7th century BCE – 7th century BCE
Kush and Egypt
Taharqa was a Kushite king who intervened decisively in the political struggles of eighth- and seventh-century BC Egypt. He occupied Lower Egypt after an initial Assyrian expulsion, but was driven out again as Assyria asserted military dominance over the Nile Valley.
Continue exploring
The Story
Taharqa appears as the Kushite king whose campaigns brought the kingdom of Napata into direct confrontation with Assyria. Kushite power had extended from the Upper Nile into Egypt, and Taharqa benefited from continuing support among parts of the Delta even after Assyrian forces first displaced him.
In 671 BC, Assyrian forces drove Taharqa from the Delta and compelled the submission of Egyptian nome-chiefs. Two years later, he was able to march north and occupy Lower Egypt, demonstrating that Kushite influence had not immediately disappeared. Assyria expelled him once more in 666 BC.
The conflicts involving Taharqa formed part of a wider struggle for control of Egypt between Kush and Assyria. The extract suggests that Assyria’s military superiority was probably related in part to iron weaponry, while Kush and Egypt continued to rely on bronze. Taharqa’s defeat marked the decline of Kushite control over Egypt.
7th century BCE – 7th century BCE
Kush and Egypt
Taharqa was a Kushite king who intervened decisively in the political struggles of eighth- and seventh-century BC Egypt. He occupied Lower Egypt after an initial Assyrian expulsion, but was driven out again as Assyria asserted military dominance over the Nile Valley.
Continue exploring
The Story
Taharqa appears as the Kushite king whose campaigns brought the kingdom of Napata into direct confrontation with Assyria. Kushite power had extended from the Upper Nile into Egypt, and Taharqa benefited from continuing support among parts of the Delta even after Assyrian forces first displaced him.
In 671 BC, Assyrian forces drove Taharqa from the Delta and compelled the submission of Egyptian nome-chiefs. Two years later, he was able to march north and occupy Lower Egypt, demonstrating that Kushite influence had not immediately disappeared. Assyria expelled him once more in 666 BC.
The conflicts involving Taharqa formed part of a wider struggle for control of Egypt between Kush and Assyria. The extract suggests that Assyria’s military superiority was probably related in part to iron weaponry, while Kush and Egypt continued to rely on bronze. Taharqa’s defeat marked the decline of Kushite control over Egypt.
Continue the journey
Other paths related to this story.