In Conclusion

The romance of Egypt is pyramids, hieroglyphs, the Nile River, and Cleopatra. 

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YtKvRq8k1rc/maxresdefault.jpg

While all of these items influence Egypt, there is much more to this country.  These things were just a small part of its wonderful history.  A deeper look into the country of Egypt gives a better description of the life and history of these people. The various changes in the types of government to the change in their religious stance as a country are all what make Egypt unique and different in that it was the bridge between Africa and the Mediterranean.  The Nile River “…up- or downstream—between Egypt and inner Africa, creating and preserving racial and cultural interrelations and even unity—but a river that provided Egypt with a distinct environmental setting for the emergence and development of an integrated, advanced, and unique civilization;” (Erlikh, Haggai, p. 98). Through the study of the hieroglyphs and tombs, historians have been able to see the vast changes and developments of Egypt through the ages.

http://bc05.ajnm.me/665003303001/201508/3681/
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August 20, 2015, Egypt was attacked by the Islamic State again. The attacks are in retaliation to the latest laws put into place regarding terrorism. (BBC, Aug. 20, 2015). These attacks have been happening more frequently throughout Egypt over the past few years as yet another battle for power continues in Egypt. The constant changing government of this country has been religious and economical.  The majority of the changes surround the use of religion to take over Egypt while politically wanting the entrance into the rest of Africa and a short cut to the India.

In the beginning, well before 3000 B.C. by some estimations, Egypt was the first established culture due to the Nile River.  Here the people were able to have fresh water for crops and survival.  However, with the rise and fall of the Nile, many of the people were nomadic versus pastoral.  From the beginning and to today, the Nile River plays an integral part in Egyptian economic development.  The push by most countries that take over Egypt is to irrigate the Sahara for more agriculture and to help with the over population of the urban areas of Egypt.

Scientists believe they have found that man migrated out of Egypt and Ethiopia into Europe. (El-Awady, June 18, 2015). The belief is man started in Africa and moved into the European countries over the centuries.

Egypt is the English word used for Hikuptah.  Hikuptah means Temple of the Soul of Ptah.  The god Ptah, the first Pharaoh, shows the importance the people of Egypt put on religion and their gods. They believed that the Pharaohs were gods. At the traded with the Mediterranean, they began to include their gods into their beliefs. These beliefs would be the reason Cambyses II was able to conquer Egypt and the way many of the countries conquered Egypt. Cambyses used their god beliefs of the animals by parading the animals first in battle. 

http://www.the-athenaeum.org/art/full.php?ID=108972

The Pharaohs controlled the ruling of Egypt until the invasion of Persia in 525 B.C. (Encyclopedia Britannica). This invasion happened because Cambyses II felt slighted by the Pharaoh of Egypt; therefore, he attacked and won the battle.  The Persians ruled Egypt until Alexander the Great began to rule in 332 B.C.  Rome was able to take Egypt fairly easily because they used Egyptian religious rituals against them.  Rome blended into the society.  Once they blended in, they would proclaim themselves the leader and then proceed to make the area a province of Rome.  In the case of Egypt, they had already incorporated many eastern gods into their culture, so adding Roman gods was nothing new.  However, with Rome, came the entry of St. Mark.  It is believed the St. Mark stopped in Egypt on his way home to Libya.  While in Egypt, he began a church.  This church is the Coptic Church still in Egypt today. 

Rome rule put the taxation on the people that was great and when the Muslims invaded, even the Coptic Church welcomed the change.  Muslim rule was not much different from the Egyptian way of life.  Whoever held power was also the religious leader of the country.  Therefore, Islam was a political religion and fit right into the Egyptian way of life. The reign of Islam only lasted until the Ottoman Empire invaded in the 1500s.  Since the Ottoman Empire was already Muslim, the religious view did not change.  However, the difference in the Ottoman Empire and Muslim rule was that the Ottoman’s incorporated their religion into Egypt and did not force their religion on the people.  Napoleon invaded Egypt from France.  After World War I, the Ottoman Empire was replaced by the British.  The British did not so much get involved in the religion of Egypt as it did in the economics of Egypt.  The Suez Canal is the major event during the British rule.  It was a deal that the French and the British for some time; however, the British completed it.  It was a canal to help with trade between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.  The canal would open up further trade for Egypt. After World War II, Egypt was declared independent from Britain.  The Suez Canal remains one of the biggest shipping lanes in the world.

