The Kingdom of Kush

Ancient Kush was a very historically significant civilization that was situated on the banks of the Nile River, south of the first cataract and north of the sixth cataract, in an area known Nubia1, which is located in what is now known as Sudan. They appeared to have began to share a common culture at approximately 5000 BCE2. After Nubia began to have the beginnings of a civilization, which started near 2000 BCE3, It was very commonly raided by Egypt for resources4, which led to periods of intense violence and warfare between the two civilizations5. Egypt wanted Nubia’s resources, such as copper, gold, and other metals6, as well as people to take captive and use for slave labor or to turn into soldiers forced to fight for Egypt7. There were also periods of trade between Nubia and Egypt8, as well as much trade between Nubia and the peoples of interior Africa9, bringing back luxuries of the exotic, tropical goods from southern interior Africa. Nubia drove back the Egyptians and developed an independent civilization with art, architecture, and skilled warriors10, who very often resisted Egyptian attacks and rebelled against Egypt, which was a very bold move. The Nubians, again under threat from the Egyptians, retreated south and formed a new kingdom, known as Kush11. At one point, they were so powerful that they invaded and conquered Egypt12. Kush was a powerful, thriving, independent civilization that flourished for over a thousand years.

People have lived in Nubia since the early Paleolithic13. Before around 5000 BCE14, the people that lived in that area were hunter gatherers; early humans that used the Acheulian Hand Axe technology15. At around 5000 BCE, however, common cultural characteristics started to appear along the Nile. Nubians developed a culture on the banks of the river. Early on in their beginning period, it is plausible to believe that the Nubians were more culturally advanced than their neighbors to the north, the Egyptians16....