Ch 10 The Kingdom of Kush

1. Ch 10 The Kingdom of Kush • Introduction • The Egyptianization of Kush • Kush Conquers Egypt • The Kush Capital of Meroe • Kush Returns to Its African Roots • Summary

2. Introduction • 2000 BCE - 350 CE • Relationship between Egypt and Kush • Some pictures show Kushites bearing gifts • Some pictures show Kushites armed with bows and arrows

3. The Egyptianization of Kush • Greatest ancient civilization in Africa, next to Egypt • Grew up around Nile River • Known for rich gold mines • Also called Nubia • nub - Egyptian word for gold • Center of Trade • Linked central and southern Africa to Egypt • Egyptians traded grain beer and linen • Kush traded gold, ivory, leather, and timber • Slaves were also bought

4. The Egyptianization of Kush • Egypt's Control • During New Kingdom, 1600 - 1100 BCE, Egypt conquered Kush • Kush paid tribute to Egypt in the form of gifts • Kushites gave gold, cattle, ivory ebony, ostrich feathers, and slaves • Kush society became "Egyptianized" • Kushites spoke and wrote in Egyptian • Worshiped Egyptian gods and wore Egyptian-style clothing • Kush's archers hired to fight in Egypt's army • Princes from Kush's royal families were educated in Egypt • Continued to follow Egyptian traditions after regaining independence • 1100 BCE New Kingdom collapsed and Kush regained its independence. About 900 BCE a new line of Kush kings was established.

5. Kush Conquers Egypt • Opportunity • Egypt fell into political chaos when New Kingdom collapsed • 10 Egyptian kingdoms fought each other for power • Conquest • Mid-700's BCE Kush invaded Egypt • Egypt surrendered to Kush's King Piye around 730 BCE • Result • Piye declared himself pharaoh • Assumed title of "Uniter of the Two Lands" • Established the 25th dynasty in Egypt • Wanted to revive Egypt's past glory • Built new temples and pyramids • Built temple at Jebel Barkal • modeled after the temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel • Eventually, threatened by the expanding Assyrian Empire • 671 BCE Assyrian King invaded Egypt • Assyrians used iron weapons to drive Kushites out of Egypt • By 650's BCE the last of the Kushite pharaohs returned to Kush • Kingdom of Kush now extended 1500 miles from Meroe to the Meiterranean

6. The Kush Capital of Meroe • Napata Destroyed • 590 BCE Egypt invaded Kush and destroyed its capital • Meroe becomes new capital • Location • 300 miles south of Napata • Important center of trade • Trade developed between African kingdoms, Arabia, Rome, India, and maybe China • Connected overland routes with Nile and Red Sea • Center of Kushite civilization • Lasted almost 1,000 years • Thrived as a center of industry as well as culture • known for producing iron • Learned about iron from their defeat by the Assyrians • Meroe had everything needed to make iron • iron deposits, forest for charcoal • Made weapons like spears arrows, and swords • Created tools for farming like axes and hoes

7. Kush Returns to Its African Roots • Art and Architecture • Artisans made beautiful pottery, cloth, and gold and silver jewelry • Rulers built grand palaces, temples, and pyramids • Religion • worshiped an African lion-god • Language • wrote and spoke a native language called Meroitic • Leadership • Revived the African practice of female leadership • Kandakes, queen mothers, ruled Meroe • Co-ruled with sons or husbands • Considered goddesses and very powerful • Queen Amanirenas • Defended Kush agains Romans in 24 BCE • Rome signed a peace treaty with Kush • Fall • 350 CE Kush fell to invaders from Ethiopia

8. Summary • Kush and Egypt had close ties • Each country invaded and conquered the other • Kushite pharoahs ruled Egypt for nearly a century • Upon withdrawing from Egypt Kush returned to its African roots