Allison+Barnes

=Nubian and Egyptian Relationship= The primary focus on my portion of the Nubian Wiki is to see if the main foundation of the relationship between Nubian and Egypt was affected by the Egyptians envy of Nubia’s revered resources. Nubia was known on the Nile for its vast resources, such as ebony, ivory, copper, and most importantly gold. “The area that was once ancient Nubia can be found in the regions we call today Southern Egypt and Northern Sudan. Nubia stretched over 1,000 miles along the Nile River and, like Egypt, it was a land defined by this mighty river. Surrounded by a harsh desert environment, the river supported Nubian culture and economy” (University of Chicago). Nubia was in a quality location for trade along the Nile River. Due to Nubia’s close proximity to Egypt, both kingdoms were in contact with the other. With the large amount of valuable assets from the Nubians, there was conflict due to Egyptians’ envy.

** (Image: Egyptian map showing roads to Nubian gold mines, dated to 1400-1200 BCE. Provided by the Egyptian Museum in Turin, Italy). ( Halsell, Michelle)
 * Nubian Resources

** Nubia’s Valuable “Dust” -Gold **  (Image: King Tut's burial mask made out of Nubian Gold)

The name Nubia is said to be derived from the Egyptian word “Nub” meaning gold, and that’s what the Kingdom of Nubia was best known for. “The Gold of Nubia made Egypt very rich. Egypt became so rich that the kings of other countries believed that gold was “as common as dust” (University of Chicago). It is believed that it was Nubian gold used in King Tutankhamen’s tomb and in other Egyptian burials. Throughout history there is documentation both in Egyptian text and Greek text, of the great abundance of the gold in Nubia. The Greek historian Herodouts wrote about Nubia in the book //The Histories, he// speaks about the amount of gold and other resources found in Nubia, “There gold is obtained in great plenty, huge elephants abound, with wild trees of all sorts, and ebony; and the men are taller, handsomer, and longer lived than anywhere else. The Ethiopians were clothed in the skins of leopards and lions, and had long bows made of the stem of the palm-leaf, not less than four cubits in length” (Halsall, Paul). Egypt valued gold, they believed that it was the skin of the gods, and was only permitted use for the elite and privileged (Dunn, Jimmy).  Gold was one of the most important materials traded from Nubia because it was such a valued commodity and was envied by nations all over. **Location of Nubian Gold, Mining, and Other Techniques ** (image: map of Nubian gold mines)  Most of the gold mines found in Nubia were found in the sides of the mountain ranges and valleys located next to the Nile River. One of the most important mines was located in Wadi Alliqui. “This wadi was the main route to Nubian gold mines and the most important route for infiltration from the Nubian Desert.”(Bard 1999: 575) Gold mining was dangerous work and was usually left up to the criminal. Unfortunately, the mine workers were treated poorly but they were run with the utmost efficiently. Once Egypt obtained control over gold mining in Nubia, the mines were reasonably productive, to keep up with the demand of the Pharaohs (Dunn, Jimmy). (Image: Example of the process of washing Gold) Other techniques for obtaining gold were also utilized, for example auriferous sand was put in a big fleece bag and shaken by two workers till the water drained out, leaving the gold particles within the fleece (Dunn, Jimmy). (Picture of an ancient gold panning basin in Nubia ( Halsell, Michelle).) Archaeologists have found evidence of wide spread gold extraction in the Nubian kingdom of Kush as well. With the abundance of gold in Nubia, Salah Mohammed Ahmed, the head of Sudan's antiquities agency states that it “may be the main reason for the colonization of Sudan by the ancient Egyptians’" ( Antnitei, Stefan). ** Other Valued Resources **  Besides gold, Nubia also flourished with other resources. **“** Especially important for Egypt was the fact that Nubia was a corridor to central Africa and a point for the trans-shipment of exotic goods from that region, including: frankincense, myrrh, "green gold," ivory, ebony and other exotic woods, precious oils, resins and gums, panther and leopard skins, monkeys, dogs, giraffes, ostrich feathers and eggs, as well as pygmies (who became important to Egyptian religious rituals). In the Old Kingdom, the Egyptians regularly penetrated as far as the Second Cataract to barter for these products which were coming down through the upper Nile Valley” (Dunn, Jimmy). Another important natural resource of Nubia was hard stone and copper, which was useful for monumental architecture (Dunn, Jimmy).

