Tales of gold and mystic perfumes, exotic animals and gems the color of blood come from lands south of ancient Egypt. Trade between Egypt and Nubia, today's Sudan/Egypt, begins in the Neolithic era c. 6000 BCE.
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Gold is one of Nubia's early exports and Egypt falls in love. Originally, gold is used for jewelry, figurines and idols for worship. That changes when Nubia comes under Egyptian rule (c. 1550 - 1027 BCE).
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Around 1520 BCE, with continual influx of Nubian gold, the Pharaoh Amenhotep I makes gold the first official medium of exchange for international trade. Egypt is described by one Canaanite king as having more gold than sand.
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In Neolithic times, Egypt is inhabited by predynastic cultures. Upper and Lower Egypt develop independently. The Badari culture and the successor Naqada groups are considered precursors to dynastic Egypt.
Nubia is part of the mythic Land of Punt, first called Pwenet or Pwene by early Egyptians. The Land of Punt as it was known includes today's Somalia, Djibouti, northeast Ethiopia, Eritrea, and north-east Sudan. It may extend to some coastal Arabian lands such as Oman.
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Ancient Nubia is divided into three territories on the Nile River - upper, middle and lower. The Nile river originates as two sources, the White Nile and Blue Nile in highland regions to the south.
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The White Nile begins at Lake Victoria in Tanzania and flows north to converge with the Blue Nile at Khartoum, Sudan. The Nile continues its journey into Egypt, to form the rich alluvial delta at the Mediterranean Sea.
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Writing develops in Egypt c. 3100 BCE, and Egyptians begin to describe the environment, interactions with other people, trade, medicine and geography. In texts, Egyptians call Nubia Ta-Seti or "Land of the Bow." In the ancient world Nubians are known as expert archers.
Hunters using bows and arrows appear in Neolithic Nubian rock art. Hunting is an essential for food and trade of wild animal skins, ivory, teeth and bones. Other trade items include ebony, precious stones and resins. Myrrh trees in Egypt today come from Nubian ancestors.
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Evidence of early people shows a long period of fishing, hunter-gathering, followed by herding lifestyles, throughout the Nile Valley. The Affad archaeological site in northern Sudan contains well-preserved remains including skull and bone fragments of aurochs.
They reveal significant signs of prehistoric temporary settlements and hunter-gatherer societies c. 50,000 years old. Near modern Khartoum, from c. 9000 - 6000 BCE, Mesolithic fisher-hunter-gatherers are known to create sophisticated pottery.
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Pottery is among the items of early trade. By c. 5000 BCE the people of Nubia are part of the First Agricultural or Neolithic revolution. The Sahara becomes more arid. Domestication of sheep, goats and cattle gains popularity.
Signs of a cattle cult or Cult of the Bull appear in Saharan rock reliefs. Bull and cattle cults are widespread throughout Eastern Africa, the Nile Valley and other regions. The rock carvings also depict Neolithic archery and archers.
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Egyptian texts as early as 2400 BCE describe Nubians in Egyptian armies. Depictions of Nubian warriors appear in Egyptian tomb artwork throughout ancient Egyptian history. Nubian archers also make up part of the Persian imperial army of first millennium BCE.
Throughout the history of Egypt and ancient Nubia, there are times of peace and times of war. An Egyptian text of 2720 BCE records the pharaoh Snefru bringing back more than 20,000 cattle from a raid into Nubia.
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During the time of Hatshepsut (c. 1470 BCE), the female Pharaoh who dares wear the false beard, peace and prosperous trade reign between the two powers. She builds more trade ships.
Despite an unusual relief in her tomb showing one of her generals smiting Nubians, her relations with the people are pacific. Her lack of warlike behavior and status as female Pharaoh causes some strife at home. After her death many of her statues are vandalized.
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The world's first astronomical device may be the megaliths at Nabta Playa in the Middle Nile region west of the river. Predating Stonehenge by almost 2,000 years, the calendar stones are placed in a circle, accompanied by nearby megaliths.
Early use of the area indicates a regional ceremonial center c. 6100 - 5600 BCE with people coming from distant locations to gather on the dunes surrounding the playa (desert basin).
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Historical gatherings leave large amounts of cattle bones. Cattle are sacrificially killed only on important occasions. By 5500 BC a more organized group arises at the site. The people bury cattle in clay-lined chambers, and construct tumuli, or mound burials.
The cattle cult apparent in Nabta Playa is considered an influence to the early evolution of the cult of cow goddess Hathor in Ancient Egypt. Among her other talents, Hathor is a nighttime protector in desert regions.
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The Nabta Playa basin is about 100 km (62 mi) from Abu Simbel in the Nubian desert. The region is arid today. In 5th millennium BCE, this area is lush due to regular rainfall and higher humidity.
Here a neolithic stone circle stood, a cosmic calendar with narrow rock slabs approximately aligned with summer solstice. The solstice marks the coming of the rainy season. More complex structures follow during a megalith period c. 4500 - 3600 BCE.
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The skill of Nubian archers makes them valued members in military forces. Archers also form the core of Nubian armies competing with Egypt for control over parts of the Nile valley. After conquering Egypt c. 750 BCE they establish the 25th Dynasty, a line of Nubian kings.
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