UNESCO Ancient Civilizations of Africa (Editor G. Mokhtar)

Ancient Civilizations of Africa
the remotest ages - had been the passage tor trade between the Mediterranean
and the heart of Africa. So, Nubia contained also the remains of a
number of fortresses from the Pharaonic and Roman periods, which were
built to protect trade and enforce peace in those regions.
However, since prehistoric days Nubia had constituted a geographical
and social unit. Since the dawn of history, it had been inhabited by
people whose culture was identical with that of the northern valley of the
Nile. But, starting from about —3200, the Egyptians began to outstrip
their southern neighbours in the cultural domain, and made vast
strides towards civilization, while Nubia remained stationary at the prehistoric
level for a considerable time. In the first half of the second
millennium before our era, the so-called Kerma culture, a rich and prosperous
civilization, flourished in Nubia. Although greatly influenced by
Egyptian culture, it possessed its own local characteristics. But, after the
beginning of the first millennium before our era, when the power of Egypt
waned, a native monarchy began to be established, with Napata as its capital,
which later ruled Egypt itself. The fifty-year Nubian domination in Egypt
during the seventh period (the firstpart of the twenty-fifth dynasty) effected
a union of Egypt and Nubia. The glory of this great African power was
outstanding, as shown by classical writers.
After the transfer of the capital to Meroe, Nubia experienced a period of
progress and prosperity and resumed contacts with its neighbours, until
nearly the ninth century. The expansion of the Meroitic monarchy to the
west and south, its role in diffusing its ideas and techniques and its
transmission of Eastern and Western influences are still under study and
discussion. Also, even after the publication of this volume, further
stimulus should be given to the efforts to decipher the Meroitic script.
The 900 documents which exist would reveal information of many kinds.
It would also make available, side by side with the Pharaonic language, a
new classical language that was strictly African.
From the fourth century of our era, Christianity began to spread to
Nubia, where the temples were converted into churches. The role of
Christian Nubia was also great, its achievements were numerous, and its
influence on its neighbours was remarkable.
Christian Nubia's golden age was during the eighth century, when it
enjoyed an initial period of development and prosperity. Nubia remained
under the rule of a Christian monarchy until Islam spread all over the
country. From that time, it began to be swept by Arabic Islamic culture,
losing to a great extent its traditional character.
Nubia, because of its geographical location, played a special and sometimes
involuntary role as an intermediary between Central Africa and the
Mediterranean. The kingdom of Napata, the empire of Meroe and the
Christian kingdom showed Nubia as a link between North and South.
Through it, culture, techniques and material found their way through surrounding
regions. It is by the stubborn pursuit of research that we may
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