tour 1 of 14
Sudan Past and Present: Early cultures to the Arrival of Christianity
Sudan Past and Present: Early cultures to the Arrival of Christianity
Sudan is the largest country in Africa, straddling the Nile
between the desert of Egypt and the forests of Uganda. The
population is Muslim and Christian, and contains no less than 56
ethnic groups and 570 tribal groups. In recent years, the eyes of
the world have been on Sudan and it has never been more important
to understand its complex past.
Sudan has been inhabited for at least 300,000 years. During its
long history it has been under Egyptian rule - and has also ruled
Egypt. It converted to Christianity in the sixth century AD before
Islam became the main state religion in the sixteenth century AD.
The Turco-Egyptians took over in 1821 before being ousted by the
Mahdists in 1885. During the first half of the twentieth century
Sudan was governed by the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium, but gained
independence in 1956. Recent Sudanese history has been
characterized by upheaval and conflict although the country's
material culture remains rich and diverse.
Sudan past and present was the theme of a
programme that started at the British Museum in September 2004. It
encompassed the archaeological exhibition Sudan: ancient
treasures as well as contemporary displays located around the
museum. The Sudanese collection in the British Museum is one of the
most important and comprehensive outside Sudan.