The History of Egypt - Case Study Example

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN HISTORY The Egyptian civilization is one of the ancient-most civilizations of the world at large along with Chinese, Babylonian, Iranian and Indian cultures and civilizations. Egypt is considered as the first country of the globe that witnessed unification of the existing Upper and Lower entities of the state under the dynamic administration of the First Dynasty of ancient times. It is therefore, the history of Egypt is counted from the beginning of the First Dynasty over three thousand B.C. E. “Egypt got its first king”, Brier views, “which established national military and developed priesthood. Over the centuries these powers bases grew strong and rich; they became so essential to Egyptian society that to change anyone of them could bring disaster.” (2005, p 13) Though very little is known in authenticity about the First Dynasty of Egypt in details, and archaeological records and excavations are the main sources to indicate the socio-political and religious developments and norms of the era, yet due to lack of sufficient literature and material as well, details of the era have lost to a great extent. Shaw had compiled a magnificent composition under the title “Oxford History of Ancient Egypt” that throws light on the culture, norms, mores, politics and society of pre-historic Egypt. Shaw seeks support from the archaeological sources in order to discover the ancient history and refers to the knowledge of the prehistoric language carved on the ancient Egyptian stela, as the method to peep into the history, culture and traditions of the First Dynasty to great extent. Defining Egyptian stela, he opines it as a Palermo Stone slab, on which important notes, history and reminders had been carved out for perhaps the maintenance of the royal records as well as historic monuments and the prevailing religious symbols and beliefs. Since the language of that time does not exist anymore in contemporary times, the experts of reading the primordial languages detected the material with the help of similarity between the most ancient documents and carvings of the later times. The excavations suggest the number of the kings of the First Dynasty as sixteen in all, and Shaw views Narmer as the founder of the First Dynasty whose period started soon after the pre-dynasty Menes. “The Narmer Palette”, Brier states, “one of the most significant objects in all the priceless collection of Cairo’s Egyptian Museum, depicts Narmer’s conquest that resulted in the unification of Egypt and celebrates the importance of this achievement.” (2005: p 17) Narmer, Aha, Djer, Djet, Den, Anedjib, Semerkhet and Qaa were the prominent kings of the First Dynasty. Hence, Shaw sought help from the tombs, mummies and burnt imprints carved on the epitaphs of the tombs attributed to the kings of this dynasty. “Narmer’s name”, Dr. Shaw writes, has been carved on trivial objects of ancient Egypt including pots, jars and others.” The excavations also reveal the very fact that the pharaoh Narmer was also a warrior, who knew how to defend his country and possessions. In other words, he did not invade other countries, but gave tough time to the rulers who were interested in the subjugation and disintegration of the ancient Egypt. Dr. Shaw (2000: p 89) declares the reign of First Dynasty, on the basis of his thorough research and in-depth analysis of the excavations, as the age of marvellous socio-cultural and political change, which determined the direction of future progress and development of the country. Though the pre-dynastic ancient Egyptian was also very fertile and it produced crops of various kinds, yet utility of the crops and its export to Palestine, Syria, Nubia, Iran and Anatolia started in an organised way during the period of First Dynasty. All these countries described above witnessed one single crop throughout the year and envied the fertility of the Nile Valley and its inhabitants that produced multiple crops a year. The researches reveal that the Egypt, under the First Dynasty, looked for minerals, especially gold, copper, silver and others, in exchange of its abundant crops; it is therefore the First Dynasty has entered into friendly relations with the neighbouring countries, cities and states. In the same way, wood and oils were imported from Byblos to Egypt during the era. The Egyptians, under the Menes administration, started trade through different channels and the King Narmer regime expanded the same. The excavations containing paintings, sculptors and carvings show the trade adventures through animal trains as well as by sea in small boats. The Egyptian culture was the amalgamation of mythology, mystery, cult and creativity. Before the beginning of the First Dynasty, the country was divided into many parts, autonomously administered and run on the basis of clan and tribe system. Naqada, Badarian, Gerzean and Maadian were the principal cultural groups, out of which Naqada dominated the others at the eve of the unification of the country. All the ethnic and cultural groups and communities inhabited in the valleys of the gigantic River Nile. Though the communities had mercantile relationships within the Niles valleys, yet their trade excursions were not limited to the Nile Delta only. Rather, people traveled to remote areas for trade activities, sold their local products and bought the articles of daily usage from those areas. The trade activities were usually made with the merchants of Libya, Sinai, Palestine and Nubia, as these regions were not far away