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Chapter 64: Nile,Nilotes, Nubia and Nobatia.
Continuing westwards we arrive into the Nile Valley. But before that I forgot to describe the developments in the Afar Triangle. The city of Zeila has grown to an important commercial centre and come to dominate the entire region. A large part of the population, especially in the rural and interior regions, were already Christians. Therefore this emergent Harar kingdom (1) becomes Christian; after all, here is still strong contact with Himyar and Ethiopia further west (2).
View attachment 483965
Languages of the Nile Basin
Eventually, the Harar Kingdom conquers the city-state of Zeila, which was a major trade node in the area.
Ethiopia itself finds itself ruled by the Zagwe dynasty. Geopolitically, we can notice an interesting trend (3). On one hand, Ethiopia comes to dominate the trade in the Red Sea Basin – especially once you consider the lack of major contenders – Egypt being under firm Rhomaic control at the beginning of the century, and later Hejaz and Himyar collapsing. On the other side, climate changes cause the Ethiopians to migrate to cooler highland biomes. The population movement southward is accompanied by the foundation of the Duchy of Showa (4). Its inhabitants also spoke Ethiopian Semitic languages, such as Argobba.
This period of history in Ethiopia is thus marked by a degree of disintegration. On the other hand, grand architectural monuments were built, notably the carved churches of Lalibela.
Church of Saint George in Lalibela
Further down the Blue Nile we arrive into the kingdom of Alodia. Alodia appears to have expanded significantly in the southern regions of Nubia (5). Relations with the neighbouring realm of Makuria to the north were amicable, and royal marriages between the two dynasties were frequent, with the realms being under a personal union from time to time.
Alodia appears to have been the more rural of the two, due it lying already in the grassland strip known as the Sahel, allowing for settlements and villages to be more spread out across the entire country, and not only limited to the Nile Valley.
Nilotic peoples inhabiting the regions to the south of Alodia
The southern neighbours of the Alodians appear to have been various Nilotic peoples, such as the Dinka and the Nuer, located in the marshy areas further upstream of the Nile. These tribal peoples are amongst the tallest of Africa, with their skin colour being very dark, sometimes referred even to as bluish. These Nilotic peoples to the south are viewed as barbarians in Alodia, and require a large army, significantly larger than that of Makuria to contain them.
Alodia was an absolute monarchy, with the king administering his realm on the basis of appointed governors, ruling over provinces such as Ari, Barah, Befal, Danhou, Fazughli, Kediro, Kersa and Taka. The absence of regionally-based nobility, along with a fusion of state and church qualifies us to describe this society as hierocratic.
The most important element of the Alodian army was the cavalry, allowing the control of such a large realm. Horsemen also served as couriers (6). The impeding centralization also resulted in a sort of linguistic unification of the kingdom of Alodia. The Nubian language has come to dominate almost the entirety of Alodia, with the exception of the southernmost areas recently conquered, where the Dinkas continue to speak their own tongue. For those of you who don’t know (7), the Nubian languages belong to a branch called Northern East Sudanic, which are part of the Nilo-Saharan family. The Southern East Sudanic languages include the Daju, and especially the Nilotic languages (including Nuer and Dinka, as well as the Maasai of Kenya). Other major Nilo-Saharan languages include the Songhay and the Kanuri.
Alodia was in frequent contact with Makuria and eventually Egypt, with the Beja tribes and also Ethiopia (8). Major Alodian exports included gold, leather, ivory and salt, hides fruit and vegetables. Major imports include silk and cloth as well as glass. Foreign trade was however mostly in the hands of Coptic (and perhaps some Jewish and Armenian) merchants (9).
The kingdom of Makuria found between Egypt to the north and Alodia to the south was found in the desert climate, and were it not for the Nile, it would be restricted to a handful of oasis. The relations with the northern neighbour were amicable (10). This allows Makurian military, instead of constant pointless warfare in the north, to expand elsewhere. The evident target, whilst looking at the map and geography of trade routes, is going to be the Beja coast. This region has been mostly left alone until now. The local Cushitic speaking tribesmen have already adopted the Miaphysite faith, and had been under Egyptian influence for quite some time. This opens the Makurian kingdoim to trade opportunities in the Red Sea trade network.
