Museum Exhibit: Legacy of a Civilization

     Ancient Egypt has made many contributions to modern society, three of these are reed pens and writing, dental work, and the pyramids and architecture, all of which have each left a lasting legacy. As I discussed in my first museum exhibit, papyrus can be considered one of the most historically significant artifacts in ancient Egypt. As a result, the tools used for writing on papyrus are just as important. Also, the Egyptians were one of the first civilizations to practice and study dentistry, something that is still used and taught today. Ancient Egypt also quite literally laid the foundation for modern architecture today as can be seen from the pyramids which are still standing tall thousands of years later.

  The first legacy we will discuss is that of ancient Egyptian writing tools such as the reed pen, wooden palette and ink. In ancient Egypt, knowing how to write was a luxury and as a result very few knew how to do it. Among these few were the scribes who had access to these writing tools, the wooden palette would hold black and red ink and contained slots to keep several reed pens in place.[1] These artifacts are significant because they contributed to the legacy of the written word. Although the Mesopotamians were the first to establish a form of writing, the Egyptians followed soon after and were some of the first to develop writing tools. This helped to pave the way towards modern pens and pencils, along with thousands of other similar writing utensils. Now, there are thousands of different kinds of ink for pens in hundreds of colours which would not be possible had the ancient Egyptians not taken that first step. The creation of these writing tools must have been quite shocking to the ancient Egyptians since those who could draw or write before their creation would have most likely used their hands. Surely, it would have taken time for many scribes to adjust to using these tools and many would probably have been surprised by the amount of fine details they were now able to create using these reed pens. Pens, pencils and writing tools are objects we easily take for granted despite the fact that we tend to use them almost every day. These tools still continue to be developed in modern time, this can be seen with new high-tech pens that allow you to write on an electronic tablet, thus continuing the legacy of ancient Egyptian writing tools. But this is not the only legacy left behind the ancient Egyptians, next we will examine dentistry. 

          Long before your family dental office came to be, the ancient Egyptian began to practice oral care. At around 3000 B.C the Egyptians learnt that they could cure dental problems by pulling teeth and drilling out cavities.[2] They even started developing early forms of mouthwash to relive inflammation and pain in the mouth. Many skeletons have been found in ancient Egypt containing fake teeth and metals wires to hold these implants in place. As was mentioned earlier, dentistry is still very much present today and has continued to progress after its discovery. The ancient Egyptians helped many to who were experiencing oral health problems to alleviate their pain and heal cavities and rotting teeth. Today, dental care is practiced worldwide, something that was not readily available to thousands in the ancient world. People now go to dentists for annual check-ups where their teeth are cleaned and monitored even if the patient’s mouth is in excellent health. Also, many universities and colleges now have dentistry programs where people can become professionally trained in oral hygiene and health care. The discovery of dentistry has opened a plethora of job opportunities in other areas of dental care such as orthodontics. People without any teeth problems can now get their teeth straightened or their wisdom teeth removed if they are experiencing crowding. Surely many ancient Egyptians with toothaches were relived with the development of dental care, however it is most likely that this service was only available for the wealthy since it was a very new practice. Also, the antiseptics used in ancient Egyptian dentistry were much weaker than those used today so it must have been hard to get children treated as a result of the pain. Nonetheless, ancient Egyptian dentistry left a legacy that can still be felt today and has helped millions around the world take one step closer towards maintaining good health.

The last legacy left to examine is that of ancient Egyptian architecture which can clearly be seen by the great pyramids they left behind. These pyramids were the first monuments to be constructed on such a large scale, they provide a clear message that the Egyptians knew how to distribute weight and to use posts for extra support. The ancient Egyptians were also one of the first to use stone for their structures and houses, something that still remains popular today.[3] It was common for Egyptians to build their homes with extremely think walls as well as external walls to keep the structure stable.[4] This is similar to how houses are built today using different materials to add layers to walls, for example modern homes also have external walls which normally are made of brick, a material also used by the ancient Egyptians. Another similarity between modern and Egyptian architecture is the use of triangles. This can clearly be seen in the thousands of pictures of the pyramids online as well as on the roofs of just about every house here in Canada. These types of roofs are durable, hence why the pyramids have lasted so long while many ancient cities with flat roofs crumbled. Out of the seven ancient world wonders, these pyramids are the last remaining and as a result millions of tourists come to Egypt solely to visit them every year. To make these pyramids even more impressive, no one knows how they were built, despite the fact that some archaeologists have studied them for decades! This is clear evidence of Egypt’s architectural ingenuity which helped pave the way for modern architecture, many of which still involves triangles. For example, this can be seen in Toronto when standing outside the Royal Ontario Museum or even in Paris, France at the Louvre. 

