The Nubian civilization was located along the Nile River in what is now southern Egypt and northern Sudan. It was strongly influenced by ancient Egypt, adopting Egyptian religious beliefs, styles of art and architecture, and systems of hieroglyphic writing. At times Nubia was conquered by Egypt, but it also conquered Egypt on some occasions and ruled over both lands. The Nubian civilization lasted from around 3000 BC to AD 1500, with some key periods including the Kingdom of Kush and the empire of Meroe.

1. Simone Harstead, Alyssa McCarthy, Maddy Sher

2. The Nubian civilization was strongly influenced by their northern neighbors, the Egyptians . Archaeologists have evidence revealing achievements in pottery and other artistic fields. They also created many temples that are found throughout Nubia. Many of these accomplishments resemble artifacts found in Egypt as well. Egypt had control over Nubia for many years, and when Egypt did not dominate, the two regions were peaceful. Kushite princes ventured into Egypt and brought back Egyptian customs and ideas to Nubia. Nubia

3. GEOGRAPHY • Nubia is located in today’s southern Egypt and northern Sudan, along the Nile River. • The Nubian desert is divided by the Nile River. • The borders separating Nubia from the rest of the world have shifted over time. • Nubia was five-hundred miles long, stretching from the Nile river that is 1/3 in modern day Egypt and 2/3 in the modern day Sudan. Nubia began before the first cataract and extended past the sixth cataract to Khartoum. • The Nubian kingdom served as a trade corridor because it was right on the way to Egypt. It connected the Mediterranean world to Africa. The Nile River influenced the Nubian civilization by providing them with the most basic and yet most essential aspect of a civilization: a constant supply of water.

4. GEOGRAPHY The fertile belt along the Nile River in Nubia is narrower than in Egypt. Lack of agriculture resulted in Nubia’s inability to support large cities like those in Egypt. The population of Nubia was much smaller than that of Egypt. Upper Nubia = South Lower Nubia = North The Nile provided the necessities and the Nubians relied on it as the Egyptians did. Nubians were very dependent on the Nile River, because the desert land of Nubia wasn’t suitable for agriculture. Today Nubia = Nile area between Aswan of Egypt a sea in the east and Libyan desert in the west.

5. Lower Nubia is the northern region, stretching from the First Cataract to Semna and the Second Cataract. Today, this is southern Egypt and northern Sudan. Upper Nubia extends along the Nile to the Sixth Cataract and Khartoum. Today, this is central Sudan. The Nile flows through Nubia, from south to north. The Nile bends in Upper Nubia. It turns southwest between the Fifth and Fourth cataracts, shaping the geography of Nubia. The Nile’s Influence on Nubia Similar to the Egyptians, the Nile River shaped much of their culture and provided a constant supply of water. http://www.touregypt.net/HistoricalEssays/nubia.htm

8. • Nubian religion and culture are related to each other in many ways such as the sacred burials of pharaohs. • Amun was one of the most important gods, he was associated with the sun and the forces of nature. • He was represented as a ram with a sun disk above his head. They believed the king of Nubia was the son of Amun. • Nubian religion included a belief in the afterlife, with burial practices that evolved over time. • They left supplies such as water and food in the tombs of their dead. In 580 AD, Christianity became the official religion of Nubia . This is the Egypt god Amun Nubian Religion

11. Empires Cushite ruled Egypt in the 8th and 7th centuries B.C. Three Cushite Kingdoms: 1. Kerma = capital (2400 - 1500 B.C.) 3. Meroe = capital (590B.C. - 300 A.D.) Nubia can be referred to as Cush, Kush, Te-Nehesy, Nubadae, Napata, or the Kingdom of Meroe or…Nubia. Starting after the 1st Dynasty, when Nubia wasn’t ruled by Egypt, Nubian culture flourished and Nubians were able to interpret traditions of Africa and Egypt in their own way. Kingdoms sprung up and Nubian history began. King Awawa is the earliest known Nubian king During the Meriotic Kingdom, the Nubians had an unusually high number of queens. Lower and Upper Nubia were under control of Egypt by the Eighteenth Dynasty. First Nubian kingdom = Kerma. 2500-1500 B.C. 1950 B.C. : Egypt conquers Nubia 1150 B.C.: Nubia is ruled locally once again 800 B.C. : New Cushite kingdom. Influenced by Egypt. http://www.touregypt.net/HistoricalEssays/nubia.htm

12. Kings at Kerma ruled in Nubia by 1550 B.C. these rulers were buried in large tombs, along with hundreds of sacrificed people. In the Kerma culture, people generally made use of metal, and they advanced in the art of pottery. During this time, contact increased between Egypt and Nubia. 1950 to 1000 B.C.: Egypt ruled Nubia. Archaeologists have found Egyptian style temples in Kush. The Nubians worshipped Egyptian gods and practiced the Egyptian hieroglyphic writing system. Gold, ivory, and ebony were found in Nubia. These valuables were used to make treasures for the Egyptian Kings. When Egypt was threatened by northerners in 747 B.C., (soon after it had separated into rival states) the Egyptians asked for the Nubians’ protection and alliance. The Kushite king at the time, Piye, reunited and saved Egypt. Kushite kings then went on to rule both Nubia and Egypt for another 100 years. After an Assyrian invasion in 663 B.C., the Nubian king fled to Napata, and this era was discontinued. The Egyptians and Nubians had a “give-and-take” relationship. Not only were the Nubians influenced by the Egyptians, but the Egyptians also benefited from the Nubians. Every historic event pertaining to Nubia involved the Egyptians in some way.