Throne hall in Dongola, the Makurian capital
Another vector, present in the form of a trade route, connects the Makurian capital of Dongola with the highland region of Darfur. The Darfur region was at this time being settled by the Daju (11), apparently a Nilo-Saharan people. A degree of contact and interaction begins between the Makurians and the Daju, with the two groups beginning to know each other a little more. The Daju remain pagan tribal society, but become familiar with “those merchants down there and their shamans speaking of a God who was killed and came alive again”. Some adventurous monks from Makuria dared to wander into those lands, accompanying the merchants. They returned, with notes about the culture of the people, about their language and customs. What to expect, what to prepare for.
During the second half of the 11th century, a cultural and societal change developed in both Makuria and Alodia. Mainly, it sees Nubian elevated to the status of a written language, displacing the former use of Coptic and Greek (12). This is tied on one side with the growth of Nubian power and confidence, on the other side also with a larger number of scribes and priests, not speaking Coptic. After all, Coptic was a foreign tongue, very dissimilar to Nubian (Coptic belongs to the Afro-Asiatic family). Georgios, bishop of Dongola also introduced the cult of local Nubian saints, as well as that of dead rulers.
Banganarti, a major pilgrimage center in Makuria from this period
In general, one can speak of an early form of Nubian nationalism, if you can use those terms in that period; Nubia is no longer an appendix of Egypt, as it had been for millennia before, but embraces its own identity.
In 1075, difficult times came ahead for Makuria. The coup of Yaraklas in Kemet resulted in Egypt breaking free from Rhomaic influence. Alexandrian Greeks submitted to his rule and agreed to pay tribute. As mentioned earlier, Yaraklas was a general rom the southern borderlands of Egypt; therefore his major interest is going to be southward expansion up the Nile River (13). His campaign in the 1080s against Makuria (supported by Alodia) brings him victory, vanquishing the unprepared foes. In this campaign, he almost utterly defeats his Makurian neighbours, and conquers the entire Beja coast, as well as the duchy of Nobatia, extending from Aswan up to the the Third Cataract on the Nile.
The kingdoms of Nubia and the Cataracts on the Nile
Such additions to the Egyptian state allow it once more to claim itself the status of a major power, and to fully take a role in the Red Sea trade… or can it do so? Without trees? Yes, Egypt now needs a navy. No, actually it needs two navies. On in the Red Sea, and the other in the Mediterranean. For this, you need real wood, not only those ships you make from papyrus to sail along the Nile. Egypt itself has no real forests. The nearest forest you can conquer are in the Levant. Yaraklas is watching carefully the quarrels among the heirs of Alp Arslan, especially the developments in the realm of Tutush, and is waiting for the correct moment…
View attachment 483964
Political map of the Nile Basin
(1) Historically the Muslim kingdom of Adal
(2) The kingdom of Afar remains in the same cultural sphere as Ethiopia and Yemen.
(3) There are no Muslim powers to kick Ethiopia out of the Red Sea Basin; rather Ethiopia quite naturally assumes dominance in the trade in the area
(4) Yes, this was historically a Muslim kingdom
(5) Only the Darfur region and the South Sudan remain outside of the control of either Makuria, Alodia or the Beja.
(6) The mobile cavalry (horsemen, camel riders etc) allowed for the creation of empires also in West Africa.
(7) I didn’t know either, don’t worry
(8) Although the main export routes for Ethiopia were realized by the Red Sea, a significant degree of Ethiopian trade was also conducted with Alodia.
(9) Wikipedia claims that historically it was done by Arabs. We don’t have Arabs in Egypt nor anywhere nearby as an urban population. So I went for Copts in Egypt, plus added other minority populations present in Egypt at that time. Jews and Armenians also have a reputation of being good traders, so yes, I went for them.
(10)A contained, hierocratic Egypt, with a restricted army and tributary to the Rhomai Empire means the eradication of the most imminent threat. Therefore, the Makurians can direct their military energy elsewhere.
