The Culture of Ancient Egypt

The story of Egypt is the story of history itself—the endless rise and fall, the life and death and life again of the eternal human effort to endure, enjoy, and understand the mystery of our universe. Emerging from the ancient mists of time, Egypt met the challenge of the mystery in a glorious evolution of religious, intellectual, and political institutions and for two millenniums flourished with all the vigor that the human heart can invest in a social and cultural order. Then Egypt began to crumble into the desert sands and the waters of the Nile, and her remarkable achievements in civilization became her lingering epitaph. John A. Wilson has written a rich and interpretive biography of one of the greatest cultural periods in human experience. He answers—as best the modern Egyptologist can—the questions inevitably asked concerning the dissolution of Egypt's glory. Here is scholarship in its finest form, concerned with the humanity that has preceded us, and finding in man's past grandeur and failure much meaning for men of today. The story of Egypt is the story of history itselfthe endless rise & fall, the life & death & life again of the eternal effort to endure, enjoy & understand the mystery of the universe. Emerging from the mists of time, Egypt met the challenge of the mystery in a glorious evolution of religious, intellectual & political institutions & for two millennia flourished with all the vigor the heart can invest in a social & cultural order. Then Egypt began to crumble into the desert & the waters of the Nile, & her achievements in civilization became her lingering epitaph. John A. Wilson has written a rich interpretive biography of one of the greatest cultural periods. He answersas best a modern Egyptologist canthe questions asked concerning the dissolution of Egypt's glory. Here is scholarship at its finest, concerned with the humanity that has preceded us, & finding in past grandeur & failure meaning for today. Introduction The black land: geographic features of Egypt Out of the mud: the long prehistoric struggle The search for security & order: Dynasties 1-3 (about 3100-2700) The king & God: Dynasties 4-6 (about 2700-2200) The first illness: Dynasties 7-11 (about 2200-2050) The king as the good shepherd: Dynasties 11-12 (about 2050-1800) The great humiliation: Dynasties 13-17 (about 1800-1550) Far frontiers: earlier Dynasty 18 (about 1550-1375) Irrepressible conflict: later Dynasty 18 (about 1375-1325) Where is the glory?: Dynasties 18-20 (about 1325-1100) The broken reed: Late Empire & Post-Empire (1350 & after) Chronology A Note on Translations Abbreviations List of Illustrations Index Chronicles The Rise And Fall Of Ancient Egypt, Describing Geographic Factors In The Civilization's Development; Each Of The Dynasties; And The Late Empire And Post-empire Period. Includes A Chronology. The Black Land : Geographic Features Of Egypt -- Out Of The Mud : The Long Prehistoric Struggle -- The Search For Security And Order : Dynasties 1-3 (about 3100-2700 B.c.) -- The King And God : Dynasties 4-6 (about 2700-2200 B.c.) -- The First Illness : Dynasties 7-11 (about 2200-2050 B.c.) -- The King As The Good Shepherd : Dynasties 11-12 (about 2050-1800 B.c.) -- The Great Humiliation : Dynasties 13-17 (about 1800-1550 B.c.) -- Far Frontiers : Earlier Dynasty 18 (about 1550-1375 B.c.) -- Irrepressible Conflict : Later Dynasty 18 (about 1375-1325) -- Where Is The Glory? : Dysnasties 18-20 (about 1325-1100 B.c.) -- The Broken Reed : Late Empire And Post-empire (1350 B.c. And After).fac. First Published In 1951 Under Title: The Burden Of Egypt. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents 6 Introduction 10 I. The Black Land: Geographic Factors of Egypt 17 II. Out Of The Mud: The Long Prehistoric Struggle 27 III. The Search For Security And Order: Dynasties 1–3 (about 3100–2700 B.C.) 52 IV. The King And God: Dynasties 4–6 (about 2700–2200 B.C.) 78 V. The First Illness: Dynasties 7–11 (about 2200–2050 B.C.) 129 VI. The King As The Good Shepherd: Dynasties 11–12 (about 2050–1800 B.C.) 150 VII. The Great Humiliation: Dynasties 13–17 (about 1800–1550 B.C.) 179 VIII. Far Frontiers: Earlier Dynasty 18 (about 1550–1375 B.C.) 191 IX. Irrepressible Conflict: Later Dynasty 18 {about 1375–1325 B.C.) 231 X. Where Is The Glory? Dynasties 18–20 (about 1325–1100 B.C.) 261 XI. The Broken Reed: Late Empire and Post-Empire (1350 B.C. and After) 330 Chronology 360 A Note on Translations 362 Abbreviations 365 List of Illustrations 366 Index 372