopard skin

bird feathers

gold

Early People in Nubia

The trade between Egypt and Nubia was successful at first. But the Egyptian realized they could gain greater wealth if they controlled Nubia’s trade routes. Egypt eventually controlled Nubian trade.

� Egypt also took over the Nubian natural resources.

Egypt used Nubian rocks to use for buildings and monuments

Egypt took over and annexed Nubia to Egypt. The Nubians fled where they formed a new kingdom known as Kush.

1.  What made Nubia an ideal trading center?

2.  Why was it important for the Egyptians to control Nubian trade routes?

3.  Apart form the trade routes, what else did Egypt want to control?

4.  Why did the Nubians flee their country and what was their new kingdom called?

Freedom and Reconquest

� Egyptians controlled Nubia for about 300 years.

� By the time The Hyksos conquered Egypt, the Nubians gained their freedom from Egypt.

Freedom and Reconquest

The kingdom of Kush went through changes after its independence from Egypt

1.  The culture grew 2.  The kingdom had prosperity

Freedom and Reconquest

� The burial grounds at Kerma (Kush’s capital) showed the evidence of the prosperity of the Kushites.

The king was buried in a gold covered bed with: 1.  Finest clothes 2.  Weapons 3.  Treasures

Freedom and Reconquest

� The Kushites gained power as well as wealth.

� They took control of parts of Sudan and even parts of Egypt.

Freedom and Reconquest

� The Kushites decided to be an ally of The Hyksos, since the Hyksos controlled Egypt.

� However they didn’t know the Egyptians will regain their lands from the Hyksos.

Freedom and Reconquest

� When the Egyptians defeated the Hyksos, they took more land form the Kushites than they had before.

� To show their strength, the Egyptians built cities across Nubia.

Freedom and Reconquest

� Under the Egyptian rule, the Kushites became more like the Egyptians. They adopted:

1.  Egyptian beliefs 2.  Egyptian customs 3.  Egyptian way of dressing

Freedom and Reconquest

1.  What is the difference between the changes Nubians and Kushites went through when there were ruled by Egypt?

2.  Why do you think the Nubians were able to gain their independence from Egyptians when they did?

3.  What change happened to the kingdom of Kush when it regained its independence?

4.  Do you think the Kushites were wrong to pick the Hyksos as an ally? Why?

Conquests of Egypt

� Several Egyptian dynasties weakened Egypt’s power.

� The Kushites were aware of Egypt’s problems and decided to invade it.

Conquests of Egypt

King Kashta and his armies invaded Upper Egypt and conquered it.

Conquests of Egypt

When Piye (Kashite’s son) conquered Lower Egypt, he brought all of Egypt under the Kushites control.

Conquests of Egypt

� The Kushite’s rule helped restore some of Egypt’s glory.

1.  Old temples were enlarged 2.  New temples were constructed 3.  Brought back religious ceremonies 4.  Ordered scribes to copy and save

ancient Egyptian writings

Conquests of Egypt

The pharaohs of the Kushite dynasty learned how to write using Egyptian hieroglyphics.

1. How were Kashta and Piye able to bring Egypt under the Kushites control?

2. What changes did Egypt go through during the Kushite rule?

The Kushites

� Kushite’s rule ended when the Assyrians invaded the Nile Valley.

� The Kushites moved the capital city to Meroe, where they still prospered.

The Kushites

Meroe’s land was rich in iron ore. The Kushites turned Meroe into an iron- making center and a center for trade.

The Kushites

� Meroe prospered, the Kushites built stone buildings and temples.

� Words were carved on monuments, but archaeologist are still unable to decipher the meroitic writing.

1.  Who ended the Kushite dynasty in Egypt?

2.  What made Meroe prosperous? 3.  What is common about the

Nubians, Kushites in Kerma, the Kushites that ruled Egypt and the Kushites in Meroe?