All of the above is said to bring us back to Egypt in the 1990s and 2015.  “The New Valley Project was the most ambitious but not the only land reclamation project initiated by the Mubarak regime during the late 1990s.” (Davis, Diana K., pg 50). The jump to this topic is while religion played a huge part in everyday life for Egypt, and the government used this to control the Egyptian nation.  The countries coming into Egypt were doing so to expand trade.  Hosni Mubarak rule was supported by the United States because he kept the Islam militants under control, and he maintain a certain amount of peace with Israel.  His rule in the land was almost thirty years; this was the longest rule since the 1800s.  Since his resignation, Egypt has been in a constant state of revolution.  In the past four years, Egypt has had five rulers and today the continued bombing in Cairo shows the instability of their government. The question is still today whether “Egypt is an emerging democracy.” (Sprusansky, 56-57).  In Egypt, history is still unfolding as to what governmental body will be in place next and will religious freedom prevail or will Islam control the country with continued strife for the Christians of Egypt. The countries around Egypt continue to watch these developments. It is important economically to see who will win because so many countries trade resources with Egypt.  The greatest of these at this time is oil. Therefore, the world still looks to Egypt to see what it is going to do next.

Bibliography

Alfred J., Butler. The Arab Conquest of Egypt and the Last Thirty Years of Roman Dominion. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1978.

Armanios, Febe. Coptic Christianity in Ottoman Egypt. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.

Davis, Diana K., and Burke, Edmund, eds. Ecology and History: Environmental Imaginaries of the Middle East and North Africa. Athens, OH, USA: Ohio University Press, 2011. Accessed August 20, 2015. ProQuest ebrary.

"Egyptian Security Building in Cairo Rocked by Bomb Blast - BBC News." BBC News. August 20, 2015. Accessed August 21, 2015. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33998536.

El-Awady, Nadia. "Egypt Identified as Ancient Gateway out of Africa." Nature Middle East. June 18, 2015. Accessed August 20, 2015. http://www.natureasia.com/en/nmiddleeast/article/10.1038/nmiddleeast.2015.101.

Encyclopædia Britannica Online, s. v. "Cambyses II", accessed August 20, 2015,http://www.britannica.com/biography/Cambyses-II.

Erlikh, Haggai, and Isreal Gershoni. The Nile: Histories, Cultures, Myths. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2000.

Goody, Jack. The Logic of Writing and the Organization of Society. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire]: Cambridge University Press, 1986. Accessed August 20, 2015. ProQuest ebrary.

Jackson, Jack. Accessed August 21, 2015. http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/aaaphotos/suezcanal.jpg.

Johansen, Julian. Sufism and Islamic Reform in Egypt: The Battle for Islamic Tradition. Oxford: Clarendon Press; 1996.

Sprusansky, D. (2014). Egyptian Ministers Discuss Politics, Economy. The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, 33(4), 56-57. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1544159612?accountid=12085

Pictures:

Accessed August 21, 2015. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/The_lion_of_Egyptian_revolution_(Qasr_al-Nil_Bridge)-edit2.jpg/220px-The_lion_of_Egyptian_revolution_(Qasr_al-Nil_Bridge)-edit2.jpg.

Accessed August 21, 2015. http://bc05.ajnm.me/665003303001/201508/3681/665003303001_4434221129001_vs-55d5b89ee4b0e3fce616178b-782203298001.jpg?pubId=665003303001

Accessed August 21, 2015.  http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YtKvRq8k1rc/maxresdefault.jpg

Accessed August 21, 2015.  http://media-1.web.britannica.com/eb-media/47/153447-004-3E1BE55D.jpg

Accessed August 21, 2015. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/The_lion_of_Egyptian_revolution_(Qasr_al-Nil_Bridge)-edit2.jpg/220px-The_lion_of_Egyptian_revolution_(Qasr_al-Nil_Bridge)-edit2.jpg.

