Ruled by the Kingdom of Kush (based at Meroe)
Cultural ties with Ancient Egypt
Kingdom of Kush began to decline due to environmental issues and external factors
Nomadic tribes from the south and the Roman Empire put pressure on Kush
Kingdom of Aksum overthrew the Kingdom of Kush in 350

Three Nubian Kingdoms emerged, Nobatia (North), Makuria (Center) and Alodia (South)
After three Kingdoms adopted Christianity, Makuria began to show dominance as the strongest
Peace was maintained with Muslim Egypt through treaties
Arab Muslim influence began to penetrate the Kingdoms through marriage and trade
By the 13th Century Arab Nomads were setlling in the Northern Regions
From the 14th to 16th Centuries, the three Kingdoms collapsed one by one, due to Christianity weakening as Islam prevailed
The region was split into small factions

The Kingdom of Sennar was established by the Funj people in 1504
Sennar controlled most of central and eastern Sudan
Economy based around agriculture, trade and slavery, strong ties with Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula

Ottoman-Egyptian forces under Muhammed Ali Pasha conquered Sudan and it was ruled from Egypt. Slave, gold and ivory trade was expanded

After the Mahdist state was defeated in 1899, Britain and Egypt established a government in Sudan, with Britain holding majority control

Gained independence 1st January 1956, but has faced civil wars, dictatorships and conflict since