tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46505781723701398512024-03-21T07:11:51.372-07:00The Nubian DetectiveWhen a friend asked me to assist her with an art project on the Nubians, we went to the local library and found--nothing. Two shelves on Egypt. Ten books on Ethiopia and Sudan. Nubia? Nothing. So, of course, if you know me at all, I decided to discover everything I could on the Nubian--or is it the Kushites (one book in the children's library)--culture.Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-85521904531590210232014-05-05T16:51:00.000-07:002014-05-05T16:51:46.259-07:00Sudan pyramid hunt gets funding as desert dream realised<div class="first">
Little by little, the deserts of northern Sudan slowly reveal the secrets they have held for 2,000 years and more.</div>
<br />
With wheelbarrows, pulleys and shovels, sweating labourers have
unearthed the remains of pyramids, temples and other ancient monuments. <br />
<br />
But much of the country's rich archaeological heritage still remains
hidden, and what has been discovered remains little known to outsiders.<br />
<br />
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/sudan-pyramid-hunt-gets-funding-desert-dream-realised-113104023.html<br />
<br />
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/129232-desert-dream-realised-sudan-pyramid-hunt-gets-funding Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-48656588145066855162013-09-28T13:27:00.001-07:002013-09-28T13:27:20.334-07:00HOW BEER WAS DISCOVERED: THE TRUE MYTHOLOGYHOW BEER WAS DISCOVERED: THE TRUE MYTHOLOGY<br />
by Michael H. Brownstein<br />
<a href="http://thecamelsaloon.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-beer-was-discovered-true-mythology.html">http://thecamelsaloon.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-beer-was-discovered-true-mythology.html</a><br />
<br />
Pandora of Nubia, near the ivory trade route,<br />
took possession of a grand ebony chest,<br />
watched it with the eyes of a cheetah.<br />
<br />
Somewhere within its thick walls<br />
a secret stayed itself, and she could hear it,<br />
now and then bumping into things.<br />
<br />
She ignored it at first, or tried,<br />
made promises to herself she knew she couldn't keep,<br />
touched the wood with her palm,<br />
<br />
played with the flimsy lock of grass and twig,<br />
found herself admiring the grain with her fingertips.<br />
Too much cat, the Shaman knew this to be true,<br />
<br />
and bided her time from her grass covered home<br />
overlooking the village near the great river.<br />
There was something in the chest too great for her,<br />
<br />
but not too great for Pandora with braided dark hair,<br />
full lips and perfect skin—almost ebony black.<br />
She was right, of course. Pandora was curious,<br />
<br />
and it was curiosity that made her play with the lock,<br />
break it open with an ah ha and a smile.<br />
She opened the chest later that day,<br />
<br />
let escape the demons the Shaman knew were inside,<br />
thick fogs of madness and bitterness,<br />
jealousy and selfishness, greed and contempt.<br />
<br />
Pandora allowed them to sting her.<br />
their noise intolerant and vulgar,<br />
and then she peered into the shadow of the chest,<br />
<br />
saw a round object corked and scented,<br />
and pulled out a painted gourd<br />
a vessel full of rich golden water,<br />
<br />
a liquid with a smell she could not remember.<br />
She drank from it.<br />
It made her happy.<br />
<br />
The painful stings left her skin,<br />
she felt whole,<br />
calm, able to see into her dreams.<br />
<br />
Hope did not come with a fairy.<br />
Hope came with Pandora’s gourd of beer—<br />
a magic beer too easy to replicate.<br />
<br />
The shaman went on to greatness,<br />
made the best varieties,<br />
and the people lined up to drink it.<br />
<br />
Pandora kept the gourd in her home,<br />
shared its contents with everyone,<br />
especially those who wanted her to tell her story.<br />
<br />
And then the Greeks came.Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-26611420346083577982013-08-16T06:55:00.003-07:002013-08-16T06:55:42.265-07:00Nubia and Egypt 10,000 B.C. to 400 A.D. From Pre-History to the Meroitic Period--Larry Ross<span style="background-color: white; color: #494848; font-family: ff-dagny-web-pro, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">"This is the first book to claim that the Black Nubians played an essential role in the rise of Ancient Egyptian civilization. Ross is the first scholar to argue that there is a shared origin of Nile Valley Civilization between Nubian and Egyptian cultures. Nubia today is known as the nation-states of Sudan and South Sudan, and has been misrepresented for thousands of years by Egyptian sources, which minimized the role the people played in world history. This book draws on recent archaeological findings that claim Pharonic symbolism, sacred bark, and serekh, are of Nubian origin, not Egyptian."</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.academia.edu/2446393/Nubia_and_Egypt_From_Prehistory_to_the_Meroitic_Period_10_000_B.C._to_400_A.D">http://www.academia.edu/2446393/Nubia_and_Egypt_From_Prehistory_to_the_Meroitic_Period_10_000_B.C._to_400_A.D</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://mellenpress.com/mellenpress.cfm?bookid=8623&pc=9">http://mellenpress.com/mellenpress.cfm?bookid=8623&pc=9</a>Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-57341084480444998372013-08-16T06:49:00.003-07:002013-08-16T06:49:48.767-07:00Nubian Jar in the University of Missouri Art and Archaeology CollectionThe threads below show the mistakes the University of Missouri Art and Archaeology Museum continues to make about Nubia.<br />