The relationship between Nubia and Egypt is one that is both functional and dysfunctional. The developmental timelines of both nations are relatively parallel. It is stated in the book Ancient Egypt in Africa, “that despite much contact, Nubia was relatively culturally distinct”, until 1700 B.C. after that Egyptian influence heavily set in (O’Connor2003: 16). But, the amount of resources that Nubia had and the control resources transported on the Nile, they were always in contact with each other and were at sometimes linked to each other. With the struggle for power over the Nile and local goods, conflict and territory conquest arise and diminish throughout their history. Nubia brought great wealth to the Egyptians, through their resources.
 * Nubian Egyptian Relationship **

** Trade amongst Nubia and Egypt ** Nubia was in the prime location on the Nile for being the central hub for imports and exports of goods between Africa and the Mediterranean. Trade was the most significant interaction between the two kingdoms. When Egypt expanded over Nubia and then eventually inhabited, Egypt took control of the trade routes and gained tremendous wealth. Another source of trade that benefited the Egyptians during their occupation in Nubia was the payments of taxes and tributes, which were gifts of valuable goods.

**Egypt’s Expansion and Conquer

** (Image: another painting of Nubians bringing gold as a tribute to the Egyptians) Egyptian expansion into Nubia started around the beginning of the First Egyptian Dynasty when Egypt became unified. (Bard 1999:31) “With the unification of Egypt into a large territorial state, the crown most likely waned to control the trade through Nubia of exotic raw materials used to make luxury goods, which resulted in Egyptian military incursions in Lower Nubia.” (Bard 1999:31) Eventually Egypt got pushed out of Nubia to the first Cataract, due to the large migration of new people (Bailey nubianet.org). As a result of the second unification of Egypt, dating to the Middle Kingdom dynasties, (2040-1783 B.C) the king prompted Egypt reoccupied lower Nubia (Bailey, Ronald). Quickly they started occupying near the second Cataract of the Nile, building fortresses used for both protection as well as for large trade on the Nile, giving a safe haven’t to the traders traveling the rough Nile. Along with building fortresses they took over the trade routes of northern Nubia. But as before Egypt became politically unstable and had to retreat out of Nubia once again. The major Egyptian occupation of Nubia took place in 1550 B.C. and lasted for a span of 500 years (1550-1070 B.C) (O’Connor2003: 151). Eventually, they were driven out and then for a period of time Nubia conquered Egypt. ** Conclusion ** After researching and reading over historical accounts of the relationship between Nubia and Egypt. I agree with what I stated at the beginning of the paper, I think that the only reason that Egypt wanted anything to do with the Kingdom of Nubia was to fuel their greed and to have full access to the Nile’s resources and trade. Egypt craved opulence and with the gain of Nubia they gained great wealth. If you look at the artwork coming out of that time period, it is depictions of the Nubians paying tribute with gold to Egypt. Egyptians were known to be elaborate in there dress and in their burials. With each article that I read the author always tends to mention that the Egyptians exploited the Nubians and that the only reason that they occupied that area was for their resources. Egypt essentially wanted control over the entire river valley. __ ** Images and Works Cited ** __ Bard, Kathryn, Steven Blake Shubert 1999 Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. Routledge O’ Connor, David, Andrew Reid 2003 Ancient Egypt in Africa. Cavendish Publishing Kemp, Barry J., Bruce G. Trigger 1983 Ancient Egypt: a social history. Cambridge University Press The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago Ancient Nubia: Trade. Electronic document, [] , accessed April 18, 2009 Antnitei, Stefan 2007 Ancient Gold on the Nile: The Nubian Gold Mining. Electronic document, [], accessed April 18, 2009 Sertima, Ivan Van 1989 Egypt Revisited. Transaction Publishers Dunn, Jimmy 2004 Egypt: Nubia in Modern and Ancient Times. Electronic Document, [], accessed April 20, 2009 Hartig, O   Nubia. Electronic document, [], accessed April 20, 2009 Halsall, Paul 1998 Ancient History Sourcebook : Accounts of Meroe, Kush, Axum, c.430 BCE- 550CE. Electronic document, [], accessed April 20, 2009 John, James Augustus St. 1845 Egypt and Nubia. Oxford University Bailey, Ronald, Marcia Baynes 2001 About Nubia: History: Cultures and Civilization. Electronic document, [], accessed April 18, 2009 Nicholson, Paul T., Ian Shaw 2000 Ancient Egyptian Materials and Technology. Cambridge University Press. Dunn, Jimmy 2005 Golden Egypt. Electronic document, [], accessed April 18, 2009 Halsell, Michelle digNubia: Nubian Gold. Electronic document, [], accessed April 20, 2009