the ancient egyptian civilization

7/30/2019 The Ancient Egyptian Civilization

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AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION

CIVILIZATION 102

OCTOBER 12, 2012

BY

ALIYU SAID AHMED

A00014693


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The Ancient Egyptian Civilization

Civilization comes from the Latin word civis meaning a citizen. A civilization must

comprise of a form of government, art and technology and the ancient Egyptians had the

earliest forms of such. The ancient Egyptians where an extraordinary set of people mostly

because of their renowned civilization. They incorporated the earliest and one of the most

successful forms of civilizations the world has yet seen. The ancient Egyptian civilization matters

to all of us today because they were the first set of people to establish a very successful and

long lasting civilization more than three thousand years ago. In this essay I will focus on the

chain of events that occurred in three major periods in ancient Egypt namely; The Old Kingdom,

the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom under the various dynasties in detail. These phases

are important because they encompass the majority of important events in the ancient

Egyptian history such as the reign of the Pharaohs, theocratic system of governance, their

triumphs and turmoil. In the second phase of this essay, I will focus more on the culture of the

ancient Egyptians which emphasizes mostly on their religion, architecture, arts and writing. I

found it a priority to put in this essay because their culture was the most complex of all cultures

at the time and it is still resonating in societies today, particularly its monumental forms such as

the Louvre Pyramid in Paris which was influenced by the ancient Egyptian Pyramids.


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Egypt is located in the north eastern corner of Africa with the coordinates 28.8013 N,

31.1711 E. It borders Libya to the west, Sudan to the south, the Mediterranean Sea to the

north and Israel to the east. Egypt has about 1,001,450 Sq.km of land area. Ancient Egypt

transformed to an arid land which was formerly a green vegetated land after 500BC. The Nile

River is the longest river in Africa; it is the lifeline of the Egyptian civilization. It made the very

existence of the civilization possible by influencing the livelihoods of the Egyptians during the

three major periods and beyond. The Nile Valley and Delta is the most densely populated as

compared to the rest of Egypt.1

A map of Egypt

1The Location ofEgypt, Egypt Travel Hub. Accessed October 20, 20

.http://www.Egypttravelhub.com/location-of-Egypt.html.
http://www.egypttravelhub.com/location-of-egypt.htmlhttp://www.egypttravelhub.com/location-of-egypt.html


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The Old Kingdom (2575 2150)

Ancient Egypt was divided into three major periods that harbored major events in its

history, those were; the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom. Ancient

Egypt hadnt always been unified; initially it was not a single entity or Kingdom. It consisted of

many settlements and the population was scattered all across Egypt ruled by chieftains. King

Menes in the 1st

dynasty united all of Egypt to form a single Kingdom in 3100BC. The Upper

Egypt to the north was united with the Lower Egypt to the south to form a single Kingdom ruled

by King Menes thus becoming the supreme ruler of the entire region. This advent by King

Menes marked the beginning of the Old Kingdom. The Old Kingdom spanned from 2686 to

2181BCE and covered the third to the sixth dynasty in Egypt.2

Its Capital was the ancient city of

Memphis (Check location in the map above). Memphis was located between the border of the

upper and lower Nile region. It also housed the great Pyramids and great Pharaohs like

Thutmosis III and Amenhotep II. The city was founded by King Menes when Egypt was united

according to Menatho the great Egyptian historian.3

The Old Kingdom was governed with a theocratic form of government which is a form

of government that is believed by its followers to be divinely guided. The kings were perceived

to be gods and not to be compared with any other soul. The Egyptian kings were called

Pharaohs. The Pharaohs had supreme power but despite it all they had to follow a set of codes

in directing their rule; those codes were called the Maat. The Maat emphasized the ideals of

2Speilvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization. United Kingdom: Cengage learning, 2011. 17-

18.3Old Kingdom, The Ancient Egypt Site. Accessed October 21, 2012.http://www.Ancient-

Egypt.org/index.html
http://www.ancient-egypt.org/index.htmlhttp://www.ancient-egypt.org/index.htmlhttp://www.ancient-egypt.org/index.htmlhttp://www.ancient-egypt.org/index.htmlhttp://www.ancient-egypt.org/index.html