(11)Their predecessor, The Toba culture appear to be called “white giants”. I have no idea who they were, so I just assume they got replaced, and am going to work with the more known Daju
(12)Historically, the process happened due to Arabic displacing Coptic in Egypt, with the local clergy and scribes not willing to take up a foreign tongue
(13)This may also explain his allowance for the continued existence of the merchant republic in Alexandria
View attachment 483965
Languages of the Nile Basin
Eventually, the Harar Kingdom conquers the city-state of Zeila, which was a major trade node in the area.
Ethiopia itself finds itself ruled by the Zagwe dynasty. Geopolitically, we can notice an interesting trend (3). On one hand, Ethiopia comes to dominate the trade in the Red Sea Basin – especially once you consider the lack of major contenders – Egypt being under firm Rhomaic control at the beginning of the century, and later Hejaz and Himyar collapsing. On the other side, climate changes cause the Ethiopians to migrate to cooler highland biomes. The population movement southward is accompanied by the foundation of the Duchy of Showa (4). Its inhabitants also spoke Ethiopian Semitic languages, such as Argobba.
This period of history in Ethiopia is thus marked by a degree of disintegration. On the other hand, grand architectural monuments were built, notably the carved churches of Lalibela.
Church of Saint George in Lalibela
Further down the Blue Nile we arrive into the kingdom of Alodia. Alodia appears to have expanded significantly in the southern regions of Nubia (5). Relations with the neighbouring realm of Makuria to the north were amicable, and royal marriages between the two dynasties were frequent, with the realms being under a personal union from time to time.
Alodia appears to have been the more rural of the two, due it lying already in the grassland strip known as the Sahel, allowing for settlements and villages to be more spread out across the entire country, and not only limited to the Nile Valley.
Nilotic peoples inhabiting the regions to the south of Alodia
The southern neighbours of the Alodians appear to have been various Nilotic peoples, such as the Dinka and the Nuer, located in the marshy areas further upstream of the Nile. These tribal peoples are amongst the tallest of Africa, with their skin colour being very dark, sometimes referred even to as bluish. These Nilotic peoples to the south are viewed as barbarians in Alodia, and require a large army, significantly larger than that of Makuria to contain them.
Alodia was an absolute monarchy, with the king administering his realm on the basis of appointed governors, ruling over provinces such as Ari, Barah, Befal, Danhou, Fazughli, Kediro, Kersa and Taka. The absence of regionally-based nobility, along with a fusion of state and church qualifies us to describe this society as hierocratic.
The most important element of the Alodian army was the cavalry, allowing the control of such a large realm. Horsemen also served as couriers (6). The impeding centralization also resulted in a sort of linguistic unification of the kingdom of Alodia. The Nubian language has come to dominate almost the entirety of Alodia, with the exception of the southernmost areas recently conquered, where the Dinkas continue to speak their own tongue. For those of you who don’t know (7), the Nubian languages belong to a branch called Northern East Sudanic, which are part of the Nilo-Saharan family. The Southern East Sudanic languages include the Daju, and especially the Nilotic languages (including Nuer and Dinka, as well as the Maasai of Kenya). Other major Nilo-Saharan languages include the Songhay and the Kanuri.
Alodia was in frequent contact with Makuria and eventually Egypt, with the Beja tribes and also Ethiopia (8). Major Alodian exports included gold, leather, ivory and salt, hides fruit and vegetables. Major imports include silk and cloth as well as glass. Foreign trade was however mostly in the hands of Coptic (and perhaps some Jewish and Armenian) merchants (9).
The kingdom of Makuria found between Egypt to the north and Alodia to the south was found in the desert climate, and were it not for the Nile, it would be restricted to a handful of oasis. The relations with the northern neighbour were amicable (10). This allows Makurian military, instead of constant pointless warfare in the north, to expand elsewhere. The evident target, whilst looking at the map and geography of trade routes, is going to be the Beja coast. This region has been mostly left alone until now. The local Cushitic speaking tribesmen have already adopted the Miaphysite faith, and had been under Egyptian influence for quite some time. This opens the Makurian kingdoim to trade opportunities in the Red Sea trade network.
