KERMA

The Kingdom of Kerma [i] was the earliest urban center to exist in Africa outside of Egypt for almost 2,000 years. Its prime location and prominent role as the main trading post between Egypt, the Red Sea, and other African countries, made the kingdom a persistent on-and-off rival of Egypt. Largely because of its trade prominence, Kerma culture profoundly influenced the surrounding civilizations. The civilization’s focus on agriculture, city planning, and overseeing the Nile informed its economic success. Egypt’s gradual expansion into Lower Nubia ultimately ended the Kingdom of Kerma, as the civilization was seized in 1500 BCE under Thutmose II [ii].

In its strategic location in the center of the fertile basin and among trading routes between Egypt, the Red Sea, and the heart of Africa [iii] - Kerma was a wealthy and powerful capital. Kerma’s trading economics relied on its exports to Egypt, and the empire became Egypt’s main source for importing gold, ebony, incense, and exotic animals, amongst other luxury items [iv]. However, the two civilizations alternated as allies and enemies throughout centuries [v]. In Kerma’s most prosperous phase, it absorbed the Sudanese kingdom of Sai in about 1700–1500 BCE [vi]. The Kerma Kingdom ended with the Egyptian reconquest of Nubia during Egypt’s 18th Dynasty [vii]

The building styles in the Kingdom of Kerma suggested that there were other African influences on their architecture, which represented the mix of cultures and influences at the time. Their city center organized its urban zones around a large fortress, which bolstered the city’s communal structures, religious buildings, bakeries, and markets. The intentional structure of the metropolis is evidence that the Kingdom emerged as a trade center. Their pottery pieces, in some cases, were large ceramic vessels [viii], which also influenced modern day accommodations of public drinking fountains. The gates of Kerma also influenced style that is common in Nubian homes today.

Although there is no written documentation of the kingdom’s history, it is believed that the governorship resembled an oligarchy. Kerma had an elite class who held political power and authority. Their organization of power foreshadowed the Kushite’s Kingdom [ix] where power was distributed between royalty, priesthood, and the military [x]. Evidence of this social complexity is found in the royal tombs and large deffufas, or residences [xi], as well as temples, public monuments, religious buildings, weaponry, and the urban organization of the metropolis. Kerma’s system was ruled by an expanded elite class through royalty, priesthood, and military, rather than one monarch gaining absolute power [xii].

River trade, industries like mining, pottery [xiii] and agriculture, were the main economic sources for Kerma. Its wealth was discovered through the archaeology of it’s metropolis and the findings of gold, ivory, and other jewelry in burial sites. The structure of the city's organization, royal residences, and harbor indicate that the Kingdom of Kerma’s political power structure was more complex than that of ancient Egypt. Kerma persisted as a civilization during the Second Intermediate Period of Egypt (1782 - 1570 BCE). Another Nubian empire, Kush, eventually briefly surpassed Egypt [xiv], but declined in the 4th century as a result of the rise of the expansive Roman Empire.

The Kingdom of Kerma’s success was mainly attributed to its location and resources - which gave them the ability to oversee river trade across the Nile. At its prime, the Kingdom of Kerma developed industries like metal working, mining, and pottery making. For its agricultural legacy, they grew crops like barley and kept animals like sheep, goats, and cattle [xv]. Their main exports went to Egyptian Pharaohs who wanted gold, copper, exotic animals, and ivory. The Kingdom of Kerma seemed to prosper while neighboring Egypt was weak. At its height, Kerma invaded parts of Upper Egypt and created a diplomatic relationship with Hyksos.

Thanks to the Kingdom of Kerma’s location in the fertile center basin, the people of Kerma maintained agriculture and livestock, and also developed skills in a variety of industries including metalwork, weaponry, gold and livestock trade [xvi], and even maintained a luxury trading post between Egypt and the rest of Africa. Because of these industries, Kerma was a wealthy and powerful capital. Kerma’s economic success relied on its exports to Egypt, as it became the region’s main source for importing gold, ebony, incense, and animals. The civilization’s strategic placement strengthened their wealth and helped them maintain powerful trading connections throughout their existence.