The Economic and Cultural Importance of Nomadic Groups in Ancient Sudan: The Nomads of the Meroitic Period as a Case Study (350 BC - 350 AD)

The center of Kush civilization _ in the middle Nile valley_ shifted during the ancient history of the Sudan from the north to the south. Beginning with Kerma south to the third cataract area and Napata in around the fourth cataract area, then Meroe between the fifth and sixth cataract. Meroitic period coincided with some cultural characteristics: the transformation of the royal cemetery. The increase of Greco-Roman influences in architecture and art. The development of a Meroitic script, and the integration some of popular deities into the Meroitic pantheon. Most of these features are archaeologically concentrated into the heartlands of the kingdom, which has mentioned in ancient sources as the Island of Meroe; that the area provided the kingdom by the necessary row material for the distance trade. Meanwhile, the social identity of the population whom were active in this work remained unknown. by the description and analyses to the epigraphic and archaeological sources, this article propose that Meroitic rulers concerns by the heartlands of the kingdom due; the importance of nomad groups, whom provided these sources, then they became dominant and they have presented by their popular cults in the Meroitic pantheon.