Egyptian Culture: A Glimpse at the Heart of Nile

Egyptian culture has thrived since ancient times. Considered the cradle of civilization, Egypt has proven its resilience with its rich history and power. You are now going to unveil another priceless culture that has stood the test of time.

With all of its success in engineering, architecture, medicine, and agriculture, Egypt has evolved into a formidable nation that catches the attention of its neighboring countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa. Isn’t the Great Pyramid a perfect example of its ingenuity?

Located in the Nile Valley in the northeastern corner of Africa, Egypt is proud to be a flourishing nation with hopes for peace and more development.

Home of one of the earliest civilizations, Egypt continued to attempt to achieve its goal of a peaceful and prosperous nation. Its people are optimistic about peace in the region, and with Egypt’s strong leadership and faith, nothing is impossible for this modern society.

Egyptian Culture

With a flourishing historical and cultural background, the culture of Egypt is always at the center of attention, particularly when you talk about the birth of humankind. It has been called the Gift of the Nile for a lot of reasons, while its classic title, the cradle of civilization, is so perfect for its cultural and historical contributions to the world.

The world must be grateful for the innovations Egypt has contributed in history. You can have all the comfort in life because of the creativity the ancient Egyptians displayed.

You can’t miss the heartwarming stories behind Egypt culture and traditions. Let’s start with agriculture in ancient times when Egypt depended on the high and low tides of the Nile. Historically, it had experienced a drought when nothing grew on its farms for seven straight years.

Scientists also support the fact that fertile soil remains leftover when the Nile River spills off its water. Imagine a great flood in history that washed out many homes, crops, and boats. It surely was devastation beyond measure.

Egypt exists as a sophisticated country despite the change of its rulers, natural climate, religion, and education. For instance, previous rulers were called “pharaohs,” and the royal family was accorded proper respect and honor. However, the monarchy has long been abolished, and Egypt’s government has evolved.

You can’t afford to ignore Egypt’s contributions to our present society because it has set the standard higher in each field of expertise. For example, they have shown the world how they progressed in medicine when they meticulously labored in science.

Prehistory Period

The earliest migration of humans began about 100,000 years ago when people left Africa. They eventually reached Egypt and started building their villages, as revealed by the traces of agricultural excavation about 7,000 years ago.

Archeologists have always been fascinated by the findings in the country, such as the earliest written inscriptions dating back about 5,200 years ago, which were taken as signs of civilization.

When the land of Egypt was discovered or how the pre-historic people started their lives near the Nile is still debatable. You need to join us in the search for the truth about the origin of this cradle of civilization.

30 Dynasties of Egypt

You have to understand that early Egypt has been divided into 30 dynasties. Egyptian cultures and traditions have been developed in these dynasties. According to some findings, an Egyptian priest named Manetho lived during the third century B.C., and he authored a History of Egypt, a chronological description of the lives of kings and queens in his era. Some hieroglyphic writings in the 19th century have proven the presence of humans in Egypt at that time.

It is a good thing to know how people thrived in Egypt. You can recount the first pharaoh of the first dynasty named Menes, or Narmer as he is known by the Greeks.
Modern scholars are united in saying that the early dynasty or the so-called archaic period has emerged in the country.

Dynasties 3 to 6 are sometimes called the “Old Kingdom” by modern-day scholars, and this part of history gives you a chance to delve into the construction of the great pyramids. These were followed by dynasties 7 to 11, which was a time of control by foreign rulers. Egypt’s government was deemed weak and vulnerable to invasion during that period.

Maybe you want to know why the Old Kingdom collapsed. Scholars believed it was probably because of severe drought, famine, and unavoidable climate change in the region, in addition to political dispute and civil wars.

Dynasties 12 and 13 are often described as the “Middle Kingdom” or the start of a dynasty where a ruler named Mentuhotep II took power until about 2000 B.C. and reclaimed Egypt to unite it as a single country.

Pyramid building began in Egypt, as described by the excavated evidence, together with their advances in medical science. At this time, the kings had secured their military and political powers and enjoyed the full support of the people.

Dynasties 14 to 17 are categorized as the “second intermediate period” when the government collapsed for the second time. Maybe you find it unbelievable that this misfortune befell Egypt a second time, but it did happen. It was a frustrating time for the whole country to suffer once again.

Scholars refer to dynasties 18 to 20 as the “New Kingdom” because it was a time when the country was reunited from the hands of the invaders, and it established unparalleled prosperity by strengthening its military and political ties with other kingdoms. You can never fathom the grand effort of Hatshepsut, a queen who declared herself as pharaoh.

She spearheaded trading exploration with neighboring kingdoms, as well as the rebuilding of temples. The most significant archeological discovery of that time is the Valley of the Kings, where the mummified body of Tutankhamun was discovered.

This was followed by the so-called “third intermediate period” led by the Sea Peoples or those from the Aegean. The Egyptians may have defeated the Sea People during their battles.

However, it was reported that the Egyptians were also wounded in those fights. This period was characterized by an overwhelming decline in power and inevitable conflicts with other nations.