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truthfulness, equality and righteousness in the rule that existed in the universe. Egypt was split

into regions called Nomes and each nomarchy were governed by a nomarch. Later on the

nomes became more powerful and engaged in rivalry with the supreme Pharaohs.4

The Old Kingdom came to a chaotic end due to bad governance. The 5th

dynasty saw the

end of the Old Kingdom and the last king was King Unas (2381 2345). A drastic climatic change

further catalyzed the downfall of the Old Kingdom characterized by drying out of lakes, low

river levels and insufficient harvest. There were also political clashes and disputes with the

various rising nomes which ravaged starvation and plagues among the Egyptian people

resulting in the ultimate collapse of the Old Kingdom.5

The Middle Kingdom

The Middle Kingdom was a golden age for the ancient Egyptian civilization. It spanned for

four hundred years with relative peace, prosperity and tranquility. It saw the advent of a more

refined literature, arts and advanced technological achievements.6

The Middle Kingdom occurred in the endings of the 11th

dynasty and full length of the 12th

and 13th

dynasty. It is significant because it marked the reunification of Egypt and centralization

4Speilvogel. 19

5Stanly, Daniel-Jean. The End of the Old Kingdom. Last modified 18, 2012.

http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/Egypt/the_end_of_the_Old_Kingdom.htm

6Morkot, Robert. The Egyptians: An Introduction. London: Routledge, 2005. 107
http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/the_end_of_the_old_kingdom.htmhttp://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/the_end_of_the_old_kingdom.htmhttp://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/the_end_of_the_old_kingdom.htm


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of power by Menjuhotep II. This occurred after the Theban kings victory against the kings of

Nen-nesut at Heracleopolis with their counterpart normarchs.7

He expanded his territory to Nubia and he built luxury fortresses in Nubia which were

later converted to military posts. He also formed an alliance with the Medja people of the

eastern desert that he used as reinforcements to his army. Egypt established a very strong

economic bond with Nubia through trading to the south into Nubia. A Nubian Kingdom

emerged in lower Nubia led by a ruler who thoroughly opposed the Egyptian rule. This advent

triggered a steadfast and aggressive new foreign policy for Egypt.8

Menjuhotep II was succeeded by Menjuhotep III and IV whose reign did not last very

long. Menjuhotep III was significant for his buildings with high architectural detail in Punt.

Menjuhotep IV marked the end of the dynasty. He was finally overthrown by Amenemhat.9

The 12th

dynasty (1985 1773 BC) was relatively stable due to the centralization of

power. For the most part the various normarch powers were completely dissolved by Senusret

III and replaced by his personally appointed personnel. Senusret succeeded Amenemhat I. After

his assassination Senusret II established the north and south of Egypt as two administrative

territories.10

7Ibid.

8Ibid., 108.

9Ibid., 109.

10Ibid., 115.


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The Second Intermediate Period

The gradual transition to the New Kingdom saw the second intermediate period. This was

a chaotic period fueled by political turmoil, decentralization of power between the end of the

12th

dynasty and the beginning of the 18th

dynasty. Egypt fell under foreign rule of a people of

western Asiatic origin known as the Hyksos who came with chariots, horses and bronze

weapons that were superior to the Egyptians.11

The Hyksos control was concentrated in the northern part of Egypt. They established

trade with Nubia and the Aegan. The rulers of the ending of the 17th dynasty boycotted the

Hyksos rule. Among them were king Seqenenre Taa who was killed in the process but his

successors Khamose and Amose succeeded in expelling the Hyksos from Egypt. This period saw

the innovation of the rishi a coffin shaped like a man with protective vulture wing illustrations

and the advent of a funerary text called the Book of the Dead.12

The New Kingdom (1540 1070)

The 17th

dynasty came along with the extraction of the Hyksos by Kamose. Their

complete extraction was concluded by king Ahmose of the 18th

dynasty (1540-1307BC) in 1522.

That event initiated the age of empire or imperialism in Egypt. Egypt conquered parts of Syria,

Palestine and Nubia thus becoming the most powerful in the near east. Thutmosis I and III

inherited Ahmoses vigorous foreign policies to add more territories to their empire with the

11Ancient Egypt: 2

ndIntermediate Period, British Museums. Accessed October 24,2012.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/a/Ancient_Egypt_2nd_

intermediat.aspx

12Ibid.,
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/a/ancient_egypt_2nd_intermediat.aspxhttp://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/a/ancient_egypt_2nd_intermediat.aspxhttp://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/a/ancient_egypt_2nd_intermediat.aspxhttp://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/a/ancient_egypt_2nd_intermediat.aspxhttp://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/a/ancient_egypt_2nd_intermediat.aspx


