Ancient Sudan (Nubia)
AFRS 2206 Section 001
Essay #2
Dr. Tanure Ojaide
August 1, 2012
The Nubians Who are the Nubians? Nubians are people of northern Sudan and southern Egypt. Their history and traditions can be traced to the dawn of civilization. They settled first along the banks of the Nile from Aswan. Along the Nile, they developed one of the oldest and greatest civilizations in Africa until they lost their last kingdom five centuries ago. The Nubians remained as the main rivals to the homeland of Africa’s earliest black culture with a history that can be traced from 3800 B.C. onward through the monuments and artifacts. Ancient Nubia was a land of great natural wealth, gold mines, ebony, ivory and incense that its neighbors always prized. Sudan had remained the main homeland of Nubians through their long history, but many of its descendants is today’s Egypt. The majority of Nubians today is Sudanese with a population of slightly above 300,000 but are a minority in both countries. Nubians in both countries endured a lot of suffering from intentional overlooking to their history and culture. Historians have largely omitted Nubia, known today as Sudan, in favor of its splendid neighbor, Egypt simply of prejudice displayed by archaeologists. But Nubian art impacted Egyptian Art. Through Nubian history, culture, and its architecture, one can see how magnificent and powerful these group of people once were. By rediscovering one of Africa’s ancient kingdoms and setting one’s sight on Nubian Art history, it is clear to see that ancient Nubia deserves as much recognition as its rival counterpart ancient Egypt. For three thousand years, between these two warring nations, the ancient African kingdoms of Nubia were Egypt’s southern neighbors as well as rivals. Temples and pyramids of Egypt have been visited by millions of tourist and likewise illustrated in fancy albums and history textbooks, but where is Nubia? Although there are more royal pyramids still standing in Nubia
Essay #2
Dr. Tanure Ojaide
August 1, 2012
The Nubians Who are the Nubians? Nubians are people of northern Sudan and southern Egypt. Their history and traditions can be traced to the dawn of civilization. They settled first along the banks of the Nile from Aswan. Along the Nile, they developed one of the oldest and greatest civilizations in Africa until they lost their last kingdom five centuries ago. The Nubians remained as the main rivals to the homeland of Africa’s earliest black culture with a history that can be traced from 3800 B.C. onward through the monuments and artifacts. Ancient Nubia was a land of great natural wealth, gold mines, ebony, ivory and incense that its neighbors always prized. Sudan had remained the main homeland of Nubians through their long history, but many of its descendants is today’s Egypt. The majority of Nubians today is Sudanese with a population of slightly above 300,000 but are a minority in both countries. Nubians in both countries endured a lot of suffering from intentional overlooking to their history and culture. Historians have largely omitted Nubia, known today as Sudan, in favor of its splendid neighbor, Egypt simply of prejudice displayed by archaeologists. But Nubian art impacted Egyptian Art. Through Nubian history, culture, and its architecture, one can see how magnificent and powerful these group of people once were. By rediscovering one of Africa’s ancient kingdoms and setting one’s sight on Nubian Art history, it is clear to see that ancient Nubia deserves as much recognition as its rival counterpart ancient Egypt. For three thousand years, between these two warring nations, the ancient African kingdoms of Nubia were Egypt’s southern neighbors as well as rivals. Temples and pyramids of Egypt have been visited by millions of tourist and likewise illustrated in fancy albums and history textbooks, but where is Nubia? Although there are more royal pyramids still standing in Nubia
Cited: