Tumgik
Text
Final Project: Egyptian Imperialism in Nubia
Tumblr media
My project will delve into the imperial strategies of Ancient Egypt on their southern neighbors in Ancient Nubia/Kush. The occupation of the Kingdom of Nubia/ Kush throughout the periods of Old, Middle, and New Kingdom Egypt is an ideal case study in trying to understand the shifting imperial ideologies of Egypt over time.
0 notes
Text
The Old Kingdom: An Introduction 2686-2184 BCE
Tumblr media
The Old Kingdom of Egypt was established in 2686 BC with the unification of Egypt under Pharaoh Djoser of the third dynasty. This period encompassed the third through sixth dynasty. After the death of Pepi II in 2184 BC, Egypt fell into a civil war and entered the first intermediate period. 
0 notes
Text
The Old Kingdom Imperial Ideologies
l
Tumblr media
Although the Old Kingdom did not see the militaristic or cultural conquests of Nubia that the Middle and New Kingdoms would see, the Old Kingdom did have a relationship with the Nubians in south (Nubia starts between the first and second cataracts of the Nile). Archaeological evidence has produced Egyptian grave goods from this period in some Nubian tombs suggesting early trade between the two kingdoms. These goods include copper chisels, alabaster vases, and ivory ornaments (Adams, pg. 41). It has been suggested that the early trade, before the height of the Old Kingdom, was unorganized and mostly private as there is no evidence of commercial enterprise in the writings of the early Egyptian pharaohs.
However, this was not to last. Archaeologists have observed the disappearance of Egyptian goods from the tombs of common Nubian folk around the time of the third dynasty when the pharaohs of Egypt began consolidating and strengthening their power over the state. It is thought that this power, as well as the accumulation of wealth by the elite, led to the military expeditions and resource exploitation of the 4-6th dynasties (Adam, pg.42). Pharaoh Sneferu of the fourth dynasty led a famous expedition that captured 7,000 Nubian men and 200,000 cattle (Adams, pg. 42).  The fifth dynasty also saw the openings of quarries and a copper-smelting operation in Buhen near the second cateract. The Old Kingdom was more focused on the gathering and exploting of Nubian resources than the Middle or New Kingdoms would be. However, there is no evidence to suggest they planned to set up permanent colonies in Nubia. 
0 notes
Text
The Middle Kingdom: An Introduction 2055-1660 BCE
Tumblr media
After the first intermediary period after the fall of the Old Kingdom, Prince Mentuhotep II of Thebes reunited Egypt and ushered in the 12th pharaonic dynasty. During this period, Egypt would once again extend their influenced into Lower Nubia and build forts to control trade and resources along the Nile. Eventually, the Middle Kingdom would fall after the 13th dynasty.
1 note · View note
Text
The Middle Kingdom: Militaristic and economic imperialism
Tumblr media
Nubia was known for its abundance of resources (particularly gold, ivory, and animal hides) and its control over the trade of the 1st-4th cataracts. During the Middle Kingdom period, only the 1st and 2nd cataracts were overtaken by the pharaoh of Egypt. To gain control of the trade routes along these sections of the Nile, and to protect Egyptian conquered lower Nubia from the rising Kerma Kingdom of Upper Nubia, Sesostris III (reign: 1878-1839 BC) built a chain of fortresses along the Nile and desert regions. Walls between the fortresses of Uronarti and Semna were also built. Only two fortresses remain above the waterline in modern Egypt and Sudan. Shown below is a picture of the walls of the Fortress of Buhan. It was heavily fortified and had arrow slits and balconies for long range fighting. The translation of a stele from Sesostris’ reign illuminates the reasonings for fortress construction. 
