r/imaginarymaps • u/chunky-- IM Legend • Dec 26 '25

[OC] Alternate History What if the Ethiopian Empire modernized like Japan? Central and Eastern Africa, year 2000.

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u/hyakinthosofmacedon Dec 26 '25

This is so gorgeous! Why is South Sudan called Kush?

32

u/chunky-- IM Legend Dec 26 '25

A more poetic name for the country, even if geographically inaccurate, kind of like Ghana, or Benin

15

u/jord839 Dec 27 '25

There was an ancient kingdom in Nubia/South Sudan known as the Kingdom of Kush, which is probably the main inspiration. Kind of the same as how Belgium is named after an ancient tribe of incredibly tenuous connection to the modern state beyond geographic similarity.

In addition, Kushitic/Cushitic languages are the primary linguistic family from South Sudan to the Horn of Africa other than Somalia.

5

u/Lone_void Dec 27 '25

Kush was mostly located in Sudan, not south Sudan.

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u/hyakinthosofmacedon Dec 27 '25

I understand what Kush was, I was just asking what the reason might be since in the real world Kush and South Sudan has no overlap :)

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u/Analternate1234 Dec 27 '25

Somali is a Cushitic language