Throne hall in Dongola, the Makurian capital
Another vector, present in the form of a trade route, connects the Makurian capital of Dongola with the highland region of Darfur. The Darfur region was at this time being settled by the Daju (11), apparently a Nilo-Saharan people. A degree of contact and interaction begins between the Makurians and the Daju, with the two groups beginning to know each other a little more. The Daju remain pagan tribal society, but become familiar with “those merchants down there and their shamans speaking of a God who was killed and came alive again”. Some adventurous monks from Makuria dared to wander into those lands, accompanying the merchants. They returned, with notes about the culture of the people, about their language and customs. What to expect, what to prepare for.
During the second half of the 11th century, a cultural and societal change developed in both Makuria and Alodia. Mainly, it sees Nubian elevated to the status of a written language, displacing the former use of Coptic and Greek (12). This is tied on one side with the growth of Nubian power and confidence, on the other side also with a larger number of scribes and priests, not speaking Coptic. After all, Coptic was a foreign tongue, very dissimilar to Nubian (Coptic belongs to the Afro-Asiatic family). Georgios, bishop of Dongola also introduced the cult of local Nubian saints, as well as that of dead rulers.
Banganarti, a major pilgrimage center in Makuria from this period
In general, one can speak of an early form of Nubian nationalism, if you can use those terms in that period; Nubia is no longer an appendix of Egypt, as it had been for millennia before, but embraces its own identity.
In 1075, difficult times came ahead for Makuria. The coup of Yaraklas in Kemet resulted in Egypt breaking free from Rhomaic influence. Alexandrian Greeks submitted to his rule and agreed to pay tribute. As mentioned earlier, Yaraklas was a general rom the southern borderlands of Egypt; therefore his major interest is going to be southward expansion up the Nile River (13). His campaign in the 1080s against Makuria (supported by Alodia) brings him victory, vanquishing the unprepared foes. In this campaign, he almost utterly defeats his Makurian neighbours, and conquers the entire Beja coast, as well as the duchy of Nobatia, extending from Aswan up to the the Third Cataract on the Nile.
The kingdoms of Nubia and the Cataracts on the Nile
Such additions to the Egyptian state allow it once more to claim itself the status of a major power, and to fully take a role in the Red Sea trade… or can it do so? Without trees? Yes, Egypt now needs a navy. No, actually it needs two navies. On in the Red Sea, and the other in the Mediterranean. For this, you need real wood, not only those ships you make from papyrus to sail along the Nile. Egypt itself has no real forests. The nearest forest you can conquer are in the Levant. Yaraklas is watching carefully the quarrels among the heirs of Alp Arslan, especially the developments in the realm of Tutush, and is waiting for the correct moment…
View attachment 483964
Political map of the Nile Basin
(1) Historically the Muslim kingdom of Adal
(2) The kingdom of Afar remains in the same cultural sphere as Ethiopia and Yemen.
(3) There are no Muslim powers to kick Ethiopia out of the Red Sea Basin; rather Ethiopia quite naturally assumes dominance in the trade in the area
(4) Yes, this was historically a Muslim kingdom
(5) Only the Darfur region and the South Sudan remain outside of the control of either Makuria, Alodia or the Beja.
(6) The mobile cavalry (horsemen, camel riders etc) allowed for the creation of empires also in West Africa.
(7) I didn’t know either, don’t worry
(8) Although the main export routes for Ethiopia were realized by the Red Sea, a significant degree of Ethiopian trade was also conducted with Alodia.
(9) Wikipedia claims that historically it was done by Arabs. We don’t have Arabs in Egypt nor anywhere nearby as an urban population. So I went for Copts in Egypt, plus added other minority populations present in Egypt at that time. Jews and Armenians also have a reputation of being good traders, so yes, I went for them.
(10)A contained, hierocratic Egypt, with a restricted army and tributary to the Rhomai Empire means the eradication of the most imminent threat. Therefore, the Makurians can direct their military energy elsewhere.
(11)Their predecessor, The Toba culture appear to be called “white giants”. I have no idea who they were, so I just assume they got replaced, and am going to work with the more known Daju
(12)Historically, the process happened due to Arabic displacing Coptic in Egypt, with the local clergy and scribes not willing to take up a foreign tongue
(13)This may also explain his allowance for the continued existence of the merchant republic in Alexandria
- Tomislav Addai
- Word Count: 1.6k