<br />
The black topped jar in the exhibit is dated 3900 BCE to 3150 BCE. Egypt became Egypt at approximately 3200 BCE. The jar is created in the Nubian style--and even if dating is not an exact science the range of years in the date given in the exhibit makes it a Nubian piece--not Egyptian.<br />
<br />
Its time for the museum to correct its error and show the real origination point of the black topped jar.<br />
<br />
See also:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2010/02/university-of-missouri-archeology.html">http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2010/02/university-of-missouri-archeology.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2010/02/more-mistakes-from-museum-of-art-and.html">http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2010/02/more-mistakes-from-museum-of-art-and.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-21386206072047370952013-05-22T08:18:00.001-07:002013-05-22T08:36:43.479-07:00The Nubian People Created EgyptBecause of Bruce Williams of the <a href="http://oi.uchicago.edu/museum/nubia/">Oriental Museum</a> and the University of Chicago, Larry Ross of Lincoln University and the author of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nubia-Egypt-000-B-C-A-D/dp/0773426469">Nubia and Egypt: 10,000 BCE to 400 AD</a> </i>and this blog that I have been working on for the past few years, there is no more issues in my mind--and their should not be any in yours either--that Nubia is the reason Egypt came to be. In fact, between the three of us, we have offered enough evidence to prove Nubia is the actual founder of Egypt.<br />
<br />
I began this blog to discover Nubia's impact on Egypt. My initial hypothesis was: <a href="http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2009/12/nubia-started-it-all.html">Nubia started it all</a>--it is the reason Egypt began. Now, a few years later--I''m going to state again: Yes, it did.<br />
<br />
Michael H. BrownsteinMichael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-49257483240961681172013-05-19T09:53:00.003-07:002013-05-19T09:53:58.095-07:00Nubian Firsts<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; text-align: justify;">
The tradition of the pharaoh began
not in <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region>, but in <st1:country-region>Nubia</st1:country-region>. Furthermore, <st1:country-region>Nubia</st1:country-region> developed an international trade with other nations in <st1:place>Africa</st1:place> and
the <st1:place>Middle East</st1:place> long before <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region> had. “<st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region> needed <st1:country-region>Nubia</st1:country-region> more than <st1:country-region>Nubia</st1:country-region> needed <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region>.” Even though <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region> was able to produce their own pottery, they preferred
Nubian pottery to their own and adopted it into their culture. Even religious
objects like the small fertility figurine were found in parts of <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; text-align: justify;">
Nubians were active in pottery making as early
as 8,000 BCE. By 6000 BCE, Nubians were domesticating animals. “The Egyptians
were late arrivers in the ancient trade networks, because <st1:country-region>Nubia</st1:country-region> had already established trade.” Much of the development of
<st1:country-region>Nubia</st1:country-region> was unknown to <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region> until the Nubians moved north into <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region> around 5,000 BCE and spread their genes, culture, belief
systems and technological advances with the inhabitants of <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt; text-align: justify;">
--Larry Ross. <i><st1:country-region>Nubia</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region>: 10,000 BCE to 400 AD</i>, p. 122-123, 147, 195<o:p></o:p></div>
Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-35400297682715536482013-05-15T07:13:00.001-07:002013-05-15T07:13:18.764-07:00Nubia Invented Writing<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">"With the discoveries of King Scorpion's tomb, dated 3250 BCE
at </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Abydos</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> in the 1990s by Dr. Gunter Dryer and the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Scorpion Tableau at Gebel Tjauti<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>by Dr. John and Deborah Darnell...history
itself was introduced because King Scorpion's tomb contained the world's first
complete writing system. Dr. Bruce Williams contends that the early kings of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Egypt</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> came from </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Nubia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">....Based on the archeological remains at
Qustul Cemetery L, and other artifacts from </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Nubia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">, it is now clear that the practices
displayed on the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Scorpion
