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Kingdom of Kush

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A kingdom on the Middle Nile in what is now Sudan. From Napata its kings ruled Egypt as the 25th Dynasty, then moved their royal burials south to Meroë, where they raised pyramids and temples and traded luxury goods until about 350 CE.

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Key events

  1. Kashta rules all of Nubia, from the First to the Sixth CataractDisputed

    The Met says Kashta had united Nubia by about 760 BCE. Livius dates his reign to about 760 to 747 BCE.

  2. Piye marches north from Napata, takes Memphis and receives the submission of the Delta princesDisputed

    The Victory Stela gives no date. Livius places the conquest between about 730 and 725 BCE, and Britannica about 730 BCE.

  3. Assyrian armies under Ashurbanipal take Memphis and sack Thebes: Kushite rule over Egypt endsDisputed

    Livius dates the capture of Memphis and sack of Thebes to 667/666 BCE and Taharqo's death to 664. Britannica puts the campaign that sacked Thebes in 664 to 663 BCE, after Tanutamon retook Memphis. The year used here is 663 BCE.

  4. The royal cemetery moves from Napata to Meroë, between the Fifth and Sixth Cataracts, which becomes the capitalDisputed

    The Met dates the move of the royal cemetery to about 250 BCE, under Arkamani I. Livius says the kings moved their residence to Meroë earlier, finishing under Aspelta, while Napata's cemeteries stayed in use.

  5. – Kushite forces raid southern Egypt; a Roman army under Petronius razes Napata, and Augustus grants the queen's envoys peace on SamosDisputed

    Strabo gives no years. Livius dates the Kushite raid to 23 BCE. The span shown, about 25 to 20 BCE, is approximate.

  6. The kingdom of Kush breaks up after invasions and decline; Nobatia, Makuria and Alodia take its placeDisputed

    The Met ends the Meroitic period at 350 CE, a round figure. Livius places the collapse in the late 3rd century, blaming invasion by the Nobatae. Britannica adds an Aksumite expedition under Ezana between 320 and 350.