The exhibition and its accompanying catalogue explore the complex history and rich cultures of ancient Nubia, a civilization that flourished in present-day southern Egypt and northern Sudan. The catalogue, curated by Geoff Emberling, provides a comprehensive overview of Nubian power across approximately 2,500 years, detailing its rise, decline, and resurgence. It covers the period from the earliest Nubian kingdoms around 3000 BC up to the conquest of Egypt in 750 BC. The publication features a historical overview, archival photographs from significant excavations, an exhibition checklist, and a bibliography for further research.

The book serves as the catalogue for a New York University exhibition, indicating its scholarly and curatorial basis. The content focuses on historical overview, excavation records, and object lists, suggesting a resource for those interested in the academic study of ancient Nubia. Its presentation of "rich but little understood African kingdoms" points to a goal of illuminating a less commonly known area of ancient history. The inclusion of a bibliography further supports its role as an introductory and reference work for further scholarly engagement.