| . | Nubia Region |
Upper Egypt |
| . |  |
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| Location |
The land of ancient Nubia was bounded on the north by the First Cataract of the Nile
River, located just south of Elephantine, and on the far south by the Sixth Cataract, located north of modern Khartoum. |
A narrow strip of land that extends from the 1st cataract in the south to Memphis in the north |
| Ethnic Groups |
Sub-Saharan African race - black skin and woolly hair
Nubia is the homeland of Africa's earliest black culture from 3000 BC |
North African race - medium toned similar to that of northern Indians |
| Human settlements |
Smaller settlements such as Napata, Meroe and Dongola
The fertile belt along the Nile is much more narrow than in Egypt. Hence there never was the chance of extensive agriculture with surplus large enough to sustain the development of cities and religious centres.
A population of around 400,000 during ancient times |
Important cities such as Thebes and Aswan
Egypt had a population of 4 million in ancient times - ten times greater than Nubia
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| Historical Development |
Early Dynastic Period - Nubia consisted of various small ethnic tribal groups or chiefdoms
Old Kingdom - Egyptians imported gold, incense, ebony, ivory, and exotic animals from tropical Africa through Nubia, which became an important trade route
Middle Kingdom - Governed by larger and more politically complex kingdoms, the various Nubian cultures flourished and enjoyed their political and economic independence, often formulating kingdoms of great dynamism that were competitive with the Egyptian state.
New Kingdom - Politically dominated by the Egyptian state, which was able to maintain a permanent presence starting from the reign of Seti I who completed the occupation of the area
up to the Fourth Cataract. By the end of the reign of Thutmose I in 1520 BC, Egyptians had annexed all of northern Nubia.
Late Kingdom - The height of the political power of Nubia. In the 25th dynasty Egypt was reunified by the Nubian Pharaoh
Piye, who invaded and took control of Egypt
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Upper Egypt played an essential role in the formulation of the Egyptian Civilization as we know it
Early Dynastic Period - Egypt unified by Upper Egyptian rulers from Hierakonpolis
New Kingdom - The height of the political power of Upper Egypt, with the capital city at Thebes
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| Arts |
Superiority in Minor arts such as ceramics and pottery, which was produced since 6000 BC, and valued greatly by Nubian culture. |
Collosal Architecture and statues |
| Natural Resources |
Egyptian quarried Gold in ancient Mines located at the eastern deserts of Nubia
The name "Nubia" comes from the Egyptian word "nub", meaning gold
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Building stones such as granite, basalt and sandstone |
