THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE - THE KUSH CIVILIZATION

THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE – THE KUSH CIVILIZATION

Kush or Cush was a powerful ancient civilization centered in the North African region of Nubia, located in what is today northern Sudan. The second Kingdom, which lasted from 1000 B.C. until 400 A.D was one of the earliest civilizations to develop in the Nile River Valley. Kushite states rose to power before a period of Egyptian incursion into the area established an Egyptian dynasty, the 25th Dynasty, in 775 B.C.E. ruling until 653. These Pharaohs have been called the ‘Black Pharaohs’, or the ‘Ethiopian Pharaohs’. The Kingdom of Kush represents another ancient African civilization about which relatively few people outside of Africa are aware, often reducing Africa’s contribution to civilization to the Egyptian legacy alone. The Kush, however, are referenced in the Bible and were known to the Romans. Women played a key role within the governance of the kingdom, almost unique in the ancient world. A rich and vibrant trading culture, it lived for centuries at peace with neighbors almost certainly due to its role in commerce and in the transportation of goods. 

KERMA: THE FIRST KINGDOM OF KUSH
The first Kingdom of Kush, also known as Kerma, is one of if not the oldest African states outside of Egypt.
It developed around the settlement of Kerma (just above the third cataract on the Nile, in Upper Nubia). Kerma arose around 2400 B.C. (during the Egyptian Old Kingdom), and had become the capital of the Kush Kingdom by 2000 B.C.

Kerma-Kush reached its zenith between 1750 and 1500 B.C.; a time known as Classical Kerma. Kush flourished most when Egypt was at its weakest, and the last 150 years of the Classical Kerma period overlap with a time of upheaval in Egypt known as the Second Intermediate Period (1650 to 1500 B.C.). During this era, Kush had access to gold mines and traded extensively with its northern neighbors, generating significant wealth and power.

ORIGINS
The civilization of Kush was not merely derivative from Egypt but represented an indigenous culture which also incorporated elements borrowed from deeper into the South of the African continent. While knowledge of Kush begins from contact with Egypt, the culture predates this and can be traced archeologically back as far as 3,000 B.C.E. and may actually have initially stimulated Egyptian culture, not vice versa. Legend has it that the Kush were the oldest race on earth and Nubia is regarded by some as the location of the Garden of Eden. The Kush developed their own language, and eventually their own cursive script (initially they did borrow hieroglyphics). Their wealth was from mining. Some historians think that the kush invented a blast furnance, a special chamber which blasts extra air into the furnace to let the iron get hotter, making the metal sharper and harder. Infact iron from kush was renowned for its quality. Not surprisingly, the kush were also expert goldsmith and jewelers.  

Kush kings were often succeeded by their Queens. Kings were chosen or elected by members of the nobility, although from the royal family. The king was not law-maker, but upheld customary law that was interpreted by the priests. Shillington suggests that there was a greater degree of consent between ruler and the ruled than ‘ever existed in Ancient Egypt’

The capital of the city moved from Napata to meroe. Meroe, on the banks of the Nile, was an agricultural and industrial complex, as well as the capital of the Kingdom of Kush, and grew wealthy through its iron works and trade. Grains and cereals were exported along with iron weapons and tools and livestock roamed the fields around the city. Meroe was so wealthy that it became legendary. Large forests rose on the far side of the fertile fields surrounding the city which were irrigated by canals off the Nile. The upper class lived in large houses and palaces which looked down on broad avenues lined with statuary while the lower classes lived in mud-brick homes or huts. According to ancient inscriptions, even the poorest citizen of Meroe was still better off than anyone elsewhere. The Temple of Amun, in the center of the city, was reportedly its jewel and on par with the earlier temple at Napata.

MODERN KUSH
So far more than 350 pyramids  grouped in five sites were discovered in Sudan. They were constructed in Nubia over a period of a few hundred years to serve as tombs for the kings and queens and wealthy citizens of Napata and Meroë.
First three sites are located around ancient Napata in Lower Nubia - near modern town karima, sudan. The first of these was built at the site of el-Kurru, including the tombs of King Kashta and his son Piye (Piankhi), together with Piye's successors Shabaka, Shabataka, and Tanwetamani. Fourteen pyramids were constructed for their queens, several of whom were renowned warrior queens. This can be compared to approximately 120 much larger pyramids that were constructed in Ancient Egypt over a period of 3000 years.

Later Napatan pyramids were sited at Nuri, 10km north on the opposite bank of the Nile. This necropolis was the burial place of 21 kings and 52 queens and princes including Anlami and Aspelta. The bodies of these kings were placed in huge granite sarcophagi. Aspelta's weighed 15.5 tons, and its lid weighed four tons. The oldest and largest pyramid at Nuri is that of the Napatan king and Twenty-fifth Dynasty pharaoh Taharqa.
This is Africa when western Europe was experiencing the savages of the dark ages.

The western history of the White man is beclouded with disorder very similar to what Africa is experiencing presently. Men tried to constantly conquer each other in constant territorial war and conflicts. He lived in an irrational fear of nature and angry gods.

Barbarian practices prevailed. During the historical periods like the dark ages, it was a difficult time to live life in the west. Famine and diseases were common as scientific and technological advances were very slow. The black death bubonic plague for example devastated Europe.  In the late 1340’s, it killed an estimated 100 to 200 million people.  The great Alexander the great was supposedly killed by simple things like malaria.  Warfare was a part of everyday life.

This is the proof of the dynamic nature of the universe. And who told you that it is not about to reverse again and put Africa as the top player once again.

If we did it before, we can do it again

KULENGA AFRICA RENAISSANCE SERIES