Nubia: Ancient Civilization in Africa

 Nubia was a great civilization that developed along the Nile River south of Egypt. They shared many of the same cultural traits as...

 Nubia was a great civilization that developed along the Nile River south of Egypt. They shared many of the same cultural traits as Egypt such as religion, architecture and art. http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/maps/  These are the pyramid of Ancient Nubia. They were used as tombs. Although they are similar to those of Ancient Egypt, they have some differences. Compare these pyramids with those of ancient Egypt. http://library.thinkquest.org/22845/art/ pyra2.jpg  Nubian Pyramids Are large blocks used or smaller bricks? Is there an entrance leading up to the pyramid? http://www.homestead.com/wysinger/a079.jpg  Nubian Pyramids www.homestead.com/ wysinger/nubian105.html  www.calstatela.edu/ faculty/acolvil/sediments.html These are the pyramids of Egypt. Compare them to those of Nubia.  For many centuries, the people and culture of Ancient Nubia were a mystery to the world. Even the Ancient Greeks wrote about an advanced culture that was mostly unknown to other civilizations of the time. http://www.hp.uab.edu/image_archive/um/ ume.html Ancient Nubia was a great kingdom that produced many resources like gold, ivory, copper, frankincense and ebony. Nubia was also known as Kush and The Land of the Bow. Nubian archers (warriors who used a bow and arrow) were feared by all who saw them in battle. Nubia had a long line of powerful kings. They were often at war with Egypt, to the North. From about A frankincense tree. The resin was 2,000 to 1,000 BC, Egypt controlled Nubia but when used to make good smelling incense. Egypt weakened, Nubia came north and conquered Egypt (800-700 BC.) Return www.webzone.dk/oman/ oman/dyr-og-planter.htm  Kingdom of Sudan (Cush) The people of Sudan is mentioned in the Bible as descended from Noah’s son Ham. The ancient names for Sudan are Cush, Kush, and Nubia. Upon disintegration of the New Kingdom, the Sudanese separated from Egypt and made an independence kingdom around 1070 BC. They built a capital at Napata. They adopted the religion and culture of the Egyptians. Also they shared same gods as Egypt like Amon Ra and Osiris. They also built pyramids and burial mounds like the Egyptians. Around 727 BC, Sudan conquers Egypt, the king of Sudan became strong and invaded Egypt. They seized control  Sudan unlike Egypt, had valuable iron ore mines and became the iron capital of the ancient African world. They develop their metal industry, they moved their capital farther south to Meroe. Sudan now had an opening to the Mediterranean Sea and ports to trade with more countries. They sold gold, iron frankincense and ivory (elephant tusks). They developed new trade route through Sahara Desert back and forth to the ports inland area. Sudanese established the first trans-Sahara trade route from North Africa to West Africa and back. Their Kingdom became wealthy from the Sahara trade route.  Decline of Cush Caused by the greedy of the people themselves. They destroyed all trees to make the fire to smelt their iron. Eventually, forests disappeared, and so did main source of livelihood. They did not recover from their man-made environmental catastrophe. Along with the destruction of the forests came the loss of their wealth and ancient power. Sudan declined at about the time when its southern neighbor, Ethiopia (Axum), grew in power. Ethiopia was regarded as the Land of the Queen of Sheba. It also became the seat of royalty of kings who were called “the Lion of Judah” because they had converted to Christianity. Because of its strategic location on the Red Sea and Horn of Africa, Ethiopia carried trade with the Mediterranean world and Asia. Soon, traders came directly to Ethiopia, instead of Egypt or Sudan, to buy and sell iron, gold ivory etc. Christianity and Islam Sweeps North Africa 1st century AD swept Christianity through the North African region. Many Christian communities in North Africa. St. Augustine was the local Christian philosopher whose writings influenced Western thought. He was the Bishop of Hippo (in Algeria) Christianity came to Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. Arab, African and Christian cultures mixed in the trading areas. In 324 AD, the Ethiopian king converted to Christianity, and so did his people. Christians Ethiopian kings were called “the Lion of Judah.” In the 7th century, another religion Islam, swept through North Africa. Islam conquered most of North Africa, and Egypt and North Sudan became Muslim. Today people of Ethiopia trace their belief in Christianity to Philip the Evangelist who witnessed to a court official of their kingdom. (Acts 8) Questions: 1. Why Sudan was a threat to Egypt? 2. Why Southern Sudan and Ethiopia are Christian nations? 3. How “ships” moved in the desert? 4. Why logging ruined their environment?