Ancient Egypt & Kush (Nubia) – III

Libyan Period

•Libyans– Libya is west of Egypt; Egypt is

divided and dependant on the Libyans (1085 BC)

– The Merneptah Stele tells the story of the Libyan invasion; same story is told in the Bible; important to Biblical archaeologists; proves historical accuracy of a Bible story

Nubian / Kushite Period

•Nubians (Kushites)– Nubia conquers Egypt, beginning

the Kushite Period (724 – 660 BC); known for their gold and jewelry

•King Piankhi (Piye)– Kushite king who conquered all of

Egypt

•Meroë– capital city of Kushite trade network;

worshipped ram-god Amun

Nubian / Kushite Period•Trade Network

– system of people in different lands who trade goods back and forth

•Exports– goods sent for sale in other countries or regions

• Imports– goods brought in from other countries or regions

•Aksum (Axum)– city led by King Ezana;

defeated Kush

Assyrian Period

•Assyrians– Assyrian king Ashurbanipal conquered Egypt

and began a period of rule (656 – 525 BC)

Persian Period

•Cambyses– son of Cyrus the Great of Persia; conquered

Egypt (525 BC)

•Nectanebo II– last truly Egyptian

pharaoh; gained temporary independence from Persia (404 – 343 BC)

Greek (Ptolemaic) Period•Alexander the

Great– conquered Egypt and

becomes pharaoh; built the Lighthouse at Pharos and the Library of Alexandria

•Ptolemy– one of Alexander’s

generals, he was put in charge of Egypt as Alexander moved on to other conquests

Roman Conquest

•Cleopatra– Greek; descended from Ptolemy– committed suicide rather than be

taken prisoner by Roman general Octavian (later known as Augustus Caesar)

– she was Egypt’s last pharaoh and Egypt became Roman province