El-Awady, Nadia. "Egypt Identified as Ancient Gateway out of Africa." Nature Middle East. June 18, 2015. Accessed August 20, 2015. http://www.natureasia.com/en/nmiddleeast/article/10.1038/nmiddleeast.2015.10

Egypt a Democracy?

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Much of Egypt’s history politically and demographically revolves around the Nile River.  Cohen “…shares with Davis an interest in how visions of the environment, and how they have changed over time, inflect notions of social identity, national and otherwise.” (Davis, p. 12).  This is seen with the idea that the Ottoman Empire built irrigation in Egypt although, still trying to be proved.  Then the French believed they could irrigate Egypt through the Sarah and build forestry in the desert.  Beginning with what history we do have, we see that during the Ottoman Empire, society developed a pattern around the Nile and how it flowed.  The swamp lands, to the peasants in more agricultural areas and then the urbanized areas created the hierarchy of the country. From its origin Egypt has had many different styles of political powers in place, Pharaohs as god, to Ottomans, to Rome, to Islam, to present day Egypt.  With all of the changes the constant is the Nile River and its bearing on the economy of the different political powers.  Ottoman, Rome, French and British all found ways to exploit the Nile with dams and irrigation ideas.

This map shows how Egypt scales it areas
from areas that are safe to areas that are not
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt

Egypt was the first to overthrow outsiders.  However, as they continued to progress to freedom, Britain and America weighed in on how Egypt could raise its economy.  Today Egypt continues to have political issues as shown in the Musical Chairs article about the stepping down of the Prime Minister Beblawi and the unrest amongst the Islam community. The continued fight against terrorism is still prevalent in this country. Also, as indicated in another journal, there is still question as to whether “Egypt is an emerging democracy.” (Sprusansky, 56-57). They continue to fight for democracy in their country today. As see by the map above, they have given areas where you are not to travel and areas that you should seek advise prior to traveling.  This is a 2015 map of Egypt, this is happening now.

Bibliography: 

Davis, Diana K., and Burke, Edmund, eds. 2011. Ecology and History: Environmental Imaginaries of the Middle East and North Africa. Athens, OH, USA: Ohio University Press. Accessed August 16, 2015. ProQuest ebrary.

“Musical chairs; Egyptian Politics.” The Economist 1 Mar. 2014: 43(US). Academic OneFile. Web. 16 Aug. 2015.

Sprusansky, D. (2014). Egyptian Ministers Discuss Politics, Economy. The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, 33(4), 56-57. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1544159612?accountid=12085

Religion and Politics as One

For almost 5500 years Egypt was a civilization that followed many gods as portrayed here.  They had incorporated some gods from the eastern decent.  As new dynasties came into being, new gods would be introduced.

https://empoweryourknowledgeandhappytrivia.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/egyptian-gods.jpg

Once Rome conquered Egypt, it was no longer considered a world power.  The Romans were known to conquer a land and not remove their gods, just add their gods to the ones already present.  While still under Roman rule, it is believed that St. Mark, a disciple of Christ and who wrote the second book of the Bible, started the first Christian church in Alexandria, Egypt.  The Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt descended from St. Mark who is believed to be from Lybia.  This would be the reason why he would have gone to Egypt after Christ ascended to heaven.  He taught the people of Christ. He was their first Martyr. Because of their beliefs in separation of Church and State, they have been left alone. The branch of Islam that rested in Egypt was called Sunni. This group did not bother the Coptic Church because Mohammed, their great prophet, had an Egyptian wife and told him to treat the people well and he would prosper.  Many believe this is why Islam has flourished in this country. The cross is a big symbol of the Coptic Church as seen in the following picture.

http://chthonickore.blogspot.com/2013/10/rest-in-pieces.html

After this group, Islam invades.  The Christian Church (Coptic Church) was around during Roman reign; however, the people politically were ready for Rome to be removed from their home.  The oppressive nature of Rome, made Islam a welcome change to many of the people. In 639 A.D., they saw Islam as a savior from Rome.  As Islam invaded, it did not so much push out other religions, it just set up its political field, which would ultimately rule that other religions must follow their Islamic laws.  Therefore, persecution of Christians, Catholics, Jews and even Coptic Christians was seen off and on throughout the reign of Islam. 

