Land of Punt

Land of Punt was a state in Horn of Africa (North and West Africa) that lasted from c. 2500 to 980 BCE, about 1,520 years. Its people spoke Unknown or undeciphered languages (Indus, Minoan, Moche, Nazca, Chavin, Jomon and other unattested languages).

Trading land on the southern Red Sea, probably in Eritrea, Sudan or Somalia, where Egyptian ships fetched incense, ebony and baboons. Queen Hatshepsut's expedition is carved at Deir el-Bahari.

See Land of Punt on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 2500 to 980 BCE
Duration: 1,520 years
Type: State
Region: Horn of Africa, North and West Africa
Language family: Unknown or undeciphered

Events in North and West Africa during its time

1470 BCE Hatshepsut's expedition to Punt
1346 BCE Akhenaten founds Amarna

Neighbours in North and West Africa

Old Kingdom of Egypt c. 2686 to 2181 BCE
New Kingdom of Egypt c. 1550 to 1069 BCE
Kingdom of Kerma c. 2500 to 1500 BCE
Middle Kingdom of Egypt c. 2055 to 1650 BCE
D'mt c. 980 to 400 BCE
Egyptian Nubia (Viceroyalty of Kush) c. 1500 to 1070 BCE
Third Intermediate Period c. 1069 to 664 BCE
El-Kurru chiefdom c. 1000 to 785 BCE
First Intermediate Period c. 2181 to 2055 BCE
Second Intermediate Period c. 1650 to 1550 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Minoan civilization c. 3100 to 1450 BCE, Europe
Shang dynasty c. 1600 to 1046 BCE, East Asia
Old Babylonian Empire 1894 to 1595 BCE, Middle East
Hittite Empire (New Kingdom) c. 1400 to 1180 BCE, Middle East
Akkadian Empire c. 2334 to 2154 BCE, Middle East

Questions

When did Land of Punt exist?

c. 2500 to 980 BCE, about 1,520 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was Land of Punt?

Horn of Africa, in North and West Africa.

What language did Land of Punt speak?

Unknown or undeciphered. This family includes Indus, Minoan, Moche, Nazca, Chavin, Jomon and other unattested languages.