The Makuria Empire lasted nearly 1000 years located in modern Sudan. The empire is best known for its use of the water wheel for irrigation, its relatively peaceful existence, and its empire-wide conversation to Christianity. Its pottery, architecture, and remaining artifacts greatly mirrored the Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire, which is believed to have been Makuria’s largest allies for most of its reign. Many of the remaining buildings in modern Sudan were once churches as the center of religious, community, and political life. Thank you to Maeve Cassetty for writing about this empire.