Alodia (Ah-LO-di-a)

Alodia is a major Nubian Kingdom in the upper Nile Valley (modern Sudan). It was founded sometime after the fall of the Kingdom of Kush (c 350 A.D.) and first appears in written histories in the 6th century A.D. (c 569 A.D.) and converted to Christianity around 580 A.D. It reached its peak in size, power, and prosperity between the 9th and 12th centuries. It began declining in the 13th century due to repeated invasions of its southern borders. It may have been ravaged by the plague in the 14th century as Arab tribes began to move in from the north. It was finally destroyed in the 15th century by either the Arabs or the Funj.
The capital of Soba was a major trading hub during the kingdom's peak bringing great wealth into the country. Alodia enjoyed a high degree of literacy in both Nubian and Greek (the primary language of the church and of trade).

Religion

The primary religion was Christianity. It was aligned with the Eastern Orthodox traditions and Greek was the language of the church.

Agriculture & Industry

Merchants and trade drove the economy. The primary food crop was sorghum and there were numerous orchards around the city.

Trade & Transport

Soba was an important trade center as caravans came through it headed in all different directions. Trade routes ran from south and west Africa to Constantinople, India, and China.

Education

Very high literacy rates in Nubian and Greek.

Infrastructure

It was a large and wealthy city by the standards of east Africa. Compared to other cities in Europe or Asia it would be described as moderately wealthy and only a large town or small city.

By LeGabrie - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39968266

569 A.D. - c 1500 A.D.

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Alternative Names

Alwa (Arabic), Aroua (Greek)

Demonym

Nubian, Alodian, Soban

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Economic System

Market economy