In the 1500s the Ottoman Empire invaded Egypt.  It is interesting to note that the beliefs of the Ottoman Empire was Islamic; however, the Muslims of Egypt fled when the Ottoman Empire invaded.  This was due to the fact that as it invaded it replaced the previous religious leaders, who were also the political leader, with their own leaders. Islam is a political religion.  The leader of the Islamic community was also the leader of the country.

World War I brought an end to the Ottoman Empire.  This was mostly due to their influence in other areas they had control such as Turkey.  Britain also did not want Russia in Egypt and pushed to be sure they did not get control of this area.  

Pharaohs were seen as gods, so having a religious leader that was also the political leader was not new to them. Sunni Islam is still the religion of the country with “90% of the population are Muslim and 8% to 10% are Christian,”[1]  The reason Islam is able to keep such a hold on Egypt is because it is a political religion.  Also, it has incorporated into its religion many of the holidays that Egypt already celebrated.  Since Egypt from the beginning was a religious country, these new religions were able to come in and bring their beliefs which would then be incorporated into their daily life.

Bibliography

Armanios, Febe. Coptic Christianity in Ottoman Egypt. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.

"Egypt - Religions." Religions. http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Egypt-RELIGIONS.html. Accessed August 8, 2015.

Hathaway, Jane. A Tale of Two Factions Myth, Memory, and Identity in Ottoman Egypt and Yemen. Albany, New York: State University of New York, 2003.

Johansen, Julian. Sufism and Islamic Reform in Egypt: The Battle for Islamic Tradition. Oxford: Clarendon Press ; 1996.

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[1] Egypt – Religions.”  Religions. http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Egypt-RELIGIONS.html. Accessed August 8, 2015.

Influences from Outside

War played a major part in the 18^th Dynasty of Egypt which was about 1570 – 1550 BC.  Egypt was a world power during the 18^th Dynasty.  Syria and the Hittites (Turkey) were their greatest opposition.  These empires were able to stop expansion of Egypt during this time. Very little is known of Egypt before this time period and even this period is sketchy.

[1]

Trade was involved; however, it is believed that this was done more for homage to Egypt.  Egypt was the country to impress and keep from invading.  For example the above vessel is believed to be from Cyprus due to its design and is dated to the 1500 BC time period.  It was excavated in 1891 in Egypt.  It is believed that it carried opium; however, this is debated heavily among historians.  Some believe it was wine.

[2]

It is also evident that Egyptians brought gods from Asia back, such as Astarte which came from the Mediterranean seaports.  She came to Egypt and is believed to have been the goddess later considered Isis, the goddess of the skies.

There is evidence that the leaders of Babylon, Assyria and the Near East in diplomatic correspondence.  The biggest event being the marrying of Ramesses II to Mathroneferure the Hittite king’s daughter.  This appears to be the “first known peace treaty of the world”.[3]

So during the dynasty period from 6000 BC to 300 BC, Egypt spent most of this time period fighting with the countries around them with Prussia being the one to conquer them until Alexander the Great came on the scene in 332 BC.  Alexander’s aim was to conquer the known world.  However, the Roman/Byzantine rule changed the style of houses built from horizontal living to now building up. Rome was in Egypt for approximately 670 years. 

When Islam came to Egypt, the people were looking for someone or thing to free them for the oppression of the Roman domination.  Islam brought that promise of freedom.  Islam is still strong in Egypt today.  Although still the Ottoman Empire and the British Empire invaded, in the end, Egypt became a Republic in 1953 and remains so today.  Islam still flourishes as the main religion of the area.