 

In conclusion, ancient Egyptian writing tools, dentistry and architecture left legacies that can still be felt today and have greatly impacted the modern world. Egyptian writing tools were some of the first pens and inks invented, and although they have advanced and changed forms, these tools are still very much present in our modern world.  The same can be said about dentistry, whose discovery has benefited millions around the world, we went from gold wires in teeth to braces and brackets. Lastly, the ancient Egyptian pyramids clearly demonstrate the profound knowledge of the Egyptian architects who created them who have greatly influenced architecture worldwide. These are the three greatest legacies left behind by ancient Egypt.

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[1]                “Teaching History with 100 Objects,” accessed January 3, 2022, http://www.teachinghistory100.org/objects/about_the_object/ancient_egyptian_writing_equipment

 

[2] “Ancient Egyptian Dentistry,” accessed January 3, 2022, https://dentalsave.com/blog/ancient-egyptian-dentistry/

[3] “5 Strongest Historical Architecture Influences To Architecture,” accessed January 3, 2022, https://architecturecompetitions.com/5-strongest-historical-architecture-influences-to-architecture

[4] “Egyptian architecture: Characteristics of Egyptian Architecture” accessed January 3, 2022, https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/arts/visual/architecture/egyptian-architecture/characteristics-of-egyptian-architecture

Bibliography:

Ancient Egyptian pyramids. Photograph of ancient artifacts. From Archinect News, https://archinect.com/news/article/150094687/ancient-ramp-discovery-could-help-explain-construction-of-egyptian-pyramids (accessed January 3, 2022).

 

Ancient Egyptian stationary. Carved wood. From The British Museum, http://www.teachinghistory100.org/objects/about_the_object/ancient_egyptian_writing_equipment (accessed January 3, 2022).

 

“Egyptian Architecture: Characteristics of Egyptian Architecture.” Accessed January 3, 2022. https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/arts/visual/architecture/egyptian-architecture/characteristics-of-egyptian-architecture

 

Example of ancient Egyptian dentistry. Metal wires and bones. From Dental Save, https://dentalsave.com/blog/ancient-egyptian-dentistry/ (accessed January 3, 2022).

 

“5 Strongest Historical Architecture Influences To Architecture.” Accessed January 3, 2022. https://architecturecompetitions.com/5-strongest-historical-architecture-influences-to-architecture

Historical Perspective

Dear diary, 

For as long as I can remember being a farmer has been incredibly hard work, the amount of physical work required is exhausting. The other day, a friend of mine spoke about this new piece of agricultural machinery called a plough. This wooden tool is used to till the soil and prepare it for planting using an animal to pull it around, using it could cut the work in half. When my friend told me this, I was skeptical because for as long as I can remember us farmers have tilled our soil by hand using a pick. I told him that he was probably misinformed and went on with my day. Later, I went to the marketplace to buy some new bowls as some of my old ones had cracked. I noticed that many were lining up behind our local carpenter’s booth, I asked a man nearby why the line was so long, and he told me it was because many farmers were interested in commissioning a plough. I couldn’t believe it! This tool really did exist but I knew that this product would probably be expensive so I wanted to make sure that I would get my money’s worth if I chose to buy one. A week later I asked a fellow farmer if I could borrow his plough for a small patch of land I wanted to prepare for planting. With his help I attached the plough to my strongest ox, I then commanded the ox to walk forward while I stood behind it holding the plough in place. I was amazed with how much easier and faster it was to till the soil, we in Egypt had never used animals for this kind of farm work before. As result of this incredible invention I had more time to do other important work around the farm such as plant my seeds and feed my animals. It also helped me to produce larger crop yields thus helping me sell more produce which is extremely important since we farmers are very low on the social hierarchy and our taxes are incredibly high. The only downside of this invention is that like many things it is not made to last, since Egypt is not known for its big trees the plow is a flimsy and often needs replacing. However, since this agricultural machinery is becoming more and more popular as well as essential for farmers, it is not as expensive as it once was. Carpenters and inventors are constantly trying to improve it, recently I’ve heard talk about tipping a plough with bronze so that it moves more easily through the soil. I can’t wait to see what other inventions are made to help make farming easier and more effective. For now, I will continue to happily use my plough and hope that this year’s flood contributes to a good and bountiful harvest. That’s all for this entry, the invention of the plough makes me truly proud to be an Egyptian and happier and more satisfied with my work as a farmer.

