Noba and the Ballana culture

Noba and the Ballana culture appears on the timeline as a people or culture of Nubia and Sudan (North and West Africa) from c. 350 to 550 CE, a span of 200 years. Its people spoke Nilo-Saharan languages (Kanuri, Songhai, Nubian, Luo, Maasai).

Nubian-speaking Noba who settled the Nile valley as Meroe declined. Their kings were buried in great mounds at Ballana and Qustul with horses and silver crowns.

See Noba and the Ballana culture on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 350 to 550 CE

Duration

200 years

Type

People or culture

Region

Nubia and Sudan, North and West Africa

Language family

Nilo-Saharan

Came from

• Kingdom of Kush (Meroitic period) c. 300 BCE to 350 CE

Became

• Nobatia c. 400 to 700 CE
• Makuria c. 450 to 1312 CE
• Alodia c. 500 to 1504 CE

Neighbours in North and West Africa

• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE
• Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE
• Makuria c. 450 to 1312 CE
• Kingdom of Kush (Meroitic period) c. 300 BCE to 350 CE
• Roman Africa 146 BCE to 439 CE
• Roman Egypt 30 BCE to 395 CE
• Vandal Kingdom 435 to 534 CE
• Garamantes c. 500 BCE to 700 CE
• Alodia c. 500 to 1504 CE
• Nobatia c. 400 to 700 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
• Teotihuacan c. 100 BCE to 550 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Tiwanaku c. 400 to 1000 CE, South America
• Sasanian Empire 224 to 651 CE, Middle East
• Roman Empire 27 BCE to 395 CE, Europe
• Kushan Empire c. 30 to 375 CE, South Asia
• Gupta Empire c. 320 to 550 CE, South Asia
• Hunnic Empire c. 370 to 469 CE, Europe

Questions