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Archaeologists have found much evidence that Nubians interacted with other ancient civilizations and that Nubia was a land rich in natural resources. Ancient inscriptions, like the one carved in a 4,000-year-old Egyptian tomb, describe trading missions to Nubia. In one such inscription, an Egyptian traded named Harkhuf boasts that he made four journeys south (into Nubia) to bring back many precious products: ivory, leopard skins, ostrich eggs and feathers, ebony logs, various vegetable products, boomerangs, and other things. There is evidence that many of the rare and beautiful stones, like diorite and red granite, used by the Egyptians in the building of the great pyramids at Giza came from Nubia. In fact, much of ancient Egypt's wealth came from gold mined in Nubia. But trade went in both directions, as is evidenced by the tombs of ancient Nubians which themselves contained goods from Egypt, and as far away as Rome! By exploring this trade map of ancient Nubia, you can discover where gold, precious and semiprecious stones, and animal products where found in this area of northern Africa. You can see the locations of ancient and modern cities, roads, and physical features of the land. As you do, try to imagine how the ancient people who lived in this area interacted with each other. Were they enemies? Friends? Rivals? Did they trade goods and raw materials with each other? If so, what routes did they take and what dangers did they have to avoid? Please be advised that the Trade Map is an interactive version of a visual map. This feature is not accessible to people who are blind. |
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