Nubia, region, northeastern Africa, roughly occupying both sides of the Nile River valley between Aswān, Egypt, and Khartoum, Sudan. The area of the region in northeastern Sudan is called the Nubian Desert. In ancient times Nubia was called Kush and was ruled by Egypt for some 1800 years. In the 8th century bc the Nubians achieved independence and subjugated Egypt. After maintaining some degree of independence for more than 2000 years, Nubia was conquered by the Arabs in the 14th century and by Egypt in 1820. In the late 19th century the region was controlled by the Muslim revolutionary leader known as the Mahdi.