Chapter 3 Nile Civilizations Section 3 The Nubian

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 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 750 s 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 from first cataract south to merging of Blue and White Nile

I. The Region of 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 Nubians were 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 Egyptian soldiers

I. The Region of Nubia adopted elements of Egyptian culture, including their religion and building style

II. The Growth of Kush A powerful Nubian state called Kush began to develop based around Kerma in southern Nubia

II. The Growth of Kush 1700 s BC - Kush expanded to rule all Nubia Statues of soldiers from the Middle Kingdom of Egypt

II. The Growth of Kush 1500 s BC – Egypt’s New Kingdom sought revenge, invaded Kush, and destroyed Kerma

II. The Growth of Kush finally won freedom from Egypt’s control by 1100 BC Sphinx of Shepenwepet II, representative of the Kushite royalty

II. The Growth of Kush 750 BC - Piankhi led Kushites north and conquered all of Egypt

II. The Growth of Kush Mid-600 s BC, Assyrians pushed Kushites back into Nubia

III. Later Kush Mid-200 s 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 200 s - Iron trade declined because forests were destroyed, weakening Kushite kingdom

III. Later Kush AD 350 - Aksum invaded and destroyed Meroë; the Kushite civilization faded away Pyramids of Meroe