Nubian Civilization of Africa Reading Questions... 1) How was African history unfairly described within recent history? (1800’s - Early 1900’s)
2) Where do people whose ancestors used to live in the Nubian empire live today?
3) What did the ancient Nubians mostly trade? (3 things)
4) Which African Civilization invaded and controlled Nubia for hundreds of years?
5) What large Mediteranean Empire did the Nubians battle with?
6) What are the Nubians most known for in terms of what they built?
Nubian Civilization -- The ‘Black Pharaohs of Africa’
Learning about the accomplishments and rich culture of the Ancient Nubians seems more relevant and interesting when you consider the way that Black Africans and African Americans have been treated in relatively recent history (1800’s - Early 1900’s C.E). As we will learn about later in this class, for hundreds of years Africa was exploited (taken advantage of) by European colonization and imperialism efforts. Africa was insulted and put down as a place where backwards and ‘uncivilized’ people were stuck in time, never having accomplished anything great. Even the accomplishments of the amazing Egyptian civilization were taken away from Black Africans, as Europeans claimed that the Egyptians were more white than they were black. Studying Nubian civilization shows us factually that Black Africans have a long and rich history, just like most peoples and cultures on our planet. Nubia built great pyramids, conquered vast lands, had an alphabet for writing, and much more! All of this hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. By learning about Nubia, we are showing how wrong, silly, and even hateful ideas that were held about Africa and its people have been. The Nubians made interesting cultural achievements for thousands of years. Ancient Nubia: A Brief History They battled the Romans!, ruled Egypt as pharaohs and constructed vast fields of pyramids. They are the Nubians, and they are not a "lost civilization" but rather a people who are with us today, based in what is now the countries of Sudan and southern Egypt.
In ancient times, some of their rulers were women who were sometimes referred to in ancient texts as "Candaces" or "Kandakes." Archaeologists have found carved images of them revealing that they sometimes liked to be depicted overweight. This was common throughout history as most people were underweight due to lack of access to food. To be overweight showed that you were in a high social class, because you had the ability to eat a lot and regularly!
The ancient Nubians were also well known for their archery skills, and the Egyptians sometimes called their land "Ta-Seti," which means "land of the bow and arrow." Nubian rulers, including the female rulers, were often buried with archery equipment, such as stone rings designed to make it easier to fire off arrows.
Today, archaeological remains of the Nubians can be found throughout Sudan and southern Egypt and date from prehistoric to modern times. There are numerous archaeological projects investigating these remains and new discoveries continue to be made.
Kerma - Ancient Nubian City
Around 4,500 years ago (2,500 B.C.E) a large settlement grew at the site of Kerma, just north of the third cataract of the Nile River. The people who lived at Kerma did not use a writing system; however, the ancient Egyptians referred to the area that they controlled as "Kush."
Kerma has been excavated by a Swiss team for more than 30 years. The team has discovered the remains of temples, cemeteries and a city wall. Their discoveries reveal that the city was a center for trade with gold, ivory and cattle among other commodities (trade goods) being traded by Kerma's inhabitants. The exact amount of territory that Kerma controlled is uncertain, but it appears to have encompassed part of what is now Sudan and southern Egypt.
Egyptian occupation Around 3,500 years ago, Egypt grew increasingly powerful and envious of Kerma's resources. They launched a series of military campaigns that destroyed Kerma and led to the occupation of Nubia. The pharaohs of Egypt sent governors to administer Nubia and used a series of towns as hubs to control it.
One of these towns is now an archaeological site called "Amara West" and is being excavated by a British Museum team. The team found that some of the people at Amara West were buried with scarabs that have the name of Egyptian pharaohs inscribed on them. "Ramesses, beloved of Amun-Ra and Ra-Horakhty, born of the gods, who founded the Two Lands," reads one scarab in translation.
Nubian Independence and rule of Egypt
Egyptian power declined around 3,000 years ago (1,000 B.C.E) with its central government falling apart. A number of factors, including attacks by a group that archaeologists sometimes call the "Sea People," played a role in this decline and government breakdown. =(
As Egypt's power decreased, the Nubians began to re-assert their independence. A kingdom based at a city called Napata, located near the fourth cataract of the Nile River, grew increasingly powerful. Napata's territory expanded, and during the reign of King Piye (reign 743–712 B.C.E), it expanded north of the first cataract, conquering Egypt itself!
The Nubian kings ruled Egypt as pharaohs, establishing what is sometimes called the "25th dynasty" of Egypt. The Nubian kings not only adopted Egyptian titles but also Egyptian writing and Egyptian pyramids. The Nubian pharaohs had lengthy inscriptions created that recorded their titles and deeds, and pyramid building took off in Nubia in a big way. Archaeologists have found fields of pyramids. In one recently uncovered cemetery, located at a site now called "Sedeinga," they found no less than 35 pyramids.
The Nubians had to compete with foreign powers to the north, and around 300 B.C.E they moved their capital south of Napata to a city called Meroe. At their new capital, the Nubians built a number of palaces, temples and pyramids. The Nubians also developed their own writing system, which today is only partially deciphered and now called "Meroitic."
Ancient texts and archaeological remains show that the Nubians also battled the Roman Empire. One famous archaeological find, made at Meroe in 1910 C.E, is a bronze head of the Roman Emperor Octavian (later called Augustus). Archaeologists think that it was captured during a Nubian raid into Roman Egypt and was brought to the Nubian city of Meroe as a sort of prize. Ancient records indicate that Rome and Meroe agreed to a peace treaty around 20 B.C.E.
The next few centuries (hundreds of years) brought a period of relative stability with the relationship between Meroe and Rome becoming mainly one of trade. Archaeological evidence indicates that Meroe declined around 300 C.E. Scholars have suggested a number of reasons for this decline, including desertification and loss of trade routes.
People in the Roman Empire converted to Christianity on a large scale during the fourth and fifth centuries C.E (300 - 400s)., and Christianity also began to make its way into Nubia. When Meroe collapsed it was a series of Christian kingdoms, including the kingdom of Makuria, which rose in its place. These new Christian kingdoms built cathedrals and supported monasteries. A number of new languages including Coptic and a language which modern-day scholars call "Old Nubian" flourished in Nubia.