Tableau</i> did not originate in the area designated as </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Egypt</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">--Ross, Larry. </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Nubia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> and </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Egypt</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">: 10,000 BCE to 400 AD, p. 80<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Add writing to the list of Nubian firsts.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span>Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-76832701579042811792013-05-13T07:48:00.001-07:002013-05-13T07:48:22.126-07:00More Proof--as if it was needed--Nubia Came First<div class="MsoNormal">
“The pictoral documents left by
its (<st1:country-region>Nubia</st1:country-region>)
kings reveal Ta-Seti’s (another name for <st1:country-region>Nubia</st1:country-region>)
claim to having conquered and ruled over <st1:place>Upper Egypt</st1:place> for
the time (3400 BCE to 3200 BCE).”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Ehret, Christopher. Te
Civilization of <st1:place>Africa</st1:place>, 2002, p. 144-145.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is strong evidence by
archeologists that the first pharaohs who ruled over <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region>
came from <st1:country-region>Nubia</st1:country-region>.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>Then there's more evidence:</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Qustul incense burner and
Horus Nekhen incense burner are considered to be royal documents. These burners
are documentation that the pharonic system was in place before <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region>.
There is even strong evidence that the first writing began under the Nubian
King Scorpion.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Ross, Larry. <st1:country-region>Nubia</st1:country-region>
and <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region>:
10,000 BCE to 400 AD, 2012, p. 74.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Links within this blog for more information:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2009/12/more-from-archeology-part-2.html">http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2009/12/more-from-archeology-part-2.html</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2010/04/interview-with-bruce-b-williams.html">http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2010/04/interview-with-bruce-b-williams.html</a></span><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Keep in mind that boundaries for nations--a term that did not exist at the time mentioned above--were fluid and not mapped out the way we map boundaries today. </div>
Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-69772534831009542552013-05-06T07:21:00.001-07:002013-05-06T07:21:21.646-07:00More on who came first:"Nubia is Egypt's African ancestor. What linked Ancient Egypt to the rest of the North African cultures is this strong tie with the Nubian pastoral nomadic lifestyle...Thus, not only did Nubia have a prominent role in the origin of Ancient Egypt, it was also a key area for the origin of the entire African pastoral tradition."<br />
<br />
--Gatto, Maria. <em>The Nubian Pastoral Culture as Link Between Egypt and Africa</em>, Oxford Press, 2009, p. 26.Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-45045780181650642112013-05-05T10:21:00.002-07:002013-05-05T10:21:32.318-07:00More proof Nubia came before Egypt<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nubian pottery has been found
dating to as long ago as 8,000 BCE—more proof that <st1:country-region>Nubia</st1:country-region> had a civilization before <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region>. There was no Egypt in 8,000 BCE. Furthermore, there was no
gold in <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region>, but there were many gold mines in <st1:country-region>Nubia</st1:country-region> and Nubian trade with <st1:country-region>Egypt--once Egypt began as a people and country--</st1:country-region>shows a reliance on <st1:country-region>Nubia</st1:country-region> by <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region> for one of the resources <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region> desired: gold. Apparently Nubians knew how to mine gold and how to utilize it as a trading tool long before Egypt was defined.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to Larry Ross, “<st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region>’s reliance on Nubian products was perpetual from the
emergence of Dynastic Egypt around 3,250 BCE until…525 BCE.” (p. 15: <i>Nubia and Egypt: 10,000 BCE to 400 AD</i>)<o:p></o:p></div>
Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-85643335716218228742013-05-05T09:42:00.001-07:002013-05-05T09:43:34.915-07:0012th Egyptian Dynasty--Nubian<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p><st1:country-region>Nubia</st1:country-region> ruled <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region> in the 25<sup>th</sup> Dynasty, but they also ruled in the
12<sup>th</sup>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amenembet 1 took the throne of <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region> around 1991 BCE, the beginning of the 12<sup>th</sup> Dynasty,
and he had a Nubian mother. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was not at all uncommon in <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region> during this time for Nubians to marry Egyptians and have
children. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This information came from to <i>Nubia and Egypt: 10,000 B. C.. to 400 A. D.</i> by Larry Ross, a professor at <st1:place><st1:city>Lincoln University</st1:city>, <st1:state>Missouri</st1:state></st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Much of the 12<sup>th</sup> Dynasty
was ruled by individuals with Nubian ancestry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My question is: If it truly was
not uncommon for Nubians and Egyptians to marry, how can anyone say for sure
that any of the dynasties did not have a ruler with Nubian blood?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-55716643151056783362013-05-04T09:25:00.003-07:002013-05-04T09:32:24.867-07:00The Beginnings of EgyptEgypt became Egypt because of Africa.<br />
<br />
"The Amrarian white-lined pottery was introduced into Egypt by 'Libyan invasions', while the Gerzean culture was brought there by 'the Eastern Desert Folk', who overran and dominated Egypt. Finally, Egypt was unified by the 'Falcon Tribe' or 'Dynastic Race', that certainly had originated in Elam and came to Egypt by way of Ethiopia..."<br />
<br />
--Bruce Trigger, et. al. Ancient Egypt: A Social History, 1983.<br />
<br />
<br />Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-14535380794165063972013-05-04T09:18:00.002-07:002013-05-04T09:18:14.447-07:00Where did the Egyptian language come from?"...The Afrasan language famiy...originated in Africa, in the regions between the Nubian Nile and the northern Ethiopian Highlands...and [moved] northward up the Nile...The arrival along the lower Nile of the ancient Egyptian language, a member of the Afrasan family, ultimately traces back to these northward movements."<br />
<br />
--Christopher Ehret, The Civilizations of Africa, 3002, p. 38-39<br />
<br />
Larry Ross, Nubia and Egypt 10,000 BC to 400 AD, 2012, p. 4-5Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-61593575549394427402013-02-07T06:27:00.005-08:002013-02-07T06:30:26.069-08:00A New Book on Nubia: Nubia and Egypt (10, 000 B.C. to 400 A.D.)My new book on Nubia will be published on February 28th, and I mention our discussions, and your trip to meet with Dr. Williams, in the book:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/jsp/welcome.jsp?action=search&type=isbn&term=0773426469&awaid=35779&awgid=0&awbid=0&awid=35779&awpid=0&awcr=&src=awin">http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/jsp/welcome.jsp?action=search&type=isbn&term=0773426469&awaid=35779&awgid=0&awbid=0&awid=35779&awpid=0&awcr=&src=awin</a><br />
<br />
Dr. Larry Ross<br />
Professor of Anthropology<br />
Social & Behavioral Sciences<br />
<br />
Dr. Ross is referring to discussions I had in his office and discussions we had on--and about--the blog you are currently reading. We will post selections fronm his book on this blog.<br />
<br />
Michael H. Brownstein<br />
<br />Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-32916525147949958862012-04-17T09:36:00.001-07:002012-04-17T09:38:09.447-07:00The First Mummies Did Not Come from EgyptEgypt is famous for their mummies--but if the truth was told, Egypt was not the first mummy making society or even the originators of the idea, <br />
<br />
This is from the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA, Mummy Exhibit, April 4th, 2012:<br />
<br />
"...Mummies from ancient Peru, Chile, and Ecuador...Early South American societies created the earliest mummies in the world...7000 years ago."<br />
<br />
Predynastic dynasty of Nubia: A women was buried in hot, dry sand about 5500 years ago. "Without water, bacteria could not breed, so her body did not decay. Many scholars believe this kind of natural mummification gave the Egyptians the idea for elaborate artificial mummification."<br />
<br />
From the above, it appears Egypt not only did not invent the mummy, but copied it from the Nubians. It also appears mummification began in South America, not Egypt or Africa.<br />
<br />Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-35547217169161486682012-04-17T09:26:00.001-07:002012-04-17T09:26:11.821-07:00Nubia, Naqada and Black Topped PotteryNaqada was located in the southern part (we call it Upper Egypt during the time of the Nubians). Black topped pottery originated with the Nubians and moved upwards through the south of Egypt into the north. Because we have limited written documentation, it is hard to discover the significance of the black topping of their pottery--if there is any symbolism or significance at all. <br />
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In the time period of Nubia and the beginnings of Egypt (which is directly correlated to Nubia as other posts in this blog illustrate, if not prove) many cultures believed they were The People. Egypt was one of them--but a close look at their writings and drawings in the Valley of the Kings shows they respected the Nubians as much as they respected themselves. (But I'm going off topic.)<br />
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Black topped pottery began in Nubia and spread north. The Naqada culture, a Nubian culture, may have been the originators of this pottery and the pattern of movement shows it began in Nubia and moved upwards into what is now called Egypt (Lower Egypt back in the predynasty period).<br />
