Shaping the future

Arab nationalism and Islamism have molded much of Sudan’s political present,

particularly in the country’s arid north. But many Sudanese are turning to

three millennia of cultural history to build a new identity—­one that balances

ancient African heritage with recent centuries of Arab influence.

Arab League

member states

A diverse mix

Powerful past

The Nubian kings of the Kushite Empire, once a vassal of Egypt, gradually

conquered their foreign ruler beginning in 750 B.C., reviving Egypt’s art

and architecture and prevailing in Egypt for nearly a century. Major trading

centers in the Kushite heartland in the Nile Valley linked African,

Mediterranean, and Near Eastern cultures.

Archaeological sites

3000 B.C. to A.D. 1400

Before 3000 B.C.

Scale varies in this perspective. Distance from Khartoum

to Cairo is approximately 1,000 miles.

Christine Fellenz, Matthew W. Chwastyk, and Patricia Healy, NGM Staff.

Sources: Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile, Marjorie Fisher (editor)

and Thomas James (maps); Michael Izady, Atlas of the Islamic World and

Vicinity; Peter Lacovara, Ancient Egyptian Heritage and Archaeology Fund;

Geoff Emberling, University of Michigan; Derek Welsby

Shaping the future

Arab nationalism and Islamism have

molded much of Sudan’s political

present, particularly in the country’s

arid north. But many Sudanese are

turning to three millennia of cultural

history to build a new identity—­

one that balances ancient African

heritage with recent centuries of

Arab influence.

Sudan is one of 10 African nations that

are members of the Arab League.

A diverse mix

Arabic spread into the region with

the rise of Islam in the seventh

century, but Sudan is still home to

more than 500 ethnic groups and

over 400 languages. Most ethnic

Nubians are concentrated in small

pockets and primarily speak Arabic;

there are efforts to revive the Nubian

language. The nomadic Beja speak

their ancient language, Beja.

Powerful past

The Nubian kings of the Kushite

Empire, once a vassal of Egypt,

gradually conquered their foreign

ruler beginning in 750 B.C., reviving

Egypt’s art and architecture and

prevailing in Egypt for nearly a

century. Major trading centers in the

Kushite heartland in the Nile Valley

linked African, Mediterranean, and

Near Eastern cultures.

Important archaeological sites

Kushite capital of Egypt,

7th century B.C.

1

Early Kushite capital and religious

center at the base of Jabal Barkal,

late 7th century B.C.

2

Major Kushite city

3

Under Kushite rule

(ca 750–656 B.C.)

Kushite

heartland

Area of Egyptian dominance

(ca 1550–770 B.C.)

Scale varies in this perspective.

Distance from Khartoum to Cairo

is approximately 1,000 miles.

Christine Fellenz, Matthew W.

Chwastyk, and Patricia Healy, NGM Staff.

Sources: Michael Izady, Atlas of the

Islamic World and Vicinity; Peter

Lacovara, Ancient Egyptian Heritage

and Archaeology Fund; Geoff Emberling,

University of Michigan; Derek Welsby