The Egyptian 'Conquest' of Nubia

Recommended age: 16+ years

Like feuding neighbours, Ancient Egypt and Nubia existed in an almost constant state of tension, the balance of power shifting back and forth through small-scale incursions to full-blown invasion. Ramses II inherited the task of controlling the powerful polities and kingdoms of Nubia, whose mineral wealth was vital to maintaining Egypt’s dominance in the region.

But where did this tension come from? And how did both sides exist under such long-term conflict?

In this fascinating talk hosted by journalist and TV presenter Ali Bahnasawy, Dr Aaron de Souza looks back at the roots of the conflict that led to the Egyptian conquest of Nubia during the New Kingdom. Rather than a story of Egyptian dominance, more complex stories of cooperation and coexistence begin to emerge.

Note: Ticket price does NOT include entry to Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs.

*Book online to save with our holiday offer (valid until 31 December 2023).

Dr Aaron de Souza is an archaeologist specialising the material culture of Ancient Egypt and Nubia and he has a keen interest in ancient cultural diversity, complexity, and interconnectedness. After obtaining his PhD from Macquarie University, he spent four years as a postdoctoral researcher at the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, funded by prestigious grants from European funding agencies.

Aaron has worked on numerous excavations throughout Egypt for more than a decade, most notably with international missions at Tell Edfu, Hierakonpolis, and Aswan. He is a widely published author of a monograph and several articles, and has been invited to give keynote lectures on ancient Nubia at some of the world most prestigious institutions. Aaron is a co-founding editor of the journal, Interdisciplinary Egyptology, and is committed to making Egyptological research accessible for academic and general audiences alike.

Ali Bahnasawy is a migrant, a published author, and a TV presenter. He was born in Egypt and has lived and worked as a journalist in the U.S., Germany, and Australia. As a journalist and TV presenter, Ali is dedicated to amplifying migrant voices and perspectives within the broader Australian society.

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