As a layperson who loves reading about ancient Egypt, and ancient cultures in general, this was great! I feel like many folks are taught history as if different places exist in their own bubbles, but this piece really demonstrates the connection and spread of ideas between these civilizations.
As someone that is Sudanese this touched me. I’ve always knew that Kush had a major impact in the Mediterranean world considering that so many classical writers spoke so highly of Kush. But about racism and the curse of ham in the medieval world. Reading about what medieval Arabs writers wrote about black Africans, a lot of early medieval Arab writers tried to justify their hate for black Africans by using the curse of ham (aka saying that hams descendants were cursed with black skin) and I’ve always just assumed that this was Due to the slave trading of black Africans in the arab world. Cause prior to the 7th century the african states of Axum and kush were spoken of very highly by classical writers and both had a impact on the world, but with the arrival of Islam, you see many medieval writers express there anti black racism by using the curse of ham (al-Jahiz also says that before the advent of Islam, arabs looked up to Axumites/abyssinians and the “Zanj” but after the advent of Islam, arabs began to express more anti-black sentiments). What you wrote about the curse of Ham explains a lot and now, makes a lot more sense to why a lot of early arab writers all of the sudden started using the curse of ham theory (what’s also interesting is that a few Arab writers such as Ibn Khaldun, Al-Jahiz and Ibn al-jawzi all criticise the curse of ham theory and say that it’s not proven). And the Talmuds also explain why Europeans started using the curse of Ham theory as well. This theory clearly has a long legacy concerning certain origins to anti-black sentiments. It was also acknowledged by Ahmed-Baba too, a Timbuktu scholar. But other than that, this article on the kushite impact on the world is fascinating. I feel like Kush doesn’t get the attention it deserves, and I know many that study Kush and Nubia feel the same way. Either way thank you for this wonderful read. It was really eye opening and I am looking forward to other articles you put out in the future.
As a layperson who loves reading about ancient Egypt, and ancient cultures in general, this was great! I feel like many folks are taught history as if different places exist in their own bubbles, but this piece really demonstrates the connection and spread of ideas between these civilizations.
As someone that is Sudanese this touched me. I’ve always knew that Kush had a major impact in the Mediterranean world considering that so many classical writers spoke so highly of Kush. But about racism and the curse of ham in the medieval world. Reading about what medieval Arabs writers wrote about black Africans, a lot of early medieval Arab writers tried to justify their hate for black Africans by using the curse of ham (aka saying that hams descendants were cursed with black skin) and I’ve always just assumed that this was Due to the slave trading of black Africans in the arab world. Cause prior to the 7th century the african states of Axum and kush were spoken of very highly by classical writers and both had a impact on the world, but with the arrival of Islam, you see many medieval writers express there anti black racism by using the curse of ham (al-Jahiz also says that before the advent of Islam, arabs looked up to Axumites/abyssinians and the “Zanj” but after the advent of Islam, arabs began to express more anti-black sentiments). What you wrote about the curse of Ham explains a lot and now, makes a lot more sense to why a lot of early arab writers all of the sudden started using the curse of ham theory (what’s also interesting is that a few Arab writers such as Ibn Khaldun, Al-Jahiz and Ibn al-jawzi all criticise the curse of ham theory and say that it’s not proven). And the Talmuds also explain why Europeans started using the curse of Ham theory as well. This theory clearly has a long legacy concerning certain origins to anti-black sentiments. It was also acknowledged by Ahmed-Baba too, a Timbuktu scholar. But other than that, this article on the kushite impact on the world is fascinating. I feel like Kush doesn’t get the attention it deserves, and I know many that study Kush and Nubia feel the same way. Either way thank you for this wonderful read. It was really eye opening and I am looking forward to other articles you put out in the future.
Thanks again for a great article. I'll be donating to your paypal by the 25th! Happy Holidays Isaac!