Museum Exhibit: Continuity and Change

 Various factors caused the decline of ancient Egypt, three of these were, Egypt’s lack of resources for military weapons, the civil war that caused Nubia to step into power and the failure of the Nile river floods which significantly impacted agriculture.

The iron weapons created by the Hittites are an important artifact depicting the fall of the ancient Egyptian civilization. The Hittites were strong opponents of the Egyptians, in the 19^th Dynasty they along with other rivals of ancient Egypt began to transition from weapons of bronze to weapons of iron. This was a problem because the Egyptians had little to no sources of this new material in their own land, thus making them easier to attack.[1] Upgrading weapons of war has always been important for many civilizations and continues to be today. We can compare the transition of bronze to iron, to that of guns to chemical and atomic warfare. While the change/upgrade of these weapons is different the concept is still the same with the goal of having more success than the enemy in battle. The continuity of this goal can have both positive and negative effects, for example the use of chemical warfare helped civilizations in World War I to win important battles. However, this thinking also contributed to more and more violent deaths on the battlefield and have unintentionally harmed thousands of civilians. Looking back at the transition from weapons of bronze to weapons of iron, it took a very long time for many civilizations to discover the importance of iron. This is because many civilizations saw this material as an inferior metal since weapons made of iron alone were not as hard or durable of those made of bronze.[2] But once iron became essential for warfare, many civilizations such as Egypt began to decline because they could not keep up.

A second artifact that highlights the decline of ancient Egypt are hieroglyphics containing
pictures of Nubian Pharaohs. In 1200 BCE Egypt broke out into a civil war which would plague the civilization for decades and greatly weaken it. As a result of this war, Nubia (a long-time colony of Egypt) rose up and took over all of Egypt, uniting their kingdoms in approximately 720 BCE.[3] From then on Nubian culture began to fuse with that of the Egyptians, thus causing a decline in ancient Egyptian culture. Nowadays, most civilizations do not take over another (this was a much more common occurrence in ancient times), however large groups of people from a particular culture often immigrate to North America in hope for a better life. As a result, these different cultures also begin to fuse, just like the Nubians and the Egyptians. For example, there are large groups of Mexicans in Texas, U.S.A and as a result of these two cultures merging, this state is famous for its “Tex-Mex” cuisine which combines Mexican and American cooking styles. Reflecting on the merging of the Nubians and Egyptians also brings to our attention how we have now changed our perspectives of diversity and the blending of cultures. While this was frowned upon in the past and people of different nationalities were often segregated. We now strive to treat everyone (regardless of their ethnicity) as equals and governments now applaud the contributions different cultures make to society. Taking this into consideration, this change has been positive but also painfully slow which is why we must all do our part to contribute to its success.

The final artifact I have chosen to help depict the decline of ancient Egypt is a chiselled piece of artwork from the tomb of a high priest of a man harvesting wheat. Besides evolving weapons of war and foreign invasion there was a final nail that needed to be hammered into ancient Egypt’s coffin. This was climate change and the failure of the Nile river, towards the end of this empire the Nile stopped flooding annually and when it did the water levels were still a lot lower than usual. This disrupted agriculture in Egypt and resulted in much smaller crop yields since this made the soil much dryer making it difficult for produce to grow.[4] As a result, Egypt started to focus more on agriculture rather than raising live animals and cattle because ultimately these took more effort to maintain and there were little resources to go around. This may be why no cattle is seen in this work of art which is thought to be made during this same time period. Today, live animals are still harder to maintain than produce and crops, also they continue to require much more energy and resources. For the most part, this continuity is negative because humans continue to over-use the earth resources and if we can’t find a better and more efficient way to raise livestock, food will become more and more expensive. This could then lead to famine as well as create a bigger gap between the rich and the poor, just like it did for ancient Egypt. 

 In conclusion, these three artifacts showcase various reasons for the decline of ancient Egypt, they also point out continuity and changes between the ancient and modern worlds. Advancing technology, foreign invasion and climate change were three things that brought the fall of ancient Egypt. And if we are not careful at least two of these things could be bring the downfall of many modern civilizations today.

 

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[1]                Aidan Dodson, “Egypt: The End of a Civilisation,” BBC, February 17, 2011, https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/egypt_end_01.shtml

[2]                History.com Editors, “Iron Age,” History, January 3, 2018, 

https://www.history.com/topics/pre-history/iron-age

[3]                Dodson, “Egypt: The End of a Civilization,” https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/egypt_end_01.shtml

[4]                “How did climate change influence the rise of ancient Egypt” DailyHistory.org, October 3, 2021, https://dailyhistory.org/How_did_climate_change_influence_the_rise_of_ancient_Egypt

Bibliography:

A scene depicting a harvest at the tomb of Petosiris. Carving and paint on stone. From Climate in Arts & History, https://www.science.smith.edu/climatelit/nile-river-flood-failure-in-ptolemaic-ancient-egypt-c-300-bce/(accessed December 17, 2021). 

