Geography
Nubia is part of the modern day country of Sudan. However, historically
the land of Nubia stretches from Aswan (modern day the country of
Egypt) in the north to Kosti in the White Nile and Sinnar in the
Blue Nile in the south, and from the Red Sea coast to Kordofan and
the Libyan Desert in the west.
Most of Sudan's topography is consisted of deserts, except for
the narrow strip of the Nile valley which provide fertile agriculture
and abundant pasture for settled human communities. Because of the
availability of food along the Nile Valley, human community there
grew in number more than in any other location in Sudan. As a result
the first unified civilization in the world developed there.
However unlike the Nile valley of Egypt many portions of the Nile
valley in Nubia are and were not supportive for extensive agriculture
as a result pasture was a main source of food for the Nubians more
than the ancient Egyptians. From Aswan to Lower Wadi Halfa the Nile
cut through a barren stretch of desert that is not supportive for
the living of any sort of human community.
Five Cataracts interrupt the flow of the Nile from south of Aswan
to little north of the city of Berber in central Sudan. This makes
sailing impossible except for the short distances that separate
from one Cataract to the other. Agricultural lands are available
in the Dongola Reach and along the curve of the Nile Valley as far
south as Abu Hamed. This fertile region of the Nile valley produced
enough agricultural supply for prominent Nubian kingdoms and cities
to develop.
©Haberlah
Villagers crossing the Nile, northern Sudan.
|
|
©Haberlah
Villagers crossing the Nile, northern Sudan.
|
|
Around the Dongola Reach and south in the Bayuda desert are also
plenty of postural lands. From Abu Hamed to the city of Berber south,
the Nile valley becomes less fertile. However, south of the city
of Berber the Nile valley becomes fertile and supportive for extensive
agriculture. There in these southern portions of the Nile valley,
prominent Nubian cities grew, such as Dangeil and Meroe.
However; immediately south of Khartoum, where the Nile is converged
by the White and the Blue Nile, is called el-Gezeera (In Arabic
meaning the island). There the Nile valley becomes more fertile
than in any other region in Nubia. The area of El-Gezeera is liable
for extensive agriculture and has been supportive for Nubian settlements
sine ancient times. Prominent Nubian cities grew in el-Gazeera,
like the Funj city of Sinnar along the White Nile and the Kushite
city of Kosti along the White Nile.
Elmogran(i.e. Arabic word for convergence), where the
White and Blue Niles converge at Khartoum (Capital of Sudan)
and the historic Omdurman Bridge.
|
|
Urban scene from the Nile valley near Khartoum.
|
|
East of the Nile Valley is the Nubian Desert, where permanent human
settlements becomes impossible. There along the Sudanese Red Sea
coasts, the Beja or the Medjay-Nubian as known to the ancient Egyptians
formed their own communities depending mainly on pasture and subsistent
agriculture in more southerly regions of el-Butana (Southeastern
Sudan). South and east of el-Buttana along the Gash river
(which runs from the mountains of Ariteria and west into Sudan)
flourished an agricultural culture known as the Gash-culture. The
people of this culture have been identified as the Punites, who
developed their own chiefdoms out of trade in incense and exotic
items. The Punites traded with neighboring regions, including Nubia
and Egypt.
|
©Haberlah
The Red Sea Port of Suakin in Eastern Sudan.
|
|
The Libyan Deserts, west of Nubia, is consisted of ,almost, endless
stretches of sand-dunes that dominate the landscape and continue
across Sahara deserts of north and central Africa all the way to
the opposite side of the African continent. Extremely little rainfall
occur in the Libyan deserts and only few regions and oasis are supportive
for pastoral activities. South of the Libyan desert and adjacent
to the White Nile, is the region of Kordofan where the land is little
more fertile than in Libyan deserts, subsistent agricultural communities
flourished growing few crops every season. The youth of these communities
annually crossed the Libyan deserts to the north in search of pasture
for their animals. |