The Kingdom of Kush: An African Centre on the Periphery of the Bronze Age World System
2009, Norwegian Archaeological Review
https://doi.org/10.1080/00293650902978590Last updatedAbstract
The Kingdom of Kush flourished in northern Sudan between 2000 and 1500 BCE. During this period, the capital Kerma emerged as a major economic and political centre in the Nile Valley. After a short review of the application of world system theory and centre-periphery perspectives in archaeology, the author proceeds to a presentation of the Bronze Age societies in northern Sudan and their wide-reaching trade relations. A central argument is that an incentive for the rise of the Kingdom of Kush was its intermediate position in long-distance trade between the north and the south. The article concludes with a discussion of Kush as a centre on the periphery of the so-called Bronze Age World System in Afro-Eurasia.
Key takeaways
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- The Kingdom of Kush thrived as a significant economic and political center from 2000 to 1500 BCE.
- Kush's strategic location enabled it to control long-distance trade, linking diverse regions.
- Archaeological evidence supports the classification of Kush as a center in the Bronze Age World System.
- Kush's trade involved exchanging raw materials for luxury goods, highlighting asymmetrical economic relationships.
- The rise of Kush challenges traditional Eurocentric views of ancient world systems and promotes African agency.
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FAQs
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What role did the Kingdom of Kush play in the Bronze Age World System?
The study reveals that the Kingdom of Kush emerged as a significant centre around 2000 BCE, participating actively in interregional exchanges, notably supplying gold and luxury goods to Egypt.
How did trade networks facilitate the rise of Kush?
Research indicates that trade with Egypt initiated around 3500 BCE enabled Kush’s accumulation of wealth, leading to specialized production and the eventual establishment of its own political authority.
What is the historical significance of the Kerma people?
The paper identifies the Kerma people as pivotal in developing the Kingdom of Kush, with archaeological evidence suggesting a complex society thriving from 2500 to 1500 BCE.
How did Wallerstein’s world system theory apply to Kush and Egypt?
The findings suggest that Kush challenged the traditional centre-periphery model by existing as a dynamic centre within the Bronze Age World System, instead of merely a periphery to Egypt.
What evidence supports Kush's classification as a core society?
Distinctive artifacts from Kerma, including bronze tools and complex burials, illustrate a sophisticated hierarchical society, challenging the notion of Kush as solely an exploited periphery.

Henriette Hafsaas