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Euphrates river region around modern day turkey. Egypts conquest of these regions increased

their wealth and power drastically in which they destroyed many temples only to construct new

ones and refurbish old ones, for example the Theban temple of Karnak dedicated to Amun.13

The ending of the 18th

dynasty brought radical changes, instability and loss of territory in

the near east and Nubia due to the Amarna revolution. King Amenhotep IV reformed the

Egyptian religion system and pledged his allegiance to Aton the sun god.14

Egypts lost territories and power was sought to be recovered by the kings of the 19th

Dynasty (1307 - 1196 BC) such as Ramesses II. In the process of their recuperation; the Hittites

proved to be a very formidable enemy to Egypt but King Rameses II negotiated a peace treaty

to end their fatal encounters which resulted in stability and peace.15

Soon after in the 20th

dynasty (1196-1070BC), Rameses III managed to recover lost territory in the near east but his

era was corrupt and stirred up internal strife within Egypt.11

His last years witnessed instability

and the division of Egypt. The Pharaohs lost their influence in the Upper Egypt to the Theban

priests and were left with Lower Egypt to rule. These chains of events marked the end of the

New Kingdom.

13Egypts Golden Empire, Religion, Accessed November 1, 2012.

http://www.pbs.org/empires/Egypt/NewKingdom/religion.html

14Ibid.

15Ibid.


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Ahmose and Thutmoses II credited the king of the Gods Amen-re for their military

victory throughout the region. Amen-re became very prominent religiously in Thebes during the

New Kingdom.16

Religion and Afterlife

For all of the past eras religion had been very important in the lives of the ancient

Egyptians. Almost anything they engaged in had had something to do with religion. They were

polytheist; the most important deities among the hundreds of others were Amun the sun god,

Horus the sky god and Osiris the god of the afterlife. Their gods were mostly depicted as half

man half animal, for example Horus represented with a human body and the head of a hawk.17

The Egyptians accumulated wealth just for survival in the afterlife as they were buried

with their wealth. Many Egyptians worshipped the god of their choice or the god that suites

their lives better, temples were built in every city to establish relations with the gods through

priest thus making them very powerful people. However Amun was very important and was

worshiped by everyone, he was regarded to be the king of the gods. They also believed in

reincarnation and the three categories of soul; the ka , ba , akh. If properly conducted by the

priest ensured the complete resurrection ofones body in next world. During the funeral,

prayers are invoked by priest to try to bring back the body. The organs are removed and

replaced with embalming fluids then the body is mummified and placed in a tomb surrounded

16EgyptsGolden Empire, Religion, Accessed November 1, 2012.


17Ancient Egyptian Religion, Sptimes, Accessed October 26, 2012.

http://www2.sptimes.com/Egypt/EgyptCredit.4.3.html


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by furniture and valuables. The opening of the mouth ceremony is done to restore the

deceased eating and speech abilities in the afterlife. Finally, the mummified body is enclosed in

a sarcophagus.18

The mighty Pharaohs undergo a similar process, the difference being that they

are buried in mighty Pyramids.

From L-R: an Egyptian mummy and Osiris the god of the afterlife.

The Pyramids are ancient pyramid shaped structures used for keeping tombs (Mastaba)

of mummified Pharaohs. They are located in Cairo on the Giza plateau by the west bank of the

Nile. They are famed to being among the seven wonders of the ancient world. The first was the

step Pyramid of King Djoser (3rd

dynasty). The Pyramids took the lime light with the

construction of the great Pyramids of Giza built by King Khufu in the Old Kingdom. The

18Ancient Egyptian Religion, Sptimes, Accessed October 26, 2012.

http://www2.sptimes.com/Egypt/EgyptCredit.4.3.html


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construction of Pyramids came to a halt in the New Kingdom. The great Pyramids were built for

religious purposes in accordance with the sun god Ra (Atun) and to aid the dead Pharaohs in

their ascent to heaven. Inside the Pyramids were centrally tomb chambers and a complex

network of shafts. Another famed ancient Egyptian building is the Sphinx; it consists of a human

head, a body of a lion and it was worshipped. The Pyramids are a major tourist attraction in the

world today. The Pharaohs where buried not just with their wealth in the Pyramids but they

were also buried with art works such as pottery ornament with hieroglyphic texts and other

paintings.19

The Egyptian marvels especially the Pyramids were built by Egyptian slaves. Many

movies, books and critics depict horrible scenes with whips lashed at the slaves during the

construction of the Pyramids by guards. In contradiction, I personally believe that the Egyptians

built the Pyramids with divine commitment because it was their top priority to ensure a sound

passing of their god king to the afterlife. Slaves under oppressive labor cannot build a quality