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So what is the significance of the black top? Could it be the Nubians expression of dominance--black over the color red (the perceived color of the skin of people living above them)? Could it be their way of showing they were superior? We already know they were superior fighters and weapon makers. We already know they were excellent traders. Could it be because they lacked--or at least we have not discovered--a written language, the pottery expresses for them their feelings of superiority?<br />
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Unfortunately with the dams flooding much of the area rich with Nubian artifacts we may never know the answer.<br />
<br />Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-14286075301510698612012-02-24T20:39:00.002-08:002012-02-24T20:39:51.558-08:00An Open Letter to All of the Racists Out ThereRead this blog, all of the entries, and then sit back, take a deep breath, think about it for a bit, and I hope you realize very little in this world was a hundred percent developed by only one race of people.<br />
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Or open a few of the links blow:<br />
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<a href="http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2010/02/memes-first-egyptian-pharaoh-and-hes.html">http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2010/02/memes-first-egyptian-pharaoh-and-hes.html</a><br />
<a href="http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2010/02/egypt-and-nubia-more-influences.html">http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2010/02/egypt-and-nubia-more-influences.html</a><br />
<a href="http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2010/02/nubias-influence-on-egypt.html">http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2010/02/nubias-influence-on-egypt.html</a><br />
<a href="http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2010/02/who-comes-first-again-nubia-or-egypt.html">http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2010/02/who-comes-first-again-nubia-or-egypt.html</a><br />
<a href="http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2009/12/nubia-started-it-all.html">http://historyofnubia.blogspot.com/2009/12/nubia-started-it-all.html</a>Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-14353245032591635642011-04-29T06:29:00.000-07:002011-04-29T06:30:13.054-07:00A Nubian StoryClick <a href="http://blackfirewhitefire.blogspot.com/2007/12/stories-from-talmud.html">here</a> to read it.<br />
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Note: I actually found this story when I was looking for stories from the Jewish Talmud.Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-54769440214746098882010-05-19T13:19:00.000-07:002010-05-19T13:19:21.176-07:00Textbooks and NubiaI surveyed three textbooks--McDougal Littell's WORLD HISTORY PATTERNS OF INTERACTION, Glencoe's WORLD HISTORY, and Globe Fearon's WORLD HISTORY.<br />
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All three incorrectly identified Menes as an Egyptian king. Only one, Globe Fearon said he might be a legend. What we know is Nubia assisted Egyptians in the building of the First Dynasty and Menes may have been the first leader--and he was Nubian.<br />
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None of the books introduce Nubia when it was going strong--around 3200 BC, Nubia was already known for its strength and strong armies. One of the books actually states that as late as 700 BC, the Assyrians were able to easily defeat Nubia (Kush at this time) because they fought with stone age tools.<br />
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There is evidence that they beat the Assyrians in a great battle around Jurusalem around 700 BC and for thousands of years the Nubians were known for their prowess with the bow and arrow. They were never known for their stone age weapons.<br />
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Globe Fearon's book offered only one page on Nubia--mostly information on the Kush and the 25th Dynasty. <br />
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Glencoe's book had only two sentences and though McDougal Littell offered a few pages on Egypt and Nubia, it erroneously gave all the credit to Egypt for influencing Nubia. In fact, they influenced each other.<br />
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Nubia did not begin with the 25th Dynasty or even around 2000 BC; Nubia was around way before the First Dynasty (around 3200 BC) and readers of this blog have seen the evidence that shows Nubia and Egypt were often antagonistic, but they have always influenced one another. <br />
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In fact, this author feels that Nubia may have been the main influence that brought about the actual First Dynasty in Egypt. In fact, Nubia may have invented the pharoah system altogether.<br />
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History books--let's start getting it right.Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-53112557283599450752010-05-14T07:55:00.000-07:002010-05-20T08:56:08.536-07:00How To Conquer American RacismHow do we stop racism in America?<br />
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Simple.<br />
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Teach the children of our nation that the Nubians of Africa had a great and influential hand in the creation of Egypt and were the primary helpers in the creation of the First Dynasty.<br />
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Why will this make a difference?<br />
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We will be showing that not only did man first come from Africa, but also one of the first great civilizations came from there too.<br />