“In order to prevent all nehesyw passing it in traveling downstream by water or by land with a ship or with all cattle of the nehesyw; except when a nehesy will come in order that trading might be done in Iqen (Mirgissa) on or a commission. Any good thing may be done with them; but without allowing a boat of the nehesyw to pass in traveling downstream by Heh, forever.” (Smith 1995:40; see also Adams 1977)
Tumblr media
At the forts, regiments were regularly rotated throughout the 12th century.  Victory stelae from the period also attest to military campaigns into southern Nubia and aggression of Middle Kingdom armies. Evidence from the 13th dynasty suggests that the rotation of troops may have decline and more permanent occupation may have been established. Stelae and archaeological excavations have shown an increasing number of Egyptian burials around fortresses that include women and children with the soldiers. Remnants of mines, presumably gold mines which Nubia was famous for, as well as other buildings relating to manufacturing and gathering resources suggests that these areas were also used for the economic exploitation of the Nubian population. 
Private stelae from the fort of Burhan tell of Egyptians working for the Kerman king during the second intermediate period when the forts fell out of Egyptian hands. Some were abandoned or fell into disrepair. 
0 notes
Text
The New Kingdom: An Introduction 1550-1352 BCE
Tumblr media
After the second intermediate period (1650 BC- 1570 BC), Ahmose I founded the eighteenth dynasty of Egypt (reign 1539-14). During his reign he managed to reoccupy lower Nubia to the second cataract, regain control over Middle Kingdom fortresses, and drive the Hyksos from Egypt. His eventual successor, Thutmose II (1510- 1479) completed the Nubian conquest to the 4th cataract of Upper Nubia and wiped out the Kerma monarchy. 
0 notes
Text
New Kingdom: Diplomacy and Government
Tumblr media
Pictured above are Nubian princes presenting offerings to the Pharaohs of Egypt from the Tomb of Huy, a Viceroy of Kush who oversaw economic, militaristic, and governmental practices in Nubia. The image is from the Met Museum. 
Although military force was used by Pharaoh Ahmose of the 18th dynasty and Pharaoh Thutmose II two generations later to conquer all of Nubia, evidence suggests that they did not resume the militaristic domination seen in the Middle Kingdom. An archaeological study comparing the traumatic injuries present on skeletons in the cemetery of the New Kingdom colony of Tombos and those present at the Middle Kingdom cemetery at Kerma found that those at Kerma presented significantly higher rates of defensive injuries than those at Tombos. At Tombos only 14.3% of the bodies excavated showed potential signs of parry fractures compared to the 61% percent at Kerma. Monuments also attest to this lack of violence in Nubia. Descriptions of military campaigns found on monuments during this period were of victories outside of, or at the very margins of, the colonial area of Nubia.
After the fall of the Kingdom of Karma to the Egyptians, the Egyptians implemented a governmental system similar to their own to fill the power vacuum. Evidence suggests that those who took these governmental offices were elites who had been displaced when Kerma fell. The Viceroy of Kush, just under the pharaoh regarding control in Nubia, was in charge of directing military and economic ventures in Nubia. He was also in charge of keeping the deputies of Wawat (Lower Nubia) and Kush (Upper Nubia) in line. The deputies of both lower and upper Nubia were both of Nubian descent as well. It is an established idea that the upper class of Nubia had some roll in governmental oversites under the pharaohs of the New Kingdom.
1 note · View note
Text
New Kingdom : Cultural Imperialism
Tumblr media
Lower Nubia, from the 1st-3rd cataract experienced cultural interaction with Egypt differently than Upper Nubia from the 3rd-4th cataract and beyond. This may have been because Upper Nubia was far from the core of Egyptian rule and also had no previous Egyptian foot-holding before the New Kingdom. Although early scholars studying Nubia thought that Nubians experienced a uniform pattern of Egyptianization, modern scholars have developed a more complex approach that gives power to Nubians over cultural choices. There has been evidence of blatant cultural assimilation as well as rejection and cultural hybridity. 