19Egyptian Pyramids, King Tut. Accessed October 26, 2012.http://www.king-

tut.org.uk/Ancient-Egypt/Egyptian-Pyramids.htm
http://www.king-tut.org.uk/ancient-egypt/egyptian-pyramids.htmhttp://www.king-tut.org.uk/ancient-egypt/egyptian-pyramids.htmhttp://www.king-tut.org.uk/ancient-egypt/egyptian-pyramids.htmhttp://www.king-tut.org.uk/ancient-egypt/egyptian-pyramids.htmhttp://www.king-tut.org.uk/ancient-egypt/egyptian-pyramids.htmhttp://www.king-tut.org.uk/ancient-egypt/egyptian-pyramids.htm


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building that can last for over 3000 years like the Pyramids.

Behind is a Pyramid and in front is a Sphinx.

Writing and Arts

The ancient Egyptian text was called hieroglyphics. Its mainly illustrations of symbols

and pictures that convey meaning. For example, a leg simply referred to movement. The text

was written in all manners from bottom to top, left side to the right side and vice versa.

Hieroglyphics were written on tombs, walls, art works and papyrus (paper). The texts were

decoded by the French Champollion who studied them on the Rosetta stone for more than a

decade and thus deciphered them. It was used by the Egyptians for more than 3000 years. They

also made pottery, textiles, paintings and sculptures. Their pottery was made as small vases

covered with enamel with illustrations on the sides and were deposited in burial chambers. The

paintings illustrated mainly the abode of the Pharaohs in the afterlife. Some include paintings of

Osiris and warriors. The paintings owe their preservation to the dry climate of Egypt. Their


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sculptures are also figure of Gods and Pharaohs sometimes in a seated position with their

hands on their laps.20

From L-R: The Rosetta stone and Hieroglyphic Text.

Conclusion

Finally, the ancient Egyptian civilization is very important and is not to be ignored for

any reason because it is reputed to being one of the longest living civilizations of all time owing

its success mostly to the Nile River. It was also one of the most powerful of all nations in the

ancient world, with its absolute control of eastern Asia and further south and west in Africa.

Their theocratic form of government with patterns of bureaucracy was very elaborate. Most

importantly the Egyptian Pyramids are the last standing ancient wonders of the world

20Ancient Egyptian art, Writing and Sculpture, Accessed October 26

,2012.

http://www.crystalinks.com/Egyptart.html


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displaying the architectural prowess of the ancient Egyptians. Their architectural feet is still

found astonishing today and is a major tourist destination.

I also commend the Egyptians on how they managed to sustain such a complex

civilization for a very long period of time and their forceful regain of sovereignty from the

mighty Hyksos. It is also amazing how they mysteriously understood the cosmic order of the

world, how they built their Pyramids with precise alignment to the cosmic bodies without

modern instruments and so much more.


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Bibliography

Alexander Stille, Perils of the Sphinx,A Reporter at Large, December1996, 1.

Ancient Egyptian art, Writing and Sculpture, Accessed October 26

,2012.

http://www.crystalinks.com/Egyptart.html

Ancient Egypt: 2

ndIntermediate Period, British Museums. Accessed October 24,2012.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/a/Ancient_Egypt_2nd_

intermediat.aspx

AncientEgyptian Religion, Sptimes, Accessed October 26, 2012.http://www2.sptimes.com/Egypt/EgyptCredit.4.3.html

Egypts Golden Empire, Religion, Accessed November 1, 2012.


Egyptian Pyramids, King Tut. Accessed October 26, 2012.http://www.king-tut.org.uk/Ancient-

Egypt/Egyptian-Pyramids.htm

Morkot, Robert.The Egyptians: An Introduction. London: Routledge, 2005.

OldKingdom, The Ancient Egypt Site.Accessed October 21, 2012.http://www.Ancient-

Egypt.org/index.html

Stanly, Daniel-Jean. The End of the OldKingdom.Last modified 18, 2012.

http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/Egypt/the_end_of_the_Old_Kingdom.htm

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The Location of Egypt, Egypt Travel Hub.Accessed October 20, 2012

.http://www.Egypttravelhub.com/location-of-Egypt.html.
http://www.egypttravelhub.com/location-of-egypt.htmlhttp://www.egypttravelhub.com/location-of-egypt.html

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