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Politics political system


Modern scholars divide the history of Egypt into thirty dynasties, following the practice of a third century B.C.E. historian named Manetho. He was an Egyptian who wrote in Greek for the Ptolemaic kings.

Ancient Egypt was also a theocracy, controlled by the clergy. The Pharaoh's advisors and ministers were almost always priests, who were considered the only ones worthy and able to carry out the god-kingšs commands. As in most religious ancient societies, priests had special status above the rest of the citizens, forming a kind of nobility.

Ancient Egyptian art was a direct reflection of the political state of the different kingdoms. In the Old Kingdom the Pharaoh's position was absolute, divine in nature. He was a supreme ruler and a god. The dominance of the Pharaoh was illustrated in funerary paintings by his placement on the picture plane and his large size in comparison to the other figures.

Akhenaten ("He who is of service to the Aten" or "Effective Spirit of Aten") is one of the most famous pharaohs of ancient Egypt, despite the attempts of later rulers to omit him from the lists of kings. Akhenaten built several structures at Karnak during the early part of his reign. Even in the New Kingdom, when Akhenaton forced the people to put aside the 'old gods' in favour of a single god, religion and government were tightly entwined.

When the Pharaoh was weaker, especially in the First and Second Intermediate Periods, sometimes he (or she) could not make the rich people do what he (or she) wanted them to. Unlike Mesopotamia and the Middle East, where an original river-valley basis to civilization ultimately gave way to the spread of civilization throughout an entire region, Egyptian civilization from its origins to its decline was focused on the Nile River and the deserts around it.

Ancient (and Baladi) Egyptians, married couples live with the wife's family. Living with the bride's parents is the preferred rule. Additionally, the children of the family are brought up close to their maternal uncles. A matrilocal community generally consists of a number of extended matrilineal families who share the same female line, living in compounds clustered within a narrow area, or scattered about in groups.

Some scholars have seen even larger links between Egypt's stable, centralized politics and its fascination with an orderly death, including massive funeral monuments and preservation through mummification. Death rituals suggested a concern with extending organization to the afterlife, based on a belief that, through politics, death as well as life could be carefully controlled.


Money & Coins Recreation Part 1 Trading of Goods
Famous Monuments Recreation Part 2 Translation Of Hieroglyphics
Mummies / Mummification Religion Part 1 Transportation System
Music in Ancient Egypt Religion Part 2 Viziers Ranking
Musical Instruments Religious Beliefs Famous Wars Fought
Myths Part 1: Creation, Eye of Ra Sarcophagus Weaponry & Chain of Command
Myths Part 2: Death Children's Schools Common Weapons Used in War
Names and Meanings Science and Technology Women's Life Part 1
Numbering System Role of Scribes Women's Life Part 2
Obelisks Designs Life of Slaves & Slavery Status of Women
Paintings Style, Colours Social Classes in Ancient Egypt British Museum and Ancient Egypt
Papyrus Invention Soldiers in the Army Burial Tombs In Ancient Egypt
Pharaohs Dynasties Sphinxes - majestic monuments Concept of Afterlife
Pottery Designs Common Sports Played Farming In Ancient Egypt
Priests' Role Famous Statues Common Food and Drink
Process Of Embalming Symbols and Meanings King Tutankhamun of Egypt
Famous Proverbs Tattoos and Designs Sun God: Ra
Queens Part 1: Cleopatra Technology Advancements The Pyramids of Ancient Egypt
Queens Part 2: Other Queens Temples' Significance Valley of The Kings
Popular Quotes Commonly used Tools Pictures/Photos

This page last updated in Jan 2014
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