from Egypt. The excavations revealed the very fact that the Egyptians had invented swift, speedy and comfortable horse-carts and donkey-carts for travelling and involving into trade containing land, mountainous and desert areas. The trade supported the country in discovering new lands on the one hand and inventing new methods of travelling on the other. It paved the way towards strong foreign policy on equal foundations. The archaeological excavations indicate towards the strong political position of the Egyptian dynasty because of intelligent rulers and wealthy merchandise. The Egyptian kingdom was economically steady and affluent, and the volume of its trade and commerce with neighbouring countries was tremendous indeed. The economic prosperity and hub of knowledge supported the monarchy establishing an independent political system almost on the same patterns as the sovereign states of contemporary world maintain. The political set up of the country was one of the finest arrangements all over the ancient world. “It has become truism”, Shaw submits, “that the ancient Egypt was a gift of Nile because the river’s flooding brought new life into the valley in the late summer.” (2000: p 16). There were three seasons in the ancient Egyptian calendar, which determined the culture, activities, professional engagements and revenue of the country. “The Egyptians counted”, Brier states, “only three seasons in their 365-days calendar (solar) year that includes i) Inundation, when the Nile overflowed and flooded the land; ii) Emergence, when the waters receded; and iii) Summer, the dry season.” (2005: p 15) Thus, the Egyptians specifically divided the year into four equal months containing thirty days, and included five days at the end of the year. There was no specific law to rule over others before the advent of the First Dynasty and the principle of might is right prevailed in different regions and areas of ancient Egypt. The chieftains of the clans had no intimate relations with the neighbour cities and situation and battles, conflicts and rivalries were common in many regions of the country. Somehow, trade was brisk and people did not feel difficulties in entering into business relationship with the inhabitants of other parts and regions. Barter system was the most popular as there was no concept of coins or currency that time. The excavations reveal the very fact that ancient Egypt developed briskly commercial contacts with the Southern Palestine during the First Dynasty. Evidence for this contact comes from: ‘Colonisation’ – Toby Wilkinson suggest that a unified Egypt ‘colonises’ Southern Palestine This is also known as Egyptianisation Egyptian art and culture was also at its climax under the First Dynasty and one of the main sources of the royal income depended on foreign trade. The paintings of artists and the works of poets and writers observed popularity and fame, which won applause with religious enthusiasm. Large scale collection was first developed in the Egyptian cities, because they had been the first to profit from the expansion of commerce after the wars and battles between the countries. Though the Egyptians were not confrontational people, yet the country had established a trained military force to combat with any war mania within as well as outside the country. Artists and sculptors were encouraged and patronised in the country and a significant number of population was acquainted with drawing and carving. Furthermore, the artisans from all corners of the world reached Egypt in order to build palaces, sculptors, mummification and carving for the rich and wealthy Egyptian families and for religious performances in drawing and paintings. The Egyptians were religious minded by nature and maintained strong belief in their gods and goddesses. The sculptors of these gods and goddesses, Shaw views, were kept in every house as a sign of blessings, divine favours as well as to protect themselves from evil forces. Moreover, they placed the sculptors of kings as well as their ancestors as they thought the members of royal family as divine and appointed by their gods. Their festivals and burial rituals reflected their spiritual beliefs, which had been shown in their sculptors. “Ancient Egyptians”, Brier observes, “revered their pharaoh, not simply as a leader, but as the embodiment of the country itself.” (2005: p 17) Mummification was also the product of the First Dynasty, and had been stated as the method of preserving the bodies of the pharaohs. Every institution under the Egyptian worked excellently and had been the best possible example of a successful management system. It is therefore, the country was far more advance in comparison with Palestine, Iran, India and other ancient monarchies. Wherever Egyptian merchants took their wares, their financial practices went with them. The trade was at its boom and was mostly done via sea. The brave Egyptian merchants displayed their valour during their voyages for trade. The world-famous Normen Palettes describing the First Dynasty of Ancient Egypt The pottery and copper vessels, discovered from the excavations reveal the nature of mercantile contacts between Egypt and Palestine. Hence, during the First Dynasty Egyptian economy observed an imperative growth on the one hand, and cultural transactions on the basis of economic and political links outside the Nile Valley on the other. REFERENCES Brier, Bob. (2005) The Murder of Tutankhamen Berkley Books, New York pp 13-26 Shaw, Ian. (2000) Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press; ISBN 0-19-815034-2 pp 16-110 Read More