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History of Ancient Kush

History of Ancient Kush. East Africa’s other civilization. Introduction to the Kushites. South of Egypt along the Nile, a group of people settled in the region we now call Nubia. They were known as the Kush. Kushites established the first large kingdom in the interior of Africa.

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History of Ancient Kush

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  1. History of Ancient Kush East Africa’s other civilization

  2. Introduction to the Kushites • South of Egypt along the Nile, a group of people settled in the region we now call Nubia. They were known as the Kush. • Kushites established the first large kingdom in the interior of Africa. • We know this kingdom by the name the ancient Egyptians gave it--- Kush. • Development of Kushite civilization was greatly influenced by the geography and resources of the region

  3. Let’s take a look on the map

  4. The Land of Nubia • Nubia is a region in Northeast Africa. • It lies on the Nile River, south of Egypt. • Today desert covers much of Nubia, located in present day Sudan. • However; back in the day it was much more fertile, due to the Nile floods every year. • The kingdom of Kush developed here.

  5. More about Nubia • In addition to having fertile soil back in the day, ancient Nubia was rich in valuable minerals such as: • GOLD • COPPER • STONE • These natural resources contributed to the wealth of the region.

  6. So how did the Kingdom of KUSH come about? • Like all old school civilizations we have discussed before, the majority were farmers… • Over time some farmers became richer and more successful than other. • These farmers became leaders • Sometime around 2000 BC, one of these leaders took control of other villages and declared himself king, and his kingdom was Kush.

  7. Early Kings of Kush • Early Kings ruled from the capital city of Kerma. • Kerma is located just south of a cataract, near Upper Egypt. • However; Kush was unable to support itself for long…

  8. Egypt and Kush relationship… • Kush and Egypt were neighbors. • At times they had peace and traded with each other to make one another wealthy. • Kush became a supplier to Egypt with: • Slaves • Gold • Copper • Stone • Ebony • Ivory

  9. The Hesitation… • The relationship between the 2 kingdoms was not always peaceful though… • As Kush grew wealthy from trade, its army grew stronger as well. • Egypt’s rulers soon feared that Kush would grow even stronger and may attack Egypt.

  10. Egypt Invades Kush • To prevent Kush from growing stronger, the pharaoh named Thutmose, sent an army to take control. Kush was conquered by Egypt. • The pharaoh’s army conquered all of Nubia. • As a result the Kush kingdom now belonged to Egypt.

  11. After the Egyptian victory… • Thutmose had the palace at Kerma destroyed. • Later pharaohs had Egyptian temples built where Kushite monuments had previously been.

  12. The affects of Egyptian rule • Kush remained an Egyptian territory for about 450 years. • During that time, Egyptian ways were adopted by the Kushites, such as: • Language • Names • Clothing • Religion

  13. A Change was due for Kush • Once the New Kingdom of Egypt was declining. Kush leaders took advantage and regained control of their land. • By 850 BC Kush was back to it’s old self again; strong as ever. They set up their new capital in Napata. • By 751 BC Kush invades Egypt and conquered Upper Egypt

  14. Kushite rule in Egypt ends, with the help of someone we know… • Kushites ruled parts of Egypt for roughly 40 years. • At the end of the 40 years of ruling Egypt, a large powerful army from Mesopotamia invaded and drove the Kushite forces out of Egypt… ANY GUESSES?

  15. ASSYRIANS HAVE RETURNED!! • The Assyrians invaded with their iron weapons again! • Assyrian iron weapons were much more durable and stronger than the bronze weapons of the Kush. • In roughly 10 years, the Assyrians completely pushed out the Kushites from Egypt.

  16. Lets get with a partner and answer these questions.. 1.) On which river did Kush develop? 2.) How did Nubia’s natural resources influence the early history of Kush? 3.) What is ebony and ivory? 4.) Why do you think Thutmose destroyed the Kushite palace in Kerma? 5.) What might have happened in Kush and Egypt if Kush had developed iron weapons earlier?

  17. Kush’s Economy Grows • After Kush lost control of Egypt, the people of Kush devoted themselves to improving: • Agriculture • Trade

  18. Kush’s Moves the capital again • After Napata fell, the capital was moved to Meroё (MER-oh-wee), which was on the east banks of the Nile. • Meroё was rich in items such as: • Gold • Ebony • Iron ore

  19. IRON COMES TO KUSH • With the discovery of Iron Ore minerals located around Meroё, Kushites could began to make items out of iron. • This sparked a whole new industry and Kush benefited greatly from it. • Eventually returning Kush to the fortune they once had.

  20. EXPANSION and TRADE • Meroё became the center of a larger trade network. • The Kushites sent goods down the Nile to Egypt, who then sent it to the Greeks, who then sent it to India, who then sent it to other parts of Asia… LETS LOOK AT A MAP TO MAKE SENSE OF ALL THIS.

  21. What did they trade? • Exports • Gold • Pottery • Iron tools • Slaves • Ivory • Ebony • Imports • Jewelry • Mostly luxury items

  22. Lets answer some Review questions • Where was Meroё? Why was their location important? • What helped Kush’s Iron industry grow? • How would we explain the Kush culture?

  23. Kush Culture • The most obvious impact on the Kush culture was from the Egyptians. • Like the Egyptians, Kushites: • Had similar architecture • Wore similar clothing • Kush would later adopt terms such as Pharaoh • Kings/Pharaohs had tombs and pyramids

  24. Kush’s Women • Unlike women in other early societies, Kushite women were expected to be active in their society. • Like Kushite men, women worked long hours in the fields and also were responsible for: • Raising the children • Cooking • Performing household tasks

  25. Kush Women continued… • During times of war, many women fought with the men. • Some Kushite women rose to positions of power. Especially religious power. • LETS LOOK ON PAGE 317 at the roles of women and a unique individual.

  26. Kush Falls for good • The Kushite kingdom centered at Meroё collapsed due to developments both inside and outside the empire. • Farmers allowed cattle to overgraze the land • When cows at the grass, there was nothing to hold down the soil. • Iron makers used up all the woods to burn their furnaces. • Kush could no longer produce weapons or trade those goods

  27. Trading doesn’t work anymore for the Kush • Kush was also weakened by a loss of trade. • Other regions set up new trade routes that cut out Kush from the loop.

  28. SOOOO… the main 3 reasons Kush fell are: • Farmers lost control and crops stopped growing. • Iron makers burned up all the wood in the forests surrounding Kush to make iron weapons. • Kush was cut out of trade routes

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