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Letting our children know the great impact Africa had on the early development of religion, government, trade and other aspects that make a civilization and a nation will give our students the needed ammunition they will need when they encounter racism.<br />
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Menes was Nubian and Ramesses ll had Nubian children who he honored. The list and influence of Nubian Africa goes on and on.<br />
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If nothing else, study this blog to help us rid America of racism today.Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-46062888193618817902010-05-14T07:46:00.000-07:002010-05-14T07:46:46.566-07:00How Nubia is Protrayed in History Texts--Glencoe and OthersUnfortunately, Nubia is not displayed accurately at all. <br />
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Glencoe, for example, in their 2008 text, JOURNEY ACROSS TIME, has Nubia coming into place in 2000 BCE. <br />
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Another text has Menes as an Egyptian--not a Nubian.<br />
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If we want to teach our children history, let's teach it correctly--not leave out information and facts.<br />
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This blog has already shown that Nubia existed before the time of the first Egyptian dynasty--and heped to create it. I have also shown how Menes was in fact a Nubian--that Egypt has its first roots in Africa, not Europe or Asia.<br />
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Glencoe and other publishers--let's start writing history the way history was made.Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-71432843902150097172010-04-26T11:29:00.000-07:002010-04-26T11:29:15.056-07:00Were The Nubians Cowards?I say no. Proof is in the plates taken from various places, but even more conclusively is the following from William Y. Adams, author of <b>Nubia, Corridor to Africa:<br />
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"Egyptians...invaded the region again and again, yet seldom referred to it without the epithet 'miserable' or 'abominable'. {I as the author of this blog feel this was only propaganda to give the Egyptian troops a psychological edge because they were afraid to fight the Nubians.} Cambyses, the Persian conqueror of Egypt...ascended to the Nile as far as the Fourth Cataract, but he nearly lost both his army and his life on the return march. A Roman army reached and sacked Napata...yet Nero declined to annex Nubia...and Diocletian abandoned even the northern extremity...Arab armies which elsewhere swept Christianity from the face of North Africa...concluded a treaty (with) Nubia...Salah-ed-Din...conqueror...of Egypt and Syria, gave up all thought of adding Nubia to his domainafter the briefest of forays."<br />
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Remember: Nubians helped create the First Dynasty of Egypt and were greatly skilled and honored for their fighting ability.Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-60939115921212578092010-04-20T09:46:00.000-07:002010-04-20T09:46:32.671-07:00An Interview with Bruce B. WilliamsA few blogs ago I asked if anyone anywhere could give me information on Bruce B. Williams and/or his publications. His groundbreaking work opened the eyes of myself and others about the positive impact ancient Nubia had on Egypt, it's phaoronic culture and the development of the First Dynasty. <br />
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I actually got a chance to meet with him at the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. I was sitting at a back table with a few of his books in front of me when he entered the archives and came straight up to me and asked if we could step outside and talk for a few minutes.<br />
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Below are my notes from this interview:<br />
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MB: I have been an avid follower of your findings and I wonder how your theories about Nubia and the development of the First Dynasty is working out.<br />
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BBW: More and more people are coming to view the development of the First Dynasty the same way I do.<br />
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MB: Menes, according to much of my research, was a Nubian pharaoh in Egypt before the First Dynasty.<br />
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BBW: Menes is also known as Narmer. There is no real proof of his existence. Nowhere is he mentioned in the Egyptian literature.<br />
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MB: I've been writing a blog about Nubia and its impact on the phaoronic system in Egypt. I have been trying to show how Nubia influenced its development.<br />
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BBW: I never said the A-group from Nubia developed the phaoronic system independently. Individuals from Egypt and Nubia had a common purpose and worked together.<br />
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MB: Can you give me additional resources for my research?<br />
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BBW: (He gave me a list of individuals and websites.) A lot of the material you have to go through and decide on your own what is true, probably true, or not true at all. You're going to have to use a lot of your own common sense in making these decisions.<br />
