Wawat
Wawat was an ancient region located in Lower Nubia, situated between the First and Second Cataracts of the Nile River. Initially, Wawat was known as a chiefdom that engaged in trade with Egypt, providing valuable resources such as cattle, minerals, copper, and gold. Over time, however, the relationship shifted from trade to exploitation as Egyptians expanded their control over the area. Archaeological findings indicate that Wawat's inhabitants were typically peaceful and distinct from their neighboring culture in Upper Nubia, known as Kush, whose people were more militaristic and often served in the Egyptian army. The dynamics between these groups evolved, with Wawat residents resisting Egyptian domination until the Twelfth Dynasty, when they were gradually assimilated into Egyptian culture. Ultimately, Egypt annexed territory as far south as Semna, marking a significant change in the region's cultural and political landscape. Understanding Wawat provides insight into the complexities of ancient Egyptian-Nubian interactions and the historical significance of trade and conflict in shaping the region.
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Wawat
Related civilization: Pharaonic Egypt.
Also known as: Lower Nubia.
Date: 2500-2300 b.c.e.
Locale: Nubian region of the Nile River, southern Egypt, northern Sudan
Wawat
An account from the tomb of Harkhuf (a Sixth Dynasty governor) mentions distinct regions of Lower Nubia, the land between the First and Second Cataracts of the Nile River. The most important of these regions were named Wawat (wah-WAHT), Irjet, and Satju. Wawat was a chiefdom north of Irjet in the area between Gerf Husein and Quarta. The Egyptians eventually gave the name Wawat to all of Lower Nubia. Wawat, at first a trading partner with Egypt supplying cattle, minerals, copper, and gold, was later a source of exploitation.
Archaeological evidence reveals that the people of Lower Nubia (Wawat) and Upper Nubia (Kush), although related, were distinct. This evidence also suggests that the inhabitants of Wawat were generally peaceful while the people of Kush were warriors, often recruited into the armies of the Egyptian Empire. This combined group of herdsmen and soldiers resisted Egyptian domination until the reigns of Twelfth Dynasty Kings Senusret I and Senusret III. They were eventually assimilated into Egyptian culture, with all territory as far south as Semna annexed by Egypt.
Bibliography
Emery, Walter B. Lost Land Emerging. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1967.
O’Connor, David. Ancient Nubia: Egypt’s Rival in Africa. Philadelphia: University Museum, University of Pennsylvania, 1993.
Taylor, John. Egypt and Nubia. London: British Museum Press, 1991.
Trigger, Bruce G. History and Settlement in Lower Nubia. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1965.