Most of Egyptian movement with the outside countries was for expansion.  Moving into the A.D. period is the first that religion played a major role in why a country invaded, this being Islam.  Trade was apparent in the early B.C. arena; however, this trade was instigated to pay tribute to Egypt to keep them from invading more than for the actual trade of goods.  It was more of a homage until we see the first peace treaty resulting in the marrying of two countries to keep war out.

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[1] http://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-static/digitalegypt/sedment/archive/uc13427.jpg

[2] http://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-static/digitalegypt/memphis/archive/uc14392.jpg

[3] Grajetzki, Wolfram and Stephen Quirke. London; University College London. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-static/digitalegypt/foreignrelations/asiank.html

Natural Resources: Yesterday and Today

When you think of Egypt’s natural resources, the first thing that comes to mind is the Nile River.  Due to this being a major water source, the development of urbanization flourished in this area.  In ancient times and today, agriculture plays a big part due to the Nile River; however, in today’s culture the Nile is also used for hydroelectric power.

[1]

[2]

Paper was made in Egypt from the papyris plant.  Although some believe that paper originated in Egypt, there are those that believe it originated in Greece; however, the papyris plant is readily available in Egypt versus Greece.  It is believed to have been produced as early as 3000 B.C. in Egypt.  Whether the use of the papyris plant was first used for writing in Egypt which is debated, it definitely was used for trade.

[3]

Of course, there is also oil and natural gas which is a big part of their economy today.  “The petroleum industry accounts for approximately 40% of export earnings.”[4] In the 1990s the government controlled much of the economy.  Moving into 2005 the private sector began to branch out from manufacturing into land; however, the government still remained in control.  The decline of crude oil production has resulted in an increase of natural gas.  The “energy development in Egypt rests upon the ability of the private sector to generate the required capital, while helping to open new markets for natural gas exports.”[5]  The government controls the exporting, but the private sector is responsible for developing the market.

Bibliography:

Jourdan, Francesca. "THE PAPYRUS AND ITS ORIGINS." The Bibliography of Ancient Egypt. N.P., 1999. http://www.ptahhotep.com/articles/Papyrus.html.

Algarhi, Amr Saber. Oil and Natural Gas in Egypt. The American University in Cairo Department of Economics. December 2005, p. 19. http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/egypt/literature/papyrus.htm.

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[1] ElectarL, PeterX, RyanW, SandraS. Mechanism of Hydroelectric Power

[2] http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/egypt/literature/papyrus.htm

[3] http://www.nawpublishing.com/images/loose/clip_image044_000.jpg

[4] "Egypt." Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (July 24, 2015).http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2586700094.html.

[5] Algarhi, Amr Saber. Oil and Natural Gas in Egypt. The American University in Cairo Department of Economics. December 2005, p. 19. http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/egypt/literature/papyrus.htm.

Ancient Religion To Modern Islam

Ancient Religion:
In ancient Egypt when a sculpture or picture was made of a person, plant or animal, it was believed that their spirit had the ability to inhabit that item.  Writing to them came from the gods and was to be revered and carefully used.  Once something was written, it took on the spirit of who the writing was about. 

A lot is known about the priest of Egypt.  “for example, the funerary cult of Neferirkare (Dynasty 5) had between two hundred and fifty and three hundred individuals associate with it.”[1]  Priest were everywhere within the culture of Egypt.  The priest of Egypt were part-time, many of them had a trade as well as being the priest in the area. 

The Wall at Karnak as pictured within this blog, shows the great detail taken to represent the realm of the gods.  Egyptians believed that the gods could literally jump from one image to the next.  Therefore, you could at any moment be in the presence of the gods.  The gods were believed to be as humans and needed to be fed and glorified.  Thus the temples were constantly being filled with food to appease the gods. 

It is interesting to note that one of the pictures shows them carrying the god.  This would make the belief that the Jews carrying the Arch of God through the wilderness as common, especially, since they would have been exposed to this in Egypt.  Where we see this as maybe strange in our day and age, this would have been something the Egyptian did with their gods; therefore, for the Jews to do it with their God would have not seemed strange to them.

