The history of the Sudan is a long and complex one, marked by the rise and fall of various kingdoms and empires. From the ancient Nubian kingdoms of Kush and Meroë to the Islamic sultanates of Sennar and Darfur, the Sudan has been a crossroads of cultures and a center of trade for centuries. The arrival of the Arabs in the 7th century CE brought Islam and the Arabic language, which profoundly shaped the region's identity. Later, the Ottoman Empire and then the British exerted their influence, leading to periods of both exploitation and modernization. The struggle for independence in the 20th century culminated in the formation of the modern Republic of Sudan.