Kushites & Aksum Flashcards
Afrocentric Historiography - Basic premise
Europeans have downplayed Africa and over-emphasized Europe in world history. Black people twisting history so they come out on top. Just as bad as eurocentrism.
Afrocentric Historiography - Some Books
Stolen Legacy (1955) by George James, Afrocentricity (1980) by Molefi Kete Asante, Black Athena (3 vols, 1987-2001) by Martin Bernal
Nubia
Modern Sudan more or less, Egyptians referred to Nubia as Kush/Cush, once assumed to be southern outpost of ancient Egyptian civilization, there was a lot of exchange, but the Nubians/Kushites had their own distinct culture
Nubia - Name origins
Some think name ‘Nubia’ comes from ancient Egyptian world for gold = nub, Ancient Egyptians referred to Kush as ‘Ta- Sety’ (Land of the Archers) and ‘Ta-Nehesy’ (Land of the Black People), Kushite soldiers – especially archers – were considered elite warriors & were hired to serve in pharaonic armies.
Kerma (fl. 2500-1400 BCE)
Kushite kingdom on Nile R. south of Egypt, relations with Egypt sometimes peaceful, sometimes hostile, center was the Western Deffufa, a temple-fortress, Egypt defeated & occupied but did not destroy Kerma ca 2000 BCE, Kerma regained independence ca 1700 BCE but was again defeated ca 1500 BCE
Napata & the Kingdom of Kush
Ca 1475 BCE: city of Napata founded as Egyptian outpost in Kush, Kush was ruled as a viceroyalty of Egypt to 1069 BCE, The independent Kingdom of Kush was founded at Napata in 1069 BCE., Kush began to assert economic & political influence & eventually even dominance over Egypt.
The Kushites: The 25th Pharaonic Dynasty of Egypt ca. 1000-591 BCE
Kushite Kings Kashta (d. 747 BCE) had enough sway to make his daughter, Amenirdis I, Wife of Amun (= high priestess) at Thebes; same status as Hatshepsut had centuries earlier, Soon Kush claimed to rule all of Upper Egypt & could back it up militarily, Kashta’s son Piye (d. 721 BCE) conquered Lower Egypt, thus uniting Egypt under one pharaoh, 25th Dynasty kings among Egyptian dynasties mentioned in Biblical Book of Kings II & Book Chronicles II
The Kushites: The 25th Pharaonic Dynasty of Egypt - Shabaka & Taharqa
Shabaka (r. ca. 719-703 BCE) made Memphis capital, Taharqa (r. ca. 690-664 BCE) fought Assyrian invasion of Egypt & established new capital at Meroë, 663 BCE: Assyrian invasion toppled 25th Dynasty; Kushites retreated, 591 BCE: Egyptian invasion of Nubia forced Kushites south to Meroë, where they found new kingdom
Meroë
Est. as Kushite capital ca. 656 BCE by Taharqa’s descendants, increasingly looked east (Ethiopia & Arabia) & south (Sub-Saharan Africa) rather than north (Egypt), strong enough to hold out against Roman Empire, gradually gave way to Aksum
Aksum (Axum)
Located in Ethiopia, rose to prominence ca 100 CE, access to Red Sea, Persian Gulf, & Indian Ocean trade, converted to Christianity under King Ezana (r. 303-350 CE), by 6th century CE considered one of the great world powers
Ethiopian (Tewahedo) Church
Founded ca 333 CE, close ties to Coptic (Egyptian) Church of Alexandria, liturgical language: Ge’ez, Christology differs from Churches of Rome (Catholic) & Constantinople (Orthodox)
Aksum, the Red Sea, & the Empires
The Sassanian Empire (Persians) vs. the Romans, Theologically, Aksum differed from Rome, Economically, the two were connected through trade., Aksum invaded Yemen in 520 CE, Persians took Yemen in 570, & Aksum declined.
