An Introduction to Ancient Egypt

Service Description

Pyramids, Temples, and Tombs: An Introduction to Ancient Egypt Egypt was among the world’s earliest centralized territorial states, and its more than three millennia of history provide a remarkable opportunity to examine one of antiquity’s longest- lasting civilizations. This course will introduce students to the history, archaeology, culture, and religion of ancient Egypt from the emergence of the pharaonic state in the late fourth millennium BCE through the early Christian period. Using archaeological, textual, and art historical evidence, students will explore Egyptian political institutions, religious beliefs and practices, social organization, economy, daily life, monumental architecture, literature, and artistic traditions. Particular attention will be given to the role of the Nile, Egypt’s interactions with neighboring societies, and the ways Egyptian communities adapted to political, social, and cultural change. The course will also introduce the methods scholars use to reconstruct the ancient past, emphasizing the strengths and limitations of different types of evidence. By the end of the course, students will have developed a broad understanding of Egyptian history and culture and the critical skills necessary to evaluate ancient sources and modern interpretations, while considering the enduring legacy and modern reception of ancient Egypt. The following schedule is designed for a 10-week course meeting for one 60-minute session per week. Kathryn Bard’s An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt, 2nd edition (2015), will serve as the primary textbook, supplemented by additional archaeological, historical, textual, and art historical readings. All required readings will be provided to students as PDFs. Students will be required to complete all assigned readings before the class meeting each week. Each meeting will introduce and discuss the week’s primary themes and readings, with particular attention to the analysis of primary sources and connections between archaeological and textual evidence. This structure is designed to give students both a broad chronological understanding of ancient Egypt and opportunities to develop skills in critically evaluating ancient evidence and modern interpretations.