The economic center in this time was Meroë, the new capital. It was on the east bank which was good for trade and helped the economy grow. There was lots of gold, wood, and ebony. The most important part was the iron. The kushites developed Africa's first iron industry. it was easily available so it grew quickly. Soon, meroe became the first trade center. A trade network is a group of people who trade goods from different lands. The Kushites sent goods from the Nile to Egypt, Merchants sent goods from the red and mediterranean sea. Finally these routes reached india and maybe china. Kushites exports were gold, pottery, iron tools, slaves, ivory, leopard skins, elephants, and ostrich feathers. In return they recieved imports such as fine jewlery and other luxury items from Egypt, Asia, and other lands along the medditerranean sea, l