DONGOLA

Baqt Treaty

BAQT TREATY The Baqt was a negotiated agreement between ‘Abdallah ibn Sa’id ibn Abi Sarh, the Umayyad governor of Egypt, and the Nubian king of MAKOURIA. It was concluded at DONGOLA in A.D. 632 following an unsuccessful Muslim attempt to subjugate the Nubian kingdom. The name Baqt is presumed to be derivative from Greek pakton …

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Basilica

Heritage / By Arsanious Adel

BASILICA A building type of classical and medieval architecture. The Non-Christian Basilica In ancient Rome the basilica was a covered, mostly rectangular, public building with entrances usually on the long sides (one of the few exceptions is the famous basilica at Pompei). Frequently, and especially in the older buildings, the outer walls are even opened …

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Nubian Christian Architecture

Heritage / By Armia FAYEZ

NUBIAN CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE According to the testimony of JOHN OF EPHESUS (507-586), Nubia was evangelized in the second quarter of the sixth century by Julian and Theodorus, bishop of Philae. Christianization quickly made great progress. From the end of the sixth century, the country may accordingly be considered as essentially Christian. A monumental Christian architecture …

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Medieval Nubian Archaeology

Heritage, History / By Armia FAYEZ

MEDIEVAL NUBIAN ARCHAEOLOGY Although Nubia was a part of the world of Coptic Christendom throughout the Middle Ages, the region was very rarely visited, and still less often described, by Egyptians. Almost the only firsthand accounts of medieval NUBIA that survive are those of IBN HAWQAL and IBN SALIM AL-ASWANI, and both are preserved only …

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Nubian Church Organization

System / By Armia FAYEZ

NUBIAN CHURCH ORGANIZATION The three Nubian kingdoms of NOBATIA, MAKOURIA, and ‘ALWA were converted to Christianity at various times in the sixth century. There seems to have been rival missionary activity of Monophysites and Melchites in all three kingdoms, with differing results. Nobatia and ‘Alwa were both converted by the Monophysites from the beginning, while …

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Nubia, Islamization Of

History / By Armia FAYEZ

ISLAMIZATION OF NUBIA Throughout the Middle Ages, the peoples of Nubia adhered almost exclusively to the Coptic Christian faith. They had successfully resisted two Arab invasions, in 642 and 652, and subsequently concluded the BAQT TREATY, which ensured them against further Islamic incursions for several centuries. Muslim merchants from Egypt were allowed to travel and …

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Places / By Youssef Matta

DONGOLA Often referred to as “Dongola al-‘Ajuz,” the capital city of the medieval Nubian kingdom of MAKOURIA. It was situated on the east bank of the Nile about halfway between the Third and Fourth Cataracts. The name is said to be derived from a Nubian word for a hill or high place, perhaps reflecting the …

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