The Kingdom of Makuria and its Civilization
A Renewed Insight through New Archaeological Discoveries
By (author) Ahmed Hussein Abdelrahman Adam
Paperback (Published)
(July 2026)
ISBN: 9781805832980
7.99 x 10.87 inches
Price: $40.00
On back order
A new study of the Kingdom of Makuria combining archaeological discoveries with reassessed evidence. Exploring settlement patterns, Old Dongola, and regional networks, it offers fresh insight into the political, cultural, and religious landscape of medieval Nubia.
This volume offers a fresh reassessment of the Kingdom of Makuria, one of medieval Nubia’s most significant Christian states, through the integration of new archaeological discoveries and a critical re-evaluation of earlier research. Moving beyond traditional site-focused studies, it situates Makuria within its broader landscape, exploring settlement patterns, regional interactions, and the fluid nature of its political and cultural boundaries. Particular emphasis is placed on Old Dongola and its surrounding centres, revealing their roles in trade, administration, and cultural development.
By combining archaeological, textual, linguistic, and environmental evidence, the study reconstructs the complex networks that shaped Makurian society. It examines rural and urban settlements, religious transformations, and cultural continuity from the post-Meroitic period through the Christian era, offering new insights into governance, identity, and interregional connections across medieval Sudan.
Acknowledgements
Maps
CHAPTER ONE: Introduction
Research Methodology
Research Methodology
Research Outline
CHAPTER TWO: Concepts and Methods in the Medieval Period
Introduction
Medieval Age Study Methodology
Problems Studying the Medieval Period
The Current Situation and the Future
CHAPTER THREE: History and Archaeology of the Kingdom of Makuria
Introduction
Geological Typography of Upper Nubia
Climate and Water Resources
Plants and Livestock
Civilizational History of the Kingdom
Political and Administrative System
The Religious System (Church)
Economics and Resources
Architecture and Arts in the Kingdom
Education and Language
Decline and Disappearance of the Kingdom of Makuria
CHAPTER FOUR: Previous Studies (Between the Third and Fifth Cataracts)
Introduction
Dongola Region
Third Cataract Region
The Fifth Cataract Province
Determinants of Christian Settlements
The Components of Settlements
CHAPTER FIVE: The Field Studies
Introduction
Field Study Methodology
Survey Strategy
Left Bank Localities
Sites on the Right Bank
The Sites of the Fifth Cataract Province:
The Third Cataract Province
CHAPTER SIX: Analytical Study
Introduction
Analysis and classification of Sites
Study and Classification of Pottery
Results and Conclusion
References
Plates
- By (author) Ahmed Hussein Abdelrahman Adam
