After its establishment in around 400, Nobadia gradually expanded by defeating the Blemmyes in the north and incorporating the territory between the second and third Nile cataract in the south.

Around this time the Nobatian capital was established at Pakhoras (modern Faras); soon after, Nobatia converted to non-Chalcedonian Christianity.

[4] The merger most likely occurred before the Muslim conquest in 652, since the Arab histories speak of only one Christian state in Nubia and reached at least as far as Old Dongola.

[5][6] Since Ptolemaic times, the "state religion" of Lower Nubia had been the Isis cult of Philae.

Its importance outlived the Ptolemaic and Meroitic period and Nubian pilgrims continued to travel to Philae.

[9] As confirmed by epigraphical and archaeological evidence, Christianity was already present among parts of the Nobadian society even before the official conversion of 543.

[12] South of the second cataract, Christianity seems to have begun spreading later than in the north, possibly since the late 6th or early 7th century.

[19] To store the arrows, they used quivers made of tanned leather from long-necked animals such as goats or gazelles.

[23] Thus, Nubian archers would have employed a drawing technique very similar to the Persian and Chinese ones, both of which also reliant on thumb rings.

[28] Nobadian warriors and their leadership made use of shields and body armour, most of it manufactured from leather.

[26][27] Fragments of thick hide have been found in the royal tombs of Qustul, suggesting that the principal interment was usually buried while wearing armour.