The Kingdom of Kush was an ancient African Nubian kingdom that was located in modern day Northern Sudan. It was one of the earliest civilizations to exist along the Nile River valley. The kingdom existed twice, with the first era being around 2400 BC and the second era around the 11th century BC. It was a commercially vibrant kingdom that lived for centuries at peace with its neighbours primarily due to its key role in commerce and transportation of goods. The first kingdom of Kush is known as Kerma, and was at its height of prosperity between 1750 and 1500 BC. It was also at this time when Egyptian expansion into the south resumed, resulting in the region becoming an Egyptian colony under the rulership of Thutmose the first.
The second kingdom of Kush emerged due to the decline of Egyptian control over Nubia. With Napata as its capital, the kingdom grew in influence and dominance over Egypt’s southern regions. By 671 BC, Kush became an independent state again when Egypt was defeated by the Assyrians in an invasion, but internal strife between rulers of the kingdom led to the downfall of Napata. A new capital further south called Meroë was established as a result. Even though Egyptian culture and religion was deeply entrenched in Kush, Meroë developed its own language and writing script, breaking away from Egyptian hieroglyphics, and prospered due to its political stability, peaceful trading relations with neighbors and powerful military presence. The Kushites are thought to be the oldest civilization on earth, with Nubia being regarded as the location of the Garden of Eden. They are also regarded as the oldest civilization that was progressive, were female rulers were a norm.