Dynasties 25 to 31 are referred to as the “late period” by scholars. The rulers of the 25th dynasty were from Nubia, a place located in southern Egypt and northern Sudan. The Persians and the Assyrians were great contemporaries at that time.

In 332 B.C., Alexander the Great conquered Egypt by subduing the Persians out of the country and baptizing the people. Egypt was assimilated into the Macedonian Empire, but after his reign, another great empire followed. He was revered by the Egyptians as the deliverer when he established the Macedonian Ptolemaic Kingdom.

After Alexander the Great’s demise, a line of rulers followed, starting from Ptolemy Soter, one of Alexander’s commanders. The remainder of these “Ptolemaic” rulers (as researchers frequently call them) included Cleopatra VII, who committed suicide in 30 B.C. after the loss of her powers by the hand of the Roman sovereign Augustus at the Battle of Actium. After her death, Egypt was fused into the Roman Empire.

Although the Roman emperors were based in Rome, the Egyptians adored them as present pharaohs. One recent excavation showed the ruler Claudius (rule A.D. 41 to 54) dressed as a pharaoh. The cutting has hieroglyphic engravings that identified Claudius as the “Child of Ra,” along with many other titles given to honor him.

Religious Scenario in Egypt

Religious faith has been a pivotal point in Egyptian culture since antiquity. Priests are considered defenders of the faith, particularly the religion of the Pharaohs. To make sure that they have a solid Christian faith during the Christian era, the Bishop of Alexandria himself served as a guard against heresy.

Nowadays, Egypt is home to Al Azhar University, one of the oldest Islamic universities in the world and the educational center of the Sunni Islamic faith that predominantly influences the Islamic faith in Egypt.

There are Egyptians who distinguish themselves as atheists and rationalists. It is hard to evaluate their number as the stigma attached to being one makes it difficult for atheist Egyptians to openly claim their views.

When it comes to religion, Egypt’s culture reveals a complicated scenario because of the presence of the world’s greatest religions on its land. People are adamant about their faith and practice, sometimes leading to misunderstanding and religious gaffes.

The People of Ancient Egypt and their Creativity

The ancient people of Egypt were not only superstitious, but they also embraced a polytheistic religion, which means worshipping a number of gods and goddesses. They have gods for everything, and this is what makes it different from Christianity and Islam.

Prepare your heart as you discover the people’s unimaginable belief in the unknown. For instance, the people worshipped Osiris, the god of the underworld. They built a cult temple for him, as well as several shrines established in his honor. One amazing facet of their religion is their belief in navigating the underworld for the sake of their dead loved ones.

Traditions of Egypt and its people are recorded and handed down from one generation to another. Egyptians take great pride in their history and culture.

Muslims and Christians share a common history in Egypt, but you must remember that religious conflicts come from these two groups. Its members stage tensions, causing prejudice, violence, and clashes between them.

On the other hand, Egyptian people show unique vibrance in society. They express themselves well in architecture, sculpture, commerce, and trade. Through their ingenuity, they have made advances in mathematics, mechanics, medicine, geography, and engineering. Their hard work has left a profound effect on the social and cultural cycle of the country.

Major advances in the field of architecture, art, and technology can be traced back to Egypt. You can tell that they have made phenomenal advances in many fields, thanks to their impressive talents.

Contributions of the Ancient Egyptians to the World

Egypt, as the cradle of civilization, holds an outstanding position in the world for inventing many of the world’s firsts. They have a profound legacy in art, architecture, medicine, printing, and sculpture. No one can deny the creative talents of the Egyptians in the said fields. Egyptian monuments and obelisks are among the most outstanding creations in the world.

You will be in awe that even their ruins demand respect for their artistry. They have excelled in art as well, and they have impeccable knowledge of design. You can visit Egypt to see for yourself the wonders of their hands.

So many achievements have been recorded in history since time immemorial, and Egyptians deserve recognition for their excellent art, engineering, and architecture. It may be safe to say that we owe them our modernization because they built the foundation based on which we patterned our ideas at present. With more than 5,000 years in history, Egypt’s legacy will last a lifetime.

Conclusion

With the grandeur of its civilization, Egypt prides itself on being recognized as the birthplace of mankind. Much has happened to this country, which is famous for its pyramids, but you should remember that there’s more to life and Egyptian history than just the classic structures in the desert. There is more to celebrate because they have given us their outstanding contributions. The challenge is now in our hands.

Egypt has protected its culture while extraordinary archeological revelations were made. One aftereffect of the extension of the empire was the enthusiasm for foreign cultures, which led to a more inclusive economy, politics, and history. Meanwhile, Egyptian traditions are carefully preserved in its annals of history.

At present, Egypt has been showing a vibrant culture and society, and you know it has a lot to offer. Egyptians simply display their talents in art, music, design, and engineering. No one can undermine their legacy and intelligence, which we enjoy in our modern world.

How great it is to have these people in our history who have been gifted with many talents that give color to our society! Let us take a glimpse at the heart of the Nile as Egypt tries to prove its worth in the international window.