“Different cultural features were not passively borrowed, but instead new cultural configurations were actively constructed through an accumulation of individual choices.” pg. 372 Stuart Tyson Smith
Funerary Practices 
Tumblr media
Women buried in pit grave in Nubian flexed position in Egyptian colonial cemetery at Tombos. (National Geographic, Michele Buzon)
Archaeologist Save-Soderbergh analyzed cemeteries near the 2nd cataract of Nubia. At these cemeteries, he found mixed Nubian and Egyptian practices, although the cemetery at the colony of Fadrus showed extensive Egyptianizing. Such practices included the use of Egyptian pottery as grave goods but tombs built in Nubian structures or bodies presented in a flexed Nubian position. Bodies at Fadrus also presented the Egyptian burial orientation of facing the body East to West as opposed to the Nubian orientation of North to South.  Similarly, the colonies of Soleb, Tombos, and Serra East presented similar mixtures of Egyptian and Nubian burials. Most recently, an archaeological team with National Geographic was excavating tombs at Tombos and a woman in an Egyptian tomb was found buried in a traditional Nubian flexed position. For the upper strata of society, there may have been more incentive to fully Egyptianize their burials. The Princes of lower Nubia, who were made regional leaders under the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, were buried in Egyptian style tombs with Egyptian grave goods and decorations. 
 Temple Complexes and Religion
Temple towns, villages built around a temple complex, were an importation into Nubia from Egypt. Some of the New Kingdom temple towns include those at Buhen, Amara West, Sesebi and Sai Island. The seat of Egyptian ideological influence in the southern region was the temple complex colony of Napata. The temple built there, a temple to Amon such as the one that was built in Karnak, was built above the desert mesa of Jebel Barkal. Prior to Egyptian invasion, Barkal had been a sacred location for all Nubians. Although these temple complexes were built to Egyptian gods, there is archaeological evidence to suggest that in private homes, Nubians were still paying tribute to their won Gods.  Perhaps one of the most well known temples is Abu Simbel, pictured below. Built by Rameses II of the eighteenth dynasty, the temple complex not only included a massive temple to himself and his wives, the tiny people underneath are those that Rameses conquered including the Nubians but also several Egyptian gods and goddesses. Although Nubian religion may still have been practiced in private, the temple complexes of the New Kingdom suggest that Egyptian religion was being actively transplanted into the daily lives and culture of Nubia.
Tumblr media
0 notes
Text
Bibliography
- Bestock, Laurel and Knoblauch, Christian “Revisiting Middle Kingdom Interactions in Nubia: Uronarti Regional Archaeological Project”, Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections, Vol 6:4 (2014), pg. 32-35
- Buzon, Michele R., and Richman, Rebecca “ Traumatic Injuries and Imperialism: The effects of Egyptian Colonial Strategies at Tombos in Upper Nubia” American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 133- 789-791 (2007)
-  Smith, S.T., “The Nubian Experience of Egyptian Domination During the New Kingdom” in Emberling, Geoff and Williams, Bruce (eds.) Oxford Handbook of Ancient Nubia (2020) 
- Lemos, Rennan, “(Archaeology of) Religion in New Kingdom Nubia” The Database of Religious History (2021) 
- Adams, William “The First Colonial Empire: Egypt in Nubia, 3200-1200 BC” Comparative Studies in Society in History, 26:1 (1984), Pg. 36-71 
- Graves, Carl “ Intercultural Communication: Egypt and Nubia 2543-1076 BC” Connections: Communications in Ancient Egypt (2012)   
- Budka, Julia, “The New Kingdom in Nubia: New Results from current excavations on Sai Island”,  Egitto e Vicino Oriente, 37 (2014), pg. 55-87
0 notes
Text
The Roman Empire: Glorification in Modern America
Tumblr media
0 notes
Text
Caesars Palace and the modern glorification of Rome
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Pictures above: Caesars Palace Hotel (1st from CNN) and entryway (2nd from CNtraveler blog)
Caesars Palace in Las Vegas Nevada, pictured above, is a place of opulence, beauty, and wealth. Designed to make sure ever guest felt like Caesar, the hotel was built in a Greco-Roman art style and lavished with statues, fountains, and golden filigree. The concept is beautiful, but its portrayal of Rome is overly glorified. 