Oracles were a huge part of Egyptian society. These oracles would speak for the gods in making decisions and providing answers to legal matters. The Egyptians were a very religious group of people and that is still evident in all the temples which are all over the country.

Modern Religion:

The Muslim world in Egypt was more than likely started by people who would pass through on their way to Mecca.  However, the Muslim army would enter and conquer Alexandria between 639 A.D. and 640 A.D. Amr was one of Mohammed's favored leaders. He led the battle into Egypt and conquered Egypt. With the Romans defeated, Muslims moved into Egypt and conquered the cities and built Mosques.  Amr built the first one in Egypt in 642 A.D.  He was actually welcomed by the Copts were glad to be rid of the Roman heathens and welcomed the Muslim army into their country.  Now Islam is the religion of Egypt, with Coptic Orthodox Church having a small percentage of followers to date.  This group considered themselves to be descended from John Mark of the book of Mark and was established in A.D. 1 or 2.  Egypt is considered on paper to allow religions; however, they have continued to have persecution between the Muslims and Christians since the Muslims are the ones in the power to make the laws.

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[1] Teeter, Emily. Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt. West Nyack, NY, USA: Cambridge University Press, 2011. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 16 July 2015.

Ark carried in an Egyptian procession.

Wall of Karnak

The Mosque of Amr

Bibliography:

Alfred J., Butler. The Arab Conquest of Egypt and the Last Thirty Years of Roman Dominion. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1978.

Teeter, Emily. Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt. West Nyack, NY, USA: Cambridge University Press, 2011. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 16 July 2015.

Pictures:

http://www.bible-history.com/ibh/Egyptian+Stone+Reliefs/Processions/Ark+Carried+on+Poles+by+Egyptians+in+Procession

http://www.britannica.com/topic/hieroglyphic-writing/images-videos/Hieroglyphics-on-a-temple-wall-at-Karnak-Egypt/162627

http://www.ask-aladdin.com/Egypt-Sites/islamic_monuments/amromosque.html

Music in Ancient Egypt

Music in Ancient Egypt

Although music existed in prehistoric Egypt, the evidence for it becomes secure only in the historical (or "dynastic" or "pharaonic") period--after 3100 BCE. Music formed an important part of Egyptian life, and musicians occupied a variety of positions in Egyptian society. Music found its way into many contexts in Egypt: temples, palaces, workshops, farms, battlefields and the tomb. Music was an integral part of religious worship in ancient Egypt, so it is not surprising that there were gods specifically associated with music, such as Hathor and Bes (both were also associated with dance, fertility and childbirth).

All the major categories of musical instruments (percussion, wind, stringed) were represented in pharaonic Egypt. Percussion instruments included hand-held drums, rattles, castanets, bells, and the sistrum--a highly important rattle used in religious worship. Hand clapping too was used as a rhythmic accompaniment. Wind instruments included flutes (double and single, with reeds and without) and trumpets. Stringed instruments included harps, lyres, and lutes--plucked rather than bowed. Instruments were frequently inscribed with the name of the owner and decorated with representations of the goddess (Hathor) or god (Bes) of music. Both male and female voices were also frequently used in Egyptian music.

Professional musicians existed on a number of social levels in ancient Egypt. Perhaps the highest status belonged to temple musicians; the office of "musician" (shemayet) to a particular god or goddess was a position of high status frequently held by women. Musicians connected with the royal household were held in high esteem, as were certain gifted singers and harp players. Somewhat lower on the social scale were musicians who acted as entertainers for parties and festivals, frequently accompanied by dancers. Informal singing is suggested by scenes of workers in action; captions to many of these pictures have been interpreted as words of songs. Otherwise there is little evidence for the amateur musician in pharaonic Egypt, and it is unlikely that musical achievement was seen as a desirable goal for individuals who were not professionals.