 

A scene of Nubian king in the 25^th dynasty. Paint on stone. From Egypt Guide, https://www.egyptprivatetourguide.com/egyptian-facts/ancient-egypt-nubians-mix-ancient-egyptians/ (accessed December 17, 2021).

 

Dodson, Aidan. “Egypt: The End of a Civilisation.” BBC. February 17, 2011. https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/egypt_end_01.shtml

 

History.com Editors. “Iron Age.” History. January 3, 2018. 

https://www.history.com/topics/pre-history/iron-age

 

Hittites: Iron Weapons. Photograph of ancient artifacts. From ThingLink.com, https://www.thinglink.com/scene/567063609100730369 (accessed December 17, 2021). 

 

“How did climate change influence the rise of ancient Egypt.” DailyHistory.org. October 3, 2021. https://dailyhistory.org/How_did_climate_change_influence_the_rise_of_ancient_Egypt

 

Environmental Factors of Civilizational Decline

 

    The Nile River had always been an important water source for the ancient Egyptians. This river would flood annually, if the flood was too low, it could compromise the crop yields. This is exactly what happened towards the end of this empire. As a result of diminishing monsoons, the Nile started to flood less and less making Egypt much dryer than it once was. This destroyed the agricultural system and lead to wide-spread famine. Both climate change and natural disasters (specifically floods and monsoons) contributed to the decline of ancient Egypt. As was previously mentioned, the decline of monsoons near ancient Egypt caused the Nile to flood less which caused Egyptian soil to become dry. This made it harder for farmers to grow crops and started to cause food shortages. 

    Ancient Egypt responded to these environmental factors by focusing more on agriculture rather than raising live animals and cattle because ultimately these took more effort to maintain and there were little resources to go around. As a result, the decline in floods and monsoons the land in Egypt became very dry, so much so that even parts of the Nile began to dry up. People started to live closer and closer to sources of water because if you were too far life was very difficult. The gap between those who wealthy and those who were poor also started to increase since food became very expensive. 

    There are several similarities between ancient Egypt and modern civilizations when it comes to environmental factors and their effects. For example, ancient Egypt got a lot dryer as a result of climate change, this also occurs with modern civilizations such as Cape Town, the capital of South Africa. This city suffered from a three-year rain-deficit from 2015-2017, this caused the land to become extremely dry. The situation was so crucial that the city's water supply dropped to 20% in 2018. During the decline of ancient Egypt, the price of daily living when up as a result of natural disasters, this is something that continues to happen today in modern civilizations. For example, a 2010 earthquake that hit Chile caused the products available in supermarkets to fall by 32%. This made certain products with limited availability very expensive. As a result of climate change ancient Egypt grew very concerned about its future. This is another thing it shares with many present-day civilizations. Nowadays, governments all over the world are becoming more concerned about the effects of climate change. Many are desperately looking for a solution in order to avoid the same fate as ancient Egypt.

Bibliography: 

 

Cavallo, Alberto, Eduardo, Cavallo, and Roberto Rigobon. Prices and Supply Disruptions During Natural Disasters. Massachusetts: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2013. 

 

"How did climate change influence the rise of ancient Egypt" DailyHistory.org. October 3, 2021. https://dailyhistory.org/How_did_climate_change_influence_the_rise_of_ancient_Egypt

 

Pascale, Salvatore, Kapnick, Sarah, Delworth, Thomas, and Cooke, William. "Increasing risk of another Cape Town ‘Day Zero’ drought in the 21st century" PNAS. November 9, 2020. https://www.pnas.org/content/117/47/29495

Which type of factor contributed most to the decline of your chosen civilization: social, economic, or political?

Political and social factors had the greatest impact in the decline of ancient Egypt. The first crack in the civilization’s foundation appeared after the 19^th Dynasty when the Hittites and other rivals started to upgrade their weapons from bronze to iron. This was a problem because the Egyptians had little to no sources of this material in their own land, thus making them easier to attack. More cracks started to appear in 1200 BC when Egypt broke out into a civil war in the far south. As a result, from 1070 BC onwards, Egypt was split into two kingdoms, one was ruled by the pharaoh while the other was ruled by the high priest. Egypt continued being plagued with civil war for decades, they became so weak that as a result, Nubia (a long-time colony of Egypt) rose up and took over all of Egypt, uniting their kingdoms in approximately 720 BC. 

