The emergence of the Funj Sultanate completely altered the existing power dynamics between the Ottoman Empire and Ethiopia in the 16th-18th centuries. The Funj established their capital city at Sinnar, a port along the banks of the Blue Nile in what is now northeastern Sudan, where they maintained tight control over a flourishing trade of gold and slaves. Under Funj's rule, Islam spread and it is still the dominant religion in modern-day Sudan. For nearly 300 years, the Funj presence in the region frustrated Ottoman attempts at southern expansion until they succumbed to an invasion led by Egypt’s viceroy, Muhammad Ali. Thank you to Andy Mendez for this article.