History of Ancient Kush Map Of Ancient Kush

History of Ancient Kush

Map Of Ancient Kush

Geography of Ancient Kush • The Kingdom of Kush developed south of Egypt along the Nile. • Kush was in the region we now call Nubia. • Like Egypt, Every year floods provide a rich layer of fertile soil. • Because of this Farming villages thrived. • Kush is also rich in minerals such as Gold, Copper, and stone.

History of Kush • Kush and Egypt were neighbors and trading partners. • The Kushites sent slaves to Egypt. • They also sent Gold, Copper, and stone, as well as the prized material of Ivory. • Relations between Kush and Egypt were not always peaceful.

Egyptian invasion of Ancient Kush • Around 1500 BCE Egyptian armies invaded and conquered most of Nubia, including all of Kush. • Kush remained an Egyptian territory until the mid 1000 s BCE, when the Kushite leaders regained control.

Kush Rules Egypt • By around 850 BCE, Kush was once again as strong as it had been before it was conquered by Egypt. • During the 700 s, the Kushites began to invade Egypt. • By 716 BCE the Kushites controlled the area from Southern Nubia to the Nile Delta. • In the 670 s BCE the Kushites were driven out of Egypt by the Assyrians from Mesopotamia.

Later Kush • After being driven out of Egypt, the people of Kush devoted themselves to increasing agriculture and trade. • The economic center of Kush was Meroe. • Gold could be found nearby, as could forests of ebony and other wood. • It was here that the Kushites developed Africa’s first Iron industry.

Meroe

Meroe

Meroe

Meroe

Meroe

Society and Culture • The most obvious influence on Kush during this period was Egyptian, but a lot of Kushite culture was unique to itself. • The people of Kush worshipped their own Gods, and developed their own written language. • Women were expected to be active in their society.

Society and Culture • Some women rose to positions of great authority, especially in religion. • A few women, even ruled the empire alone.

Decline and Defeat • Kushite civilization centered at Meroe reached its height in the first century BCE. • Eventually it fell due to both external and internal factors. • The Iron and other metals ran out, and the overgrazing of cattle caused a deterioration of farmland.

Assignment • In a paragraph using complete sentences. • Compare and Contrast the kingdom of Egypt, with the Kingdom of ancient Kush. What were the similarities, and differences in these two kingdoms.