Despite this, Egypt could not maintain the peace because some 30 years later the nation was facing a brutal war with the Assyrians who invaded many of Egypt’s cities. This war lasted some 140 years which proved to be extremely costly since Egypt began to rely heavily on Greek-mercenaries for aid rather than their own subjects and warriors. At last, Egypt fell to the Persian empire in 525 BC and would never again stand on its own two feet. Since war and invasion were the main two causes of Egypt’s defeat it is safe to say that both political and social factors played the greatest role in the fall of this once great nation. 

Bibliography:

 

Dodson, Aidan. “Egypt: The End of a Civilisation” BBC. February 17, 2011. https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/egypt_end_01.shtml

A Ruler's Decree: Everyday Life in an Ancient Civilization

 

Dearest citizens of the conquered South Kingdom, today I (Ramses II) issue my first decree to you as your Pharaoh. That being said, there are a few things you should know about life here in Egypt, specifically I would like to discuss education, family life and religion which are fundamental aspects of our culture.

 

Generally, we educate our men at a young age, they are taught reading, writing, mathematics and religious morals. Our schools in Egypt are only meant for boys, your girls will receive their education at home from their mothers.[1] They will learn how to sew, cook and read in order to become. Although our schools are for boys, not all will receive formal education, those who do will most likely be from royal or rich backgrounds. 

 

In Egypt the eldest child in a structured family is expected to care for their parents in their old age. Our boys get married between the ages of 16 and 20, while our girls get married soon after they hit puberty.[2]  In Egyptian marriage arrangements there are no spiritual or religious commitments, once a man and a woman not related by blood begin living together, they are considered to be man and wife. 

With regards to religion we Egyptians teach that the universe came into existence as a result of Nun, a god of water and chaos who gave birth to the first deities.[3]

 One essential deity in our religion is Heka who is the god of magic because he is the one who gives the gods their powers. We believe that our gods live among us, trees must therefore be respected as these are their dwelling places.

These aspects of our culture have been in place for many years and allow our men to become knowledgeable, or families to thrive and our religious values to remain strong. Welcome to Egypt, I trust that you will do your best to contribute to our thriving civilization so that it remains for a long time.

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[1]                “Legends & Chronicles,” accessed November 29, 2021, https://www.legendsandchronicles.com/ancient-civilizations/ancient-egypt/ancient-egyptian-education/

[2]                TVO ILC, World History to the End of the Fifteenth Century (Toronto, ON, 2014), lesson 3, pg.5

[3]                Cassam Looch, “A Beginner’s Guide to the Religions of Egypt,” Culture Trip. March 4, 2020, https://theculturetrip.com/africa/egypt/articles/a-complete-guide-to-the-religions-of-egypt/

Bibliography:

“Legends & Chronicles.” Accessed November 29, 2021. https://www.legendsandchronicles.com/ancient-civilizations/ancient-egypt/ancient-egyptian-education/

 

Looch, Cassam. “A Beginner’s Guide to the Religions of Egypt.” Culture Trip. March 4, 2020. https://theculturetrip.com/africa/egypt/articles/a-complete-guide-to-the-religions-of-egypt/

 

TVO ILC. World History to the End of the Fifteenth Century. Toronto, ON, 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ancient Egyptian Religion: Beliefs and Practices

    In ancient Egypt, religion was involved in all aspects of day to day life because Egyptians viewed life on earth as only one part of their eternal journey. They would only be able to continue this journey if they proved themselves worthy of it. In ancient Egypt, gods were viewed as “the lords of creation” who helped and guided the Egyptians with many things such as science, medicine, magic and herbology. 

    Egyptians believed that the universe began as nothing but dark swirling waters of chaos until Atum-Ra gave birth to two children, Shu and Tefnut who then set out to establish the world. In ancient Egypt, astrology was closely related to religion because the Egyptians believed that the constellations contained a person’s future fortune. But despite the importance of the sky and the heavens in ancient Egypt, gods did not live in the heavens but instead lived alongside the people of Egypt and often interacted with them. Trees were considered to be the homes of the gods, and specific types of trees were sometimes closely related with a specific god or goddess. 

    With regards to the soul, Egyptians believed that it consisted of nine separate parts which included one’s physical body, double-form and shadow self. When someone died, their immortal self, appeared before the great god Osiris who would then weight the person’s heart to decide if they were worthy enough to continue their existence. The ancient Egyptian religion was extremely detailed and specific and as a result, these are just some of the many beliefs of this ancient civilization.