Firstly, although Caesar is often portrayed as a powerful leader (which he was) he was never officially an Emperor. His civil war led to him taking control of the Senate and eventually being given the title of  “dictator for life” but at the time Rome was still a “republic”. In fact, it was his civil war, and the subsequent war that followed after his death, that would lead to the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire. Although he was famous, he was not the quintessential symbol of Rome. Another interesting note, the hotel has a statue of Emperor Nero on display as well. Nero was notorious for his corruption and disastrous leadership. 
Secondly, the wealth that was accumulated by Rome through taxes would have gone to infrastructure projects such as roads or new building projects. Although the wealthy of Rome would have enjoyed privileges such as large villas, beautiful frescos, and bright colors, the massive amounts of amenities, costs, statues, randomized frescoes, and gaudy architecture found at Caesars Palace are unrealistic to the truth of either the Republic or the Empire. 
Lastly, Caesar’s Palace portrays the Romans as lustful, carefree, wealthy, laisse faire people who had absolute strength and power, the height of prestige to which everyone should aspire. However, the Romans constantly expanded, fought battles, experienced corruption (later on anyway) and went through series of challenges. Although the mystic of Caesars Palace is alluring, it forgets the truth of the matter which was that all was not always peaceful, easy, or carefree in Rome. 
0 notes
Text
Western misconceptions of the Persian Empire in The Prince of Persia: An Introduction
Tumblr media
Based on the video game “ The Prince of Persia: Sands of Time” a movie aptly titled the same was released by Walt Disney Studios in 2010. Pictured above is the movie’s release poster as featured on Disney+. Although the video game was clearly set during the Achaemenid Persian Empire (550-330 BCE), the movie (which is also supposed to be set during the Achaemenid Empire) has glaring historical errors that make it harder to place time wise. Besides these errors, and the blatant white washing of all the characters, there are several stereotypes and misconceptions about the Persian empire perpetuated in this film. They will further be explored in the posts that follow. 
4 notes · View notes
Text
Misconceptions in Prince of Persia: An Explanation
Tumblr media
Misconception 1: The landscape (Pictured above is a gif found on Tumblr a city from the movie)
The Achaemenid empire in Persia spanned 200 million square miles from Asia and Egypt almost all the way to Greece. It contained multiple types of terrain including deserts, mountains, valleys, lakes, and plains. However, in the movie Prince of Persia the most widely used landscape was the desert. Although there were scenes where Dastan and Tamina were hiking through a mountain or in a rocky canyon, they were most widely scene in pure deserts where sand and rock were their most constant companions. This may have been because the movie was shot in Morocco rather than in any of the territory where the empire used to lay claim but the misconception that the Middle East is only desert is also heavily prevalent in western society.
Misconception 2: Cultural and religious intolerance 
It is made clear from the beginning of the movie that the leading female character Tamina and her kingdom of Alamat had different religious views from the hero Dastan and the rest of the Persian empire. She uses the term “gods” many times while other Persians, including Dastan’s uncle Nazim, use the singular “god”. Throughout the movie the Persians call the magic and mysticism of Tamina’s religion “heresy” or “pagan nonsense”. They actively condemn her cultural and religious practices multiple times. However, the Achaemenid empire of Persia was actually quite tolerant to other cultures and religions. As long as they were paying taxes and not causing problems, they could, in theory, continue practicing whatever they wished. Given that this movie is steeped in western values, this might also be a reference to historical practices of monotheistic religions condemning those that do not conform.  
