Geography & Early Kush
What major river was ancient Nubia located along?
The Nile River
Which neighboring civilization had a major influence on Kush?
Egypt
Which Kushite king began the conquest of Egypt around 751 BC?
Kashta
What city became the economic center of Kush?
Meroë
What type of structures did Kushite rulers build as tombs?
Pyramids
What region in the Northeast Africa was located south of Egypt and became the home of Kush?
Nubia
What valuable material did the Kushites send to Egypt that was taken from elephant tusks?
Ivory
Who continued Kashta’s attack on Egypt after Kashta died?
Piankhi
What metal was found in large deposits around Meroë?
Iron
What was the name of the Kushites’ own written language?
Meroitic
What were the shallow, rocky stretches of the Nile that made river travel difficult?
Cataracts
Which Egyptian pharaoh sent an army into Nubia and conquered Kush?
Thutmose I
What important Egyptian city did Piankhi capture during his conquest?
Memphis
What two resources needed for making iron were readily available near Meroë?
Iron ore and wood
Why did Kush begin to lose some of the natural resources that supported its economy?
People overgrazed the land and cut down forests, especially to provide fuel for ironmaking.
What three important resources was ancient Nubia rich in?
Gold, copper, and stone
About how long did Egypt control Kush after its conquest?
About 450 years
Which Kushite ruler moved the capital from Napata to Meroë around 590 BC?
Aspelta
What is a system of people in different lands who trade goods back and forth called?
A trade network
How did new trade routes contribute to Kush’s decline?
Merchants began using routes that went around Kush, causing Kush to lose trade and wealth.
How did the Nile’s cataracts help the early kingdom of Kush?
They created natural barriers that helped protect Kush from invaders.
Name two ways Egyptian rule influenced Kushite culture.
Possible answers include Egyptian religion, clothing, names, temples, gods, pyramids, or religious practices.
What powerful Kushite queen ruled from about 170 BC to 150 BC?
Queen Shanakhdakheto
Name three goods Kush exported to other regions.
Possible answers include gold, slaves, ivory, leopard skins, ostrich feathers, and elephants.
Which neighboring kingdom invaded Meroë around AD 350 and helped bring the Kushite kingdom to an end?
Aksum