Economic and cultural exchange between Kush and Egypt
One of the major problems of Nubian history is assessing the impact of Egyptian rule in Kush during the New Kingdom (c 1550-1070 BC) on the emergence of a powerful 'Egyptianised' indigenous state in the 9th-8th C BC. In order to address this issue, the nature of Egyptian rule in Nubia is examined. The conventional view of the extent of Egyptian military and political control is questioned. It is proposed that a buffer zone was left between the area of direct control and the official frontier, with local rulers. It is argued that the 'Egyptian' administration was drawn largely from local elite families rather than being 'colonial Egyptians' and that other local political powers were accommodated. An integrated economy is advocated. The cultural impact of Egypt is seen as the explanation of the 'disappearance' of the indigenous population that was argued by earlier archaeologists. The impact of Egyptian religion, notably the promotion of the royal cult is examined. The re-assessment of Nubia under Egyptian viceregal rule allows the conventional view of the period between the end of the Viceregal administration and the emergence of a new indigenous kingdom to be questioned. Following an examination of the archaeological
Morkot, Robert George
Nubia; Late Bronze Age; Egyptology
Economic and cultural exchange between Kush and Egypt. One of the major problems of Nubian history is assessing the impact of Egyptian rule in Kush during the New Kingdom (c 1550-1070 BC) on the emergence of a powerful 'Egyptianised' indigenous state in the 9th-8th C BC. In order to address this issue, the nature of Egyptian rule in Nubia is examined. The conventional view of the extent of Egyptian military and political control is questioned. It is proposed that a buffer zone was left between the area of direct control and the official frontier, with local rulers. It is argued that the 'Egyptian' administration was drawn largely from local elite families rather than being 'colonial Egyptians' and that other local political powers were accommodated. An integrated economy is advocated. The cultural impact of Egypt is seen as the explanation of the 'disappearance' of the indigenous population that was argued by earlier archaeologists. The impact of Egyptian religion, notably the promotion of the royal cult is examined. The re-assessment of Nubia under Egyptian viceregal rule allows the conventional view of the period between the end of the Viceregal administration and the emergence of a new indigenous kingdom to be questioned. Following an examination of the archaeological
economic_cultural exchange egypt one_major problem nubian history assess_impact egyptian rule new_kingdom emergence powerful indigenous state order_address issue nature egyptian rule nubia examine conventional_view extent egyptian military political control question propose buffer zone leave area direct_control official frontier local ruler argue egyptian administration drawn largely local_elite family rather colonial egyptians local political_power accommodate integrated economy advocate cultural impact egypt see explanation disappearance indigenous_population argue early archaeologist impact egyptian religion notably promotion royal cult examine re_assessment nubia egyptian rule allow conventional_view period end administration emergence_new indigenous kingdom question following examination archaeological