The Ancient History of Egypt

Of course, these dates are all approximate, and echo certain political, economic, and social stigma that have been disc all overed and categorize in the modern-day period (El-Mahdy, introductory diachronic overview).

For the modern world, the organization and culture of the Old Kingdom predominate historical and anthropological thought. During this time, the government was founded on a policy of pacifist(prenominal) coexistence, somewhat unique in the ancient world. The current Pharaoh had no standing legions, nor was there anything that could be called a national militia or police draw off. Each particular locality had its cause organization to deal with crime, and if the need arose, the Pharaoh would call up the army to deal with the problem. Modern scholars have likened this period to the way umpteen of the current Egyptian peasants live. There is a policy to allow each person fend for themselves, and again, the image of the Nile river, and its restraint over agriculture, industry, and housing would be similar to life in past Egypt (Desroches-Noblecourt 26-30).

After centuries of peace, however, the Old Kingdom disintegrated into several warring principalities. The attached several hundred years were fraught with invasions from foreign powers, and a lack of political or economic cohesion domestically. By 1560

Despite the artistic and example reforms, this new religion did not have much galvanic pile appeal and was doomed to failure. In addition, the alienation of the priestly class caused furor, and the old ways were soon returned.

Hornung, Erik. Conceptions of God in quaint Egypt. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1982.

Egyptian ideas of the hereafter remained in full force until the later Middle Kingdom.

By this time, the cults of Re and Osiris had been merged into an honest framework, one in which justice and the desire for a copious afterlife were predominant. However, soon after this merging took place, Egyptian take religion began to decline. The reasons for such decline are not completely clears however, it appears that several irrational attitudes and myths developed as the pharaohs lost control to the priestly classes. These priests tended to prey upon the fears of the common people, and even sold herbal tea formulas which were supposed to ease the passage from this world to the next. A battle array of these formulas constituted what is referred to as the Egyptian Book of the Dead (El-Mahdy 21-43, 64-97).

Egypt is, and was, a land of mystery and ancient power. It has a long and bountiful tradition of artistic development, yet one must not confuse the monuments that have lasted several centuries with all that Egyptian art and religion had to offer. Just as the culture is rich and varied, so too was the artistic expression of religion (Aciman 43-52).

Hamilton-Paterson, James and sing Andrews. Mummies--Death and Life in Ancient Egypt. London: Collins, 1988.

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