Misconception 3: Governmental structures 
A painless transition of power, princes getting away with direct disobedience, and a battle not ordered by the king were all featured within the movie. It may be fair to say that these tropes were used purely to help the story move along, however, it is important to note the blatant inaccuracies as well. Firstly, the Achaemenid empire was able to grow and function as precisely as it did because of the role the king played as the person holding ultimate power. Not only would the princes in the movie not have been able to get away with starting a battle against a holy city on the orders of an advisor but the direct disobedience which Dastan displays in attacking the city before the rest of the army wouldn’t have gone unpunished. Secondly, and most importantly, when Dastan’s father is killed his older brother peacefully transitions into his position as king despite two other claimants to the throne. Although this is a western ideal, in the actual Achaemenid Empire succession would have been much more of a contested, and even fought over, matter. 
These are only three misconceptions based on western ideals, stereotypes, and tropes. However, the movie displays many more. 
4 notes · View notes
Text
Conclusions and Solutions
Tumblr media
Conclusions: The movie Prince of Persia: Sands of Time portrays Persians as roguish conquerors who live in the middle of mostly desert, have limited color palates, and value honor, glory, and family above all else. However, the tropes and stereotypes presented ultimately undermine the true complexities of the Achaemenid Empire which they were trying to portray. These ideas may be based on general ideas of what the Middle East is like today or a blatant ignorance on the subject matter. 
Solutions: Besides the desperate need for more diverse casting in Hollywood movies, a greater emphasis on historical accuracy in movies or even just an emphasis on learning anything beyond the basics of western society in schools would be a solution. So little is taught in American about the Persians, their culture, and the lands they once inhabited that ignorance is allowed to run free and unchecked on this subject. Movies such as this, even though it was based off of a videogame and meant to be at least somewhat inaccurate, only perpetuate misinformation. 
1 note · View note
Text
Egyptian legacy
Tumblr media
Come with me as I explore the legacy of Ancient Egypt in America through Barbie dolls.
1 note · View note
Text
Egyptian Barbie
Tumblr media
The Great Eras Collection
Egyptian Queen Doll
Released: 1994
Picture Credit: Barbie. mattel.com
Long thought to be a staple of any American girls childhood and a standard of beauty since its introduction in 1957 by Mattel, Barbie has been influential in capturing the important aspects of American culture and an inspiration to young children everywhere.
The Egyptian Queen doll was released in 1994 as one of the first dolls in Barbie’s Great Eras collection. Adorned in white, gold, blue, and turquois, the queen was marketed as “capturing the essence of Egypt’s golden age” (Mattel).  As one of only two dolls from a non-western culture, the other being the Chinese Empress doll, the Egyptian Queen Barbie marketed Ancient Egypt as a culturally and intellectually akin to those of western cultures such as the Grecian Goddess Barbie or the Southern Belle Barbie. Ultimately, this Barbie presents Ancient Egypt as an era of history which we should romanticize, idealize, and aspire to in opulence, grace, and vibrant culture. If Ancient Egypt was trying to be remembered as wealthy, vibrant, and awe inspiring they did a good job!
2 notes · View notes
Text
Egyptian Barbie part 2
Tumblr media
Dolls of the World: The Princess Collection
Princess of the Nile Doll 
Released by Mattel: December 1st, 2001
Photo Credit: Barbie.mattel.com
The Princess of the Nile was released by Mattel in 2001 in a collection that sought to inspire curiosity and educate young children about cultures vastly different than our own. The Princess of the Nile was not only marketed as a more accurate depiction of Egyptian culture but also came with educational information on the back of the box about pharaohs, Egyptian makeup, and the princess’s daily routine and duties. The description on the box sounds mysterious and enchanting, talking of a “proud civilization” from long ago, a “beautiful dark haired princess” in her magnificent palace along the Nile, and her father who held the “secrets of heaven and Earth” (Mattel).  The doll reminds children again that Ancient Egypt was a wonderous, mystical place. Although Mattel attempted to place Ancient Egypt within proper context and further expand the cultural understandings of children, it also places Ancient Egypt, rather than modern Egypt, as a culture to which we should aspire and marvel at. Perhaps some of its magic and protection will bless them while they play. 
1 note · View note