WilliamAuchincloss
Dr.Gibbons
APWorldHistoryP.6
EssayIntroduction+BodyParagraphs
January8th,2016
TheKingdomofKushgrewandflourishedinanareasouthofEgyptontheNileRiver
valleyintheNubianDesert.Duemostlytoitslocationandgeographicalresources,Kushenjoyed
manyopportunitiestodevelopandprogressthroughtheireconomy.Itslocationmadeitanideal
tradecenter,ancientcapital,andheartofknowledge.ThisprimeplacementoftheKushite
civilizationprovidedthepeopleofKushthemeansofwhichtotradeandspreadinformation
throughoutotherancientcivilizations.Thefortunatelocationandgeographicalcharacteristicsof
Kushinfluencedthegrowthofitseconomy.TheeconomicstatusofKushallowedittobecomea
worldpowerandimpacttheglobaldomainwithitsimpressivestrength.Byutilizingthe
environmentalbenefitsprovidedsuchastheNileRiver,RedSea,proximitytothe
Mediterranean,anditstraderoutes,Kushgainedanadvantageintheeconomyoftheancient
world.
ThefortunateplacementoftheKingdomofKushprovideditwithmanyadvantagesand
opportunities.KushwasstrategicallyplacedandgrewalongtheNileRiverprovidingeasyaccess
formanysurvivalnecessitiesthatallowedthecivilizationtogrowandflourish.TheNile
providedmanyfundamentalresourcesforKushsuchaswater,fertilesoil,transportation,and
animallifethatwereessentialforthesurvivaloftheKushitepeoples.Additionallyitsplacement
upstreamoftheNileallowedittotransportgoodsfromCentralandSouthernAfricawitheaseto
EgyptandtherestoftheMediterranean.TheproximityofKushtotheRedSeaand
MediterraneansuppliedKushwithothermeansoftradinggoodstoEurope,theMiddleEast,and
beyondtoAsiathroughoceanictrade.Thisflowofvaluablegoodsandnumerousmeansof
transportallowedKushtogrowintoacenteroftradethatexpandeditseconomytoan
insurmountablesizethatsurpassedthewealthofmanyothersuccessfulcivilizationsofthattime.
TheeconomyofKushgreatlybenefitedfromitsplacementandtheflowofgoodsand
productsthattheNileanditslocationprovided.TheboomingtradeofKushmadeitaprofitable
worldpowerthatoutclassedtheothertradecivilizationsofitstime.Duetoitsimpeccable
location,valuablescirculatedthroughKushandspreadthroughtherestoftheknownworldwith
itsextensiveseatraderoutes,landtraderoutes,andconnectionsallovertheworld.Forexample
productssuchasgoldandextravagantanimalsweretradedthroughKushintoEgyptandreached
locationsasfarasGreeceandtheMiddleEast.OthergoodssuchasPapyruspaperand
agriculturalproductsmadetheirwaytoAsiaviaoceanictravelandonwardasfarasChina
throughthesilkroad.WehavefoundevidenceofEgyptian/Kushitewritingasfarnorthas
modernGermanyandasfareastasChina.ThisextensivetradebolsteredKush’seconomy
allowingthemtobuildimpressivemonumentsandotherfamousprojectsthatwouldlastfor
centuries.WithoutKush’stradesuchmonumentslikethePyramidsatMeroewouldneverhad
existed.ThesepyramidswereexceptionalexamplesoftheKushiteeconomy,grandandvery
extensive.FinallyKush’slocationmadeitverydistinctinitsEgyptianandworldlyinfluences
butverydefiniteAfricanheritage.
NeedlesstosayKush’sinfluencecanbeseeninitsworldlyconnectionsandextensive
economythatwasbolsteredbymanygeographicalassets.Itsmaterialwealthwasprovidedby
theregion’sexcessofnaturalresources.Notingitsadvancedideology,architecture,art,and
theology,Kushwassituatedintheperfectcrossroadsofcivilizationsandtradethataidedinthe
spreadingofideas.Thisleadtoadvancementsintechnologyandthroughwhichagainsupported
theeconomy.ThelocationofKushprovideditwithalltheresourcesandadvantagespossiblefor
agrowingcivilizationtosurpassallotherswithanextensiveempireandbolsteritseconomy.