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MB: What about Adam's book, NUBIA--THE CORRIDOR TO AFRICA?<br />
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BBW: Some of it is worth knowing, some of it is not. You will have to read it to make your own decisions.<br />
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In the next few blogs I hope to give evidence on the development of Nubia and its importance in ancient Egypt from what I was able to learn at the Oriental Institute--including the incense burner Bruce Williams utilizes as evidence that Nubia had a royal leadership that predated Egypt's pharaohs.Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-44488221879954367762010-04-10T10:30:00.000-07:002010-04-10T10:32:27.729-07:00A Discussion with Dr. Larry Ross, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MOI brought specific plates of drawings from Ramesses ll --plates that came from a book entitled, <i><a href="http://oi.uchicago.edu/research/pubs/catalog/oine/oine1.html">The Beit El-Wali Temple of Ramesses ll</a></i> by Herbert Ricke, et al. and publised by the University of Chicago as part of its Nubian expedition series in 1967. The book has a number of plates that were taken from the temple before the water from the dam covered it up.<br />
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Dr. Ross befgan the conversation by stating that Ramesses ll created the monuments to show off his military strength. "You can take these depictions with a grain of sand because Ramesses is the one creating the monuments."<br />
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My argument was that every depiction in his temple shows the Nubians in a positive light--even the plate when they are retreating as in Plate 8. Other plates show his opposition as weak and cowardly--the Syrians, for example, are begging for surrender and some of them are jumping from the wall committing suicide. A Libyan captive is begging for his life (Plate 24) and other individuals are in equally subservient postures. The only two groups that actually face him are the Bedouin (but they are portrayed as fleeing) and the Nubians (who are also the opnly group recovering their injured and dead).<br />
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Granted propaganda is written all over the stellas and other places in other places calling the Nubians (or Kush) cowards and other negative statements, but if you look closely at Plate 8 (and I'll try to get a copy of it on this blog so you can see it too), you will see bravery and even his own two favored sons (due to their placement next to their father) who are obviously of Nubian blood.<br />
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Furthermore, the one plate that shows Ramesses ll smiting a Nubian shows a very self assured man ready to die and not scared to die in battle (Plate 27).<br />
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"In my studies, I go deeper than what the victor has said or done as written on monuments honoring him," Dr. Ross replied. "The Nubians were very strong and courageous and they would not be afraid of death."<br />
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I conclude from the plates that the Nubians were strong, courageous and not afraid of death. Ramesses ll had a lot of respect for them. In the plates taken from the walls of the temple honoring him, he shows his respect. The Nubians were defeated, but they faced him in battle. When he executed a Nubian, he presented the individual as a man who "dies well" unlike any of the others he is depicted as slaying.<br />
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This brings me to the following conjecture: The negative propaganda written about the Nubians (or Kush) was written to give the army of Ramesses ll more confidence--a mental strategy, if you will, because he understood and admired the Nubians and knew what they could do. This was his way of empowering his army to want to fight, fist, and secondly, to help them believe they were stronger and better than their opponents--psychology to get his army to believe in itself.<br />
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In other words, the propaganda was really complimentary to the Nubians (Kush).<br />
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Dr. Ross and I will continue this dialog.Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650578172370139851.post-83088002512817544802010-03-26T17:01:00.000-07:002010-03-26T17:01:19.236-07:00More on Plate 8 from the Oriental Institutes Nubian ExpeditionPlate 8 in the <a href="http://oi.uchicago.edu/research/pubs/catalog/oine/oine1.html">Oriental Institutes Nubian Expedition Volume 1</a> by Herbert Ricke, et al in the book, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w1aLbtPWSM">The Beit of El-Wali Temple of Ramesses ll</a>, published by the University of Chicago also show Nubians gathering up their wounded and dead and fighting back even in retreat.<br />
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A closer look at the plate when it is joined with other plates to make the complete picture show Nubians as brave individuals. Other plates in the picture show a Libyan begging for mercy, Syrians pleading for their lives, and Asiatic people giving up too easily.<br />
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One plate actually has the king standing on top of a Libyan and an Asian. Nubians are shown respect even when they deliver tribute to Ramesses ll.Michael H. Brownsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468929554202124507noreply@blogger.com0