The Nubian People in Egypt: History, Culture, and the Guardians of the Nile

Egypt’s Middle Kingdom and Nubia

During Egypt’s Middle Kingdom (2040–1640 BC), the Egyptian Kingdom began expanding into Nubia. They took control of trade routes and built forts along the Nile. There was little interaction between the two cultures at that time, but it was likely peaceful.

The Egyptians knew the Nubians as fierce warriors, especially with a bow and arrow. They called them the Medjay. Originally, this term referred to a region of Nubia. Over time, it came to describe an elite paramilitary force within the Egyptian army. While Nubians were famous for their fighting skills, ancient Egyptians also employed them in many other roles. They worked as attendants, merchants, and temple employees throughout Egyptian society.

Ancient Egypt’s Nubian 25th Dynasty

It was during this period that the Nubians, known as Kushites at the time, conquered Egypt after years of Egyptian rule. For the most part, the Nubian pharaohs and rulers were assimilated into Egyptian culture. While the Nubians brought some of their culture to Egypt, they largely maintained the same governing rules, artistic style, temples, and religious traditions.

During this time, the Nubians also revived the pyramid-building tradition. The Nubians ruled Egypt (or parts of Egypt) for a little more than 100 years before being driven out by the Assyrians. Despite the fact that both cultures took turns conquering each other, history shows that the Egyptian-Nubian relationship was actually quite peaceful. The two cultures had a lot of cultural exchange and marriage agreements. Even before the 25th Dynasty, many Egyptian Pharaohs had Nubian blood coursing through their veins.