12.1 Kush and 12.1 Kush and EgyptEgypt

Pages 310-314Pages 310-314

The Big Idea: The Big Idea: The kingdom The kingdom of Kush, in the region of of Kush, in the region of

Nubia, was first conquered Nubia, was first conquered by Egypt but later by Egypt but later

conquered and ruled Egypt.conquered and ruled Egypt.

Main Idea 1: Geography Main Idea 1: Geography helped early Kush helped early Kush

civilization develop in civilization develop in Nubia.Nubia.

•South of Egypt along the Nile, South of Egypt along the Nile, Africans established Africans established KushKush, the , the first large kingdom in northeast first large kingdom in northeast Africa, in the region we now Africa, in the region we now call call NubiaNubia..

•Today, desert covers much of Today, desert covers much of Nubia – located in the present-Nubia – located in the present-day country of Sudan.day country of Sudan.

•In ancient times Nubia was In ancient times Nubia was very fertile due to the heavy very fertile due to the heavy rainfall that flooded the Nile rainfall that flooded the Nile every year.every year.

•Ancient Nubia was rich in Ancient Nubia was rich in valuable minerals such as gold, valuable minerals such as gold, copper, and stone.copper, and stone.

Early Civilization in Early Civilization in NubiaNubia

•Thanks to the Nile’s floods, Thanks to the Nile’s floods, farming villages thrived all along farming villages thrived all along the Nile by about 3500 BC.the Nile by about 3500 BC.

•Over time some farmers became Over time some farmers became leaders of their villages.leaders of their villages.

•Sometime around 2000 BC one of Sometime around 2000 BC one of these leaders took control of these leaders took control of other villages and made himself other villages and made himself king of Kush.king of Kush.

Early Civilization in Early Civilization in NubiaNubia

•Early kings ruled from their capital Early kings ruled from their capital at at KermaKerma, on the Nile just south of , on the Nile just south of a cataract, or stretch of rapids.a cataract, or stretch of rapids.

•The cataracts were natural barriers The cataracts were natural barriers against invaders.against invaders.

•As time passed Kushite society As time passed Kushite society became more complex, with became more complex, with farmers, herders, priests, and farmers, herders, priests, and artisans.artisans.

Main Idea 2: Egypt Main Idea 2: Egypt controlled Kush for about controlled Kush for about

450 years.450 years.

•Kushites traded many products Kushites traded many products to Egypt, including slaves, gold, to Egypt, including slaves, gold, copper, stone, copper, stone, ebonyebony (a type of (a type of dark, heavy wood) and dark, heavy wood) and ivoryivory (a (a white material taken from white material taken from elephant tusks)elephant tusks)

•Kush grew wealthy and its army Kush grew wealthy and its army grew stronger. Egypt’s rulers grew stronger. Egypt’s rulers were afraid that a powerful Kush were afraid that a powerful Kush might attack Egypt.might attack Egypt.

•The pharaoh The pharaoh Thutmose IThutmose I attacked attacked Kush around 1500 BC and Kush around 1500 BC and conquered all of Nubia north of the conquered all of Nubia north of the Fifth Cataract. He destroyed the Fifth Cataract. He destroyed the Kushite palace.Kushite palace.

•Kush remained an Egyptian Kush remained an Egyptian territory for about 450 years. territory for about 450 years. Egypt’s influence over Kush grew Egypt’s influence over Kush grew tremendously.tremendously.

•When the New Kingdom in Egypt When the New Kingdom in Egypt ended in the mid-1000s BC, Kush ended in the mid-1000s BC, Kush once again became independent.once again became independent.

Main Idea 3: After Main Idea 3: After winning its winning its

independence, Kush independence, Kush ruled Egypt and set up a ruled Egypt and set up a

new dynasty there.new dynasty there.

Conquest of EgyptConquest of Egypt•By about 850 BC Kush had regained By about 850 BC Kush had regained

its strength.its strength.

•Kings of Kush ruled from the city of Kings of Kush ruled from the city of NapataNapata..

• In 751 BC a Kushite king named In 751 BC a Kushite king named KashtaKashta attacked and conquered attacked and conquered Upper Egypt.Upper Egypt.

•After After KashtaKashta died, his son died, his son PiankhiPiankhi ruled.ruled.

•By 716 Kush controlled all of Egypt.By 716 Kush controlled all of Egypt.

Kushite DynastyKushite Dynasty •After the death of After the death of Piankhi Piankhi his his

brother named brother named ShabakaShabaka declared himself pharaoh, declared himself pharaoh, beginning the beginning the Kushite DynastyKushite Dynasty..

•Worked to restore old Egyptian Worked to restore old Egyptian cultural practices, such as cultural practices, such as pyramid-buildingpyramid-building

•Preserved old Egyptian writingsPreserved old Egyptian writings

•Egyptian culture flourished.Egyptian culture flourished.

STATUE OF SHABAKA

End of Kushite Rule in End of Kushite Rule in EgyptEgypt

•Kushites remained strong in Egypt Kushites remained strong in Egypt for about 40 years.for about 40 years.

• In the 670s and 660s BC In the 670s and 660s BC Assyrians from Mesopotamia Assyrians from Mesopotamia invaded and pushed the Kushites invaded and pushed the Kushites from Egypt.from Egypt.

•The Assyrians iron weapons gave The Assyrians iron weapons gave them a military advantage over them a military advantage over the Kushite’s weaker weapons.the Kushite’s weaker weapons.