Timeline: Ancient Northeast Africa

 

A. Human Origins

 

Emergence of Dinkanesh or Berkenesh- alias Lucy- around 3.2 million years ago, in Hadar, Ethiopia. Discoverers included Don Johanson and Tesfaye Yamani

 

 

 

 

 

3.2 million

Location of the world’s earliest paleolithic tools in Ethiopia- 2.5

million years old

 

2.5 million

Earliest paleolithic tools of the Nubian region

 

700,000 BCE

Earliest paleolithic tools of Egypt

 

250,000 BCE

First evidence of agricultural production has been found in the form of edible grasses south of Egypt in Nubia

 

 

16,000 BCE

Spread of cereal production possibly from Ethiopia

13,000 BCE

The earliest pots in the Northeast Africa have been found at Sarurab, in Ancient Nubia

10,000 BCE

Khartoum pots and brick fragments at the 3rd cataract, Nubia

 

9000 BCE

 

  1. State Formation and Empire Building

Emergence of Ta-Seti, a small Nubian state which briefly ruled Egypt and imported items from Syria-Palestine. A dynasty of 12 pharaohs emerged as reflected in royal tombs and the famous Qustul incense burner. Evidence of early hieroglyphic writing correlates with the observation of Diodorus Siculus.This evidence correlates with the archeological finds of the ‘A’ Group. Decline set in amidst the rise of Nubia’s neighbor Egypt. Some historians argue that Egyptians were largely of Nubian origin and point to Egyptian adoption of aspects of Nubian religion and political symbols.

( See Monges, Ehret, O’Connor, Bruce Williams vs Garlake, Adams, Trigger etc.)

 

3800 BCE

(Nubia)

Formation of a unified Egypt with boundaries at the first cataract;

Egyptian Red Sea commercial contacts and imports of myrrh etc

Emergence during the Old Kingdom of the six step pyramid, the Giza Pyramids, huge boats, expeditions to Punt and border clashes at the 1st cataract.

3400 BCE

2686 to 2125 BCE

(3rd to 8th dynasty of Egypt )

 

First Intermediate period of power struggles and the

coffin texts in Egypt.

 

Middle Kingdom of political unity and co-regencies.

Sinuhe’s exile on the death of Amenemhat 1 in 1961 BCE.

2160 BCE to 2055 BCE

2055 to 1650 BCE

(9th to 14th dynasty

of Egypt)

Rise of the first phase of the Nubian Kingdom of Kush with its capital at Kerma. Huge round tombs and grave sacrifices have been identified and so, too, thin walled pottery made with the wheel; Rise of Wawat, another Nubian Kingdom. Possible influence of Nubian Kerma on Ethiopia.

2300 BCE to 1559 BCE (Nubia)

 

New Kingdom and Amenhotep and Thutmose’s conquest of Nubia;

Egyptian colonization of Kush and control of gold, emerald, ivory and ebony resources. Nubian adoption of aspects of Egyptian religion. Amenemope’s Wisdom Teachings were created.

Egyptian conquest of Syria. Amenhotep’s Great Hymn to Amen; Akhenaten and Nefertiti’s Great Hymn to the One God Aten, the foundation of Psalm 104 written about a thousand years later.

 

 

1550 BCE to 1069 BCE

(18th to 20th dynasty of Egypt)

Visit of Queen Makeda, Queen of Ethiopia and Sheba (Saba) to Judah

 

Approx. 1000 BCE

(Ethiopia)

Nubian conquest by Piye, son of Kashta. Governance of Egypt by Shabaka, Shabitqo etc. Revivalism in architecture and literature

And establishment of the 25th dynasty

1000 BCE

(Nubia)

Assyrian, Persian, Greek and Roman invasions of Egypt

 

671 to 332 BCE

(Egypt)

Construction of the temple of Apedemak at Musawwarat es Sufra which displayed temples and courts as well as residential units.

The royal pyramids at Jebel Barkal, Nuri, Kurru and Meroe were also constructed.

300 BCE to 300 CE

(Nubia)

The construction of the temple of Yeha, NE of Aksum- circa 500 BCE. Rise of Aksum, the Ethiopian Kingdom; minting of coins; official adoption of Christianity 330 CE (to 1974 CE); construction of the palaces of Enda Semon, Enda Mika’el, and Ta’akha Maryam, the palace of Dungur; the Cathedral of Mary of Zion founded by Ezana and later Negus Kaleb. Jerusalem as a model.

Ethiopian architectural influence on the Ka’aba of Mecca of 609CE according to Garlake. Identification of 115 stelae., the largest being 750 tons - as well as outdoor thrones. Aksumite Conquest of Arabia. Shift of capitals from Tigre in the North to Gondar North of Lake Tana ( and to Addis Ababa in the South in the 19th century.)

500 BCE to 500 CE

(Ethiopia)

Arab and Turkish invasions of Egypt.

639 CE; 868 CE

(Egypt)

The invasions of Queen Gudit of the Agau; Rise of the Zagwe dynasty and King Lalibela, the sponsor of several of the 1,500 numerous sculptured temples and churches constructed in Tigre, Lalibela and Addis Ababa.

Approximately 1137 CE

(Ethiopia)

Rise of Nubian Christian states of Nobadia, Makuria, Alwa etc.

Participation in the crusades. Arab conquest of Nubia in 1400 CE.

550 CE to 1400 CE

(Nubia)

Gloria Emeagwali (2005)