In what ways did location influence the history of Kush?

CHAPTER 10 “THE KINGDOM OF KUSH”

• In what ways did location influence the

history of Kush?

• How does art (specifically

paintings/sculptures) help us better

understand the past?

• How are Egypt and Kush similar and

different?

• Why did the Kingdom of Kush prosper?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

• It Matters Because…The kingdoms of Nubia and Kush were influenced by Egyptian culture, and they continued many Egyptian traditions.

WHY THIS MATTERS

1) Meroe: a city on the Nile River that became the center of Kushite culture and industry.

2) Dynasty: a family or group that rules for several generations

3) Kandake: a powerful female leader who co-ruled Kush with her husbands or sons.

VOCABULARY

1. African Kingdom (Kush), located on Nile River south of Egypt

2. Kush/Egypt had a close relationship

3. How do we know that? Pictures can be found on some of the walls of Egyptian tombs and temples.

4. Example: Hatshepsut’s tomb (Egypt’s 1st female pharaoh), many painted scenes of Egyptian life decorate the walls. On closer examination, not all the people in the paintings are Egyptians.

5. The pictures show a complicated relationship. In some images, the Kushites come bearing gifts and in other images, they are shown holding bow & arrows.

HIGHLIGHTS

-rich gold mines

-also known as Nubia (nub means gold)

-fertile banks (Nile River)

-Kush’s location/natural resources made it an important trading center

KUSH WAS KNOWN FOR

a) Egyptians traded grain and linen

b) Kushites traded gold, ivory, leather, and timber

c) Trade Formula: grain, linen gold, ivory, leather, timber

*Egypt raided or took control of some of Kush’s lands

*During the new kingdom, Egypt was at its height, and it conquered Kush.

-Kush was forced to pay tribute to Egypt in the form of gifts

-Kushites gave gold, cattle, ivory, ostrich feathers, ebony, and slaves.

EGYPTIANS & KUSHITES TRADED:

*Under Egypt’s control Kushite society became more Egyptianized (or more like Egypt).

**Is this inevitable? If you are controlled by an outside ruler, do you eventually become more like them? Or can you prevent this from occurring?

-Example: Kushites spoke & wrote in Egyptian. They worshipped Egyptian gods and wore Egyptian-style clothes.

**DO WE SEE THIS TODAY?

EGYPTIANIZATION

• Egypt’s New Kingdom collapsed around 1100 BCE.

• Kush is able to regain its independence.

• However, Egyptian culture persisted.

• The Kushite kings still followed the Egyptian traditions.

EGYPT COLLAPSES

• Egypt became weak and unstable because there was constant infighting.

• Kush took advantage of Egypt’s weakness. • Kushite armies invaded Egypt. • The kings in northern Egypt surrendered to Piye, king

of Kush. (730 BCE).• The Kushite pharaohs did not want to destroy Egypt.

Instead they wanted to revive Egypt’s glory past. • They built new temples and pyramids in both Egypt

and Kush.• Assyrians had strong iron weapons and they drove

the Kushites out of Egypt by 650 BCE.

KUSH CONQUERS EGYPT

• Less than 100 years later, Egypt invades Kush and destroys its capital city, Napata.

• Kushites decide to make Meroe their new capital, since it was safely out of Egypt’s reach.

• Meroe was a large and wealthy city.• It became well known for producing iron. • The Kushites were determined to match the Assyrian’s military

strength.• Meroe had plenty of forests (which provided wood). • Ironworkers in Kush made weapons like spears, arrows, and

swords.

KUSH CAPITAL OF MEROE

• After its separation from Egypt, Kush returned to its

African roots.

• Artwork, clothing, and buildings no longer imitated

Egyptian styles.

• Kushites began worshipping an African lion-god rather

than Egyptian gods.

• Kush also revived the African practice of female

leadership. Powerful kandakes, or queen mothers, ruled

Meroe.

• One of the greatest kandakes was Queen Amanirena. She

defended Kush against the powerful Romans in 24 BCE.

• Kush survived for nearly 400 more years.

• In 350 CE, Kush fell to invaders from the African country

of Ethiopia.

KUSH RETURNS TO ITS AFRICAN ROOTS

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoSgZHVocHE

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvek69OZMLw

VIDEO CLIPS