Final answer:
Kerma is associated with burial mounds, Napata served as a religious center, and Meroë was both the farthest from Egypt and known for mining iron ore.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ancient cities of Kerma, Napata, and Meroë each had distinct characteristics that can be placed correctly into different categories:
- Kerma: Had burial mounds - As the earliest Nubian state, Kerma was known for its funerary complex, which included a temple, chapel, and burial mounds surrounded by great walls.
- Napata: Religious center - Although not explicitly mentioned, Napata acted as the initial religious and cultural center of Kush before Meroë became prominent.
- Meroë: Farthest from Egypt - Meroë was located farther south from Egypt, which gave it a strategic advantage against invasions from the north. It was also known for training its iron workers and producing high-quality tools, indicating that Meroë mined iron ore.