Early period
- Middle of the 6th cent. (official Christianisation) — 2nd half of the 7th cent.
The art of three independent kingdoms of Nubia. Visible differences between Egyptian influences in Nobadia, Byzantine aspirations in Makuria and strong indigenous tradition in Alwa (what can be only supposed based on the esthetics of the painted decoration of pottery)
- end of 7th — 9th cent.
The merger of Nobadia and Makuria. The definition of the unified style, most probably created in Dongola. The visible impact of the role of the Makurian capital also in Alwa (based on architecture, fragments of plaster and pottery).
Classic period
- 9th — end of 10th cent.
Nubian “Renaissance”. The re-appearance of Nubian indigenous tradition in many aspects of art, from iconography to style.
- 11th — 12th cent.
Style changes under the influences of oriental aesthetics, following general tendency in the eastern Mediterranean.
Late period
- end of 13th — 14th cent.
The slow decline, caused by limited financial possibilities (limited technologies and scale of investments), nevertheless still surprising by vivid creativity.
