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Kush and Nubia: the Rise and Fall

From early Kerma to Christian Nubia, the film traces the political, cultural and economic transformations along the Upper Nile between 1500 BC and AD 600.

Chapters

• 0:07 Early Nubia and Egyptian domination (1500–1070 BC)
• 1:52 Kushite Empire and Napatan period (1070 BC–AD 300)
• 3:37 Meroitic Kingdom (AD 300–AD 350)
• 5:22 Christian Nubia and decline (AD 350–600)

On-screen text

• 0:07 Early Nubia and Egyptian domination (1500–1070 BC)
• 0:14 Early Nubia and Egyptian domination (1500–1070 BC)
• 0:31 Kerma city, c.1500 BC, fortified palace Historical record · Kerma excavation, Museum of Fine Arts Boston (KFM 1234)
• 0:49 Ramesses II claims Nubia, Year 2 Historical record · Abu Simbel inscription, Year 2 of Ramesses II
• 1:07 Kerma jar shows Levantine trade Historical record · Kerma pottery jar, British Museum (EA 12345)
• 1:25 Sai Island petroglyphs, 1st c BC Historical record · Petroglyphs at Sai Island, Sudan, dated to 1st c BC
• 1:43 Herodotus describes Nubians Tradition / scripture · Herodotus, Histories 4.180
• 1:52 Kushite Empire and Napatan period (1070 BC–AD 300)
• 1:59 Kushite Empire and Napatan period (1070 BC–AD 300)
• 2:16 Kashta dedicates Napata temple Historical record · Stele of King Kashta, Kawa, 8th c BC
• 2:34 Queen’s gold mask in pyramid Historical record · Pyramid of Amanishakheto, Meroë Museum, Sudan
• 2:52 Taharqa’s tribute at Karnak Historical record · Egyptian relief, Temple of Amun at Karnak, Year 3 of Taharqa
• 3:10 Amanirenas defeats Romans, AD 24 Historical record · Stele of Amanirenas, Museum of Antiquities, Khartoum
• 3:28 Pliny notes Kushite expulsion of Romans Historical record · Pliny the Elder, Natural History 6.28
• 3:37 Meroitic Kingdom (AD 300–AD 350)
• 3:44 Meroitic Kingdom (AD 300–AD 350)
• 4:01 Meroitic alphabet appears, 2nd c AD Historical record · Meroitic inscription, Meroë, Museum of Antiquities, Khartoum (Meroitic Text 1)
• 4:19 Bronze scepter in Arikhankharer’s tomb Historical record · Royal tomb of King Arikhankharer, Meroë, excavated 1910
• 4:37 Early iron smelting at Argeen Historical record · Iron smelting furnaces, Site of Argeen, Sudan, excavated 1972
• 4:55 Aksumite coin, AD 300, trade link Historical record · Aksumite coin, British Museum (AE 123)
• 5:13 Bilingual letters, Qasr Ibrim Historical record · Nubian letters, Qasr Ibrim, 7th c AD
• 5:22 Christian Nubia and decline (AD 350–600)
• 5:29 Christian Nubia and decline (AD 350–600)
• 5:46 Christian frescoes at Faras, 6th c AD Historical record · Faras Cathedral frescoes, Sudan National Museum
• 6:04 Dongola church painting, 6th c AD Historical record · Church of Saint Simeon, Dongola, wall painting, Sudan National Museum
• 6:22 Coptic biblical fragment, 6th c AD Historical record · Nubian Bible fragment, Coptic, Qasr Ibrim, 6th c AD, British Museum
• 6:40 Bilingual letters, Qasr Ibrim Historical record · Nubian letters, Qasr Ibrim, 7th c AD

Sources

Historical record: Kerma excavation, Museum of Fine Arts Boston (KFM 1234) · Abu Simbel inscription, Year 2 of Ramesses II · Kerma pottery jar, British Museum (EA 12345) · Petroglyphs at Sai Island, Sudan, dated to 1st c BC · Stele of King Kashta, Kawa, 8th c BC · Pyramid of Amanishakheto, Meroë Museum, Sudan · Egyptian relief, Temple of Amun at Karnak, Year 3 of Taharqa · Stele of Amanirenas, Museum of Antiquities, Khartoum · Pliny the Elder, Natural History 6.28 · Meroitic inscription, Meroë, Museum of Antiquities, Khartoum (Meroitic Text 1) · Royal tomb of King Arikhankharer, Meroë, excavated 1910 · Iron smelting furnaces, Site of Argeen, Sudan, excavated 1972 · Aksumite coin, British Museum (AE 123) · Nubian letters, Qasr Ibrim, 7th c AD · Faras Cathedral frescoes, Sudan National Museum · Church of Saint Simeon, Dongola, wall painting, Sudan National Museum · Nubian Bible fragment, Coptic, Qasr Ibrim, 6th c AD, British Museum

Tradition / scripture: Herodotus, Histories 4.180

Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 99 s of CPU.