Chapter 2 Section 4 The Civilization of Kush

Nubia South of the Egyptians, in present-day Sudan, another civilization arose. This area was called Nubia (later known as Kush)

The Kingdom of Kerma The more powerful Nubian villages took over the weaker ones. They created the kingdom of Kerma. Kerma had close ties to Egypt because of trade and their soldiers were used in Egypt.

Why did Egypt invade Nubia? Egypt invaded Nubia in the 1400s B.C. Kerma collapsed after a 50 year war. Egypt ruled Nubia the next 700 years.

The Rise of Kush At the end of the New Kingdom, Nubians saw their chance to break away from Egypt. 728 B.C. Kush took control of Egypt. During the 600s B.C., the Assyrians invaded Egypt.

The Importance of Iron The Kushites became the 1st Africans to devote themselves to iron-working. They made iron farming tools and military weapons.

A New Capital Around 540 B.C., Kush’s rulers moved the capital from Napata to Meroe. They built it to look like an Egyptian city.

Building a Profitable Trade Meroe became the center of a huge trading network. Kush was a trading power for about 600 years. Kush declined and Axum eventually took its place.