AlodiaToday part ofSudanEritreaAlodia, also known as Alwa (Old Nubian: ⲁⲣⲟⲩⲁ, Aroua; Byzantine Greek:Ἀρούα, Arouá; Arabic: علوة, ʿAlwa), was a medieval kingdom in what is now central Sudan. Its capital was the city of Soba, located near modern-day Khartoum at the confluence of the Blue and White Nile rivers. Founded sometime after the ancient Kingdom of Kush fell, around 350 AD, Alodia is first mentioned in historical records in 569.
Funj peopleThe Funj are a group of tribes in present-day Sudan. They speak Berta languages. The historical Funj rose south of the Nile confluence (sources differ on their geographic origin) and had overthrown the remnants of the old Christian kingdom of Alodia. In 1504 a Funj leader named Amara Dungus, founded a sultanate at Sinnar (the capital) after defeating the northern Abdallab Sultanate.
MakuriaMedieval kingdom in Lower NubiaToday part ofSudanEgyptMakuria (Old Nubian: ⲇⲱⲧⲁⲩⲟ, Dotawo; Greek: Μακουρία, romanized: Makouria; Arabic: المقرة, romanized: al-Muqurra) was a medievalNubiankingdom in what is today northern Sudan and southern Egypt. Its capital was Dongola (Old Nubian: ⲧⲟⲩⲅⲅⲟⲩⲗ, Touggoul) in the fertile Dongola Reach, about halfway between the 3rd and 4th Nile cataract.
SudanSudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in Northeast Africa. It borders the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, Libya to the northwest, Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the east, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the southeast, and South Sudan to the south. Sudan has a population of 51.8 million people as of 2025 and occupies 1,886,068 square kilometres (728,215 square miles), making it Africa's third-largest country by area.
SennarSennar (Arabic: سنارSannār) is a city on the Blue Nile in Sudan and possibly the capital of the state of Sennar. For several centuries it was the capital of the FunjKingdom of Sennar and until at least 2011, Sennar was the capital of Sennar State. HistoryThe area was under Kushite & Meroitic rule from 750 BC to around 350 AD. The area came under Alwan rule, after which the Alwans were overthrown by the Funj who made Sennar their capital.
EritreaCountry in the Horn of AfricaEritrea, officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. Its capital and largest city is Asmara. The country is bordered by Ethiopia to the south, Sudan to the west, and Djibouti to the southeast. The northeastern and eastern parts of Eritrea have an extensive coastline along the Red Sea.
Amara DunqasAmara Dunqas was the first ruler of the Kingdom of Sennar, which he ruled from 1504 - 1533/4. "Dunqas" is an epithet meaning "bent down, with an inclined head", referring to the way of how he required his subjects to approach him. According to James Bruce, he founded the city of Sennar after the had been defeated by the Funj in a battle near Arbaji. Doing this he moved the seat of government of Wad ‘Ajib to Arbaji, that he might be more immediately under their own eye.
ArabizationArabization or Arabicization (Arabic: تعريب, romanized: taʻrīb) is a sociological process of cultural change in which a non-Arab society becomes Arab, meaning it either directly adopts, is forced to accept, or becomes strongly influenced by the Arabic language, culture, literature, art, music, and ethnic identity as well as other socio-cultural factors. It is a specific form of cultural assimilation that often includes a language shift or linguistic imperialism.
EthiopiaFlag EmblemAnthem:ወደፊት ገሥግሺ ፣ ውድ እናት ኢትዮጵያ(Amharic) ("March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia")Show globeShow map of AfricaCapitaland largest cityAddis Ababa9°1′N38°45′E / 9.017°N 38.750°E / 9.017; 38.750Official languagesAmharicOromoSomaliTigrinyaAfarRegional languagesSidamaGurageWelaytaHarariLanguages of EthiopiaEthnic groups (2007)34.5% Oromo26.9% Amhara6.2% Somali6.1% Tigrayan4.0% Sidama2.5% Gurage2.3% Welayta1.7% Hadiya1.7% Afar1.5% Gamo12.6% othersReligion (2016)67.3% Christianity43.8% Ethiopian Orthodoxy22.8% P'ent'ay0.7% other Christian31.3% Islam0.6% traditional faiths0.8% others/noneDemonymEthiopianGovernmentFederal parliamentary republic under an authoritarian government• PresidentTaye Atske Selassie• Prime MinisterAbiy Ahmed• Deputy Prime MinistersTemesgen TirunehAdem Farah• Chief Justice of the Federal Supreme CourtTewodros MihretLegislatureFederal Parliamentary Assembly• Upper houseHouse of Federation• Lower houseHouse of Peoples' RepresentativesFormation• Ethiopian Empire1270• Zemene Mesafint7 May 1769• Reunification11 February 1855• Centralisation1904• Occupied and annexed into Italian East Africa9 May 1936• Re-establishment of independence31 January 1942Area • Total1,104,300 km (426,400 sq mi) (26th)• Water (%)0.7Population• 2025 estimate 138,902,185 (10th)• 2007 census 73,750,932• Density92.7/km (240.1/sq mi) (123rd)GDP(PPP)2024 estimate• TotalUS$434.44 bn (55th)• Per capitaUS$4,050 (159th)GDP(nominal)2024 estimate• TotalUS$145.03 bn (59th)• Per capitaUS$1,350 (159th)Gini(2021) 31.1medium inequalityHDI(2022) 0.492low (176th)CurrencyBirr (ETB)Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)Date formatdd/mm/yyyyCalling code+251ISO 3166 codeETInternet TLD.etEthiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE), is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa.
NubiansNubians (Nobiin: Nⲟⲃⲓ̄,) are an ethnic group indigenous to the Nubia region, which stretches from southern Egypt to northern Sudan. They originate from the early inhabitants of the central Nile valley, believed to be one of the earliest cradles of civilization. In the southern valley of Egypt, Nubians differ culturally and ethnically from Egyptians.
Blue NileThe Blue Nile is a river originating at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. It travels for approximately 1,450 km (900 mi) through Ethiopia and Sudan. Along with the White Nile, it is one of the two major tributaries of the Nile and supplies about 85.6% of the water to the Nile during the rainy season. CourseThe distance of the river from its source to its confluence has been variously reported between 1,460 and 1,600 kilometres (910 and 990 mi).
IslamAbrahamic monotheistic religion*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.