Early Sudanese Settlements and History

Although the country of Sudan has only been independent for slightly over half a
century, it has a long history of settlements and colonization. Life in this region can be traced
back to some of the earliest hominids and the beginnings of human civilization. Over time, this
region became a center for trade with Egypt and has gone through many power struggles and
colonization attempts.
In the early 1990s, archaeologist discovered fossils and remains of hominids and their
prehistoric hand tools used for hunting and agricultural pursuits. This evidence showed the deep
roots that the human race has within certain regions in Africa and evolutionary patterns.
After the age of hominids and neanderthals had passed, the early Sudanese civilization,
referred to as Kush before the Arabs named the region Sudan (Land of the Blacks), began to
arise. The people that lived in this region of Africa were primarily farmers and typically lived in
huts made out of mud and bricks. This region became a key trading post because of its position
to the south of Egypt with the Nile River running down the middle.
When the Egyptians and Kushites discovered the vast amount of gold in the region,
many power struggles followed. The Kushites were enslaved and ruled over by the Egyptian
pharaohs until the early ninth century B.C. when the Kushites conquered the Egyptians and
were able to exercise political control over most of North Africa.
Following the Kushites rise to power in North Africa, many wars with the Assyrians of
the Middle East ensued. These wars resulted in a certain animosity between Egypt and Kush
and, eventually, the two empires were under their own control once again.
Around the fifth century B.C., the Nubians began to move into the region of Kush and
brought with them orthodox Christianity. Because there is not enough historical evidence during
this time period, researchers are unsure of the impact of modern Christianity on the Sudanese
region.
Many centuries later during the mid-1800s, heavy British and Islamic influences
descended upon Sudan and colonized. The British were successful given their position as an
early world power. They were able to bring knowledge of plant and animal domestication to
Sudan, but with that, came the spread of diseases. Because of the power the British had over
this developing region, they were able to control the region of Sudan for almost 100 years. The
colonization of Sudan by the British represents the diffusion theory proposed by Jared Diamond
in Guns, Germs, and Steel; the more powerful and establish region was easily able to take
control of a less-developed

region of Africa. These British and Muslim influences were felt until
the Sudanese revolted and officially claimed their independence in 1956.
References
History. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18, 2017, from
http://www.ancientsudan.org/history_13_christianization.htm
HISTORY OF THE SUDAN. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18, 2017, from
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa86

Sudan - EARLY HISTORY. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18, 2017, from

http://countrystudies.us/sudan/3.htm