The ancient Egyptians did not notate their music before the Graeco-Roman period, so attempts to reconstruct pharaonic music remain speculative. Representational evidence can give a general idea of the sound of Egyptian music. Ritual temple music was largely a matter of the rattling of the sistrum, accompanied by voice, sometimes with harp and/or percussion. Party/festival scenes show ensembles of instruments (lyres, lutes, double and single reed flutes, clappers, drums) and the presence (or absence) of singers in a variety of situations.

The three images are from:

Adolf Erman's Life in Ancient Egypt

Published by Macmillan and Co., London 1894

Once again, I have used The Kelsey Museum Exhibit.  While there are a lot of different sites on the web that will give you these pictures and the information, this location is a central place to go for information on Archaeology of Egypt.  If you get an opportunity to check out the website, it will give you vast knowledge on how much information has been found over the years from Adolf Erman's Life in Ancient Egypt to Mary Upjohn's travels in Africa in 1937.

Roman Influence

WOMAN PLAYING TYMPANUM (DRUM)

Terracotta

Roman Period (2nd-4th centuries CE)

Fayum, Egypt

Askren Purchase, 1925

KM 3229

and

WOMAN PLAYING TYMPANUM (DRUM)

Terracotta (2nd-4th centuries CE)

Roman Period

Fayum?, Egypt

Gift of P. Ruthven, 1935

KM 6588

Stela of Shemsu, made by his siter Ny

Limestone; Egypt; Middle Kingdom (1991-1783 BCE); 26 cm h., 21.75 cm w., 5.0 cm thickness; Source: Bay View, 1971; Kelsey Museum 71.2.190

Translation: An offering that the king gives [to] Osiris, Lord of Abydos, that he may give invocation-offerings of bread, beer, oxen, fowl, and every good and pure thing upon which a god lives to the spirit of the follower of the Lord of the Two Lands Shemsu. It is his sister who makes his name live: Ny.

http://www.lsa.umich.edu/kelsey. Accessed 7/9/15.

I found that the University of Michigan: The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology was indispensable in Egyptian wordless history.  Their site listed above has had several different exhibits on Egypt alone.  The piece at the top is from the Roman era which I am sure all of us know quite a bit about Roman history; however, the next picture is the one I found most fascinating.  First in the fact of how old it is estimated to be.  For believers in the Bible, as I am, this means this piece is from right around the time of Abraham lifetime.  It is very possible that Abraham would have heard this story or even known Ny.  Putting this artifact in that light, gives a little light on what surrounded Sarah and Abraham when they went to Egypt.

Geography

Egypt is probably one of the most talked about areas in Africa. The history of Egypt can be found in the background of many different countries.  It was the world’s first organized society.  It is surrounded by the Gaza Strip, Israel, Libya and Sudan.  The size of Egypt is approximately three times the size of New Mexico.  Their national day is July 23^rd.  The largest cities in Egypt are Cairo, Alexandria, Giza, subra al-Haymah, and Port Said.  Cairo the capital city is located at 30° 2' N, 31° 14' E, and Alexandria: 31° 12' N, 29° 55' E.  The Nile is where the majority of the people live as it is the only fresh water available.  In the beginning the people learned of life and death on the rise and fall of the Nile.  Many infectious diseases as in polio, influenza and small pox are considered to have originated in Egypt.  This is evidenced by the hieroglyphics and mummies throughout Egypt.  The idea is that if you entered the pyramid you would die and this would happen.  What was actually happening was the toxins in these pyramids would cause those who entered to be infected and then those they were around would become infected causing the disease of that time.  This would then be passed down through the ages.

http://www.uic.edu/classes/osci/osci590/6_2Mummies%20Mummies%20and%20Disease%20in%20Egypt.htm. Accessed in 7/4/15.

Flag of Egypt 2015

horizontally striped red-white-black national flag with a central coat of arms in the form of a gold eagle. The flag has a width-to-length ratio of 2 to 3.

Encyclopædia Britannica Online, s. v. "flag of Egypt", accessed July 04, 2015,http://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Egypt.

Topography

This is a topographical map of Egypt showing the changes in geography throughout the country.