In what ways did location influence the history of Kush? CHAPTER 10 “THE KINGDOM OF KUSH”
Dec 15, 2015
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