The structure and culture of ancient Egypt stands unmatched in its success and longevity. Although the empire eventually collapsed, the Egyptian people made huge contributions to African history that are still studied in great detail today. When a kingdom such as the ancient Egyptian empire experiences such success, mankind must take a closer look at the society and culture of the people. In addition, the structure of the kingdom and the priorities of the rulers indicate how the empire was able to attain such achievements. While some of Egypt’s history is clouded in mystery, a large portion of their past still exists. From the gigantic Great Pyramids to the intricate details of their social structure, the Egyptian people offer a fascinating approach to ancient African history.
The culture of the ancient Egyptian empire possesses many different aspects. One of the most important details is the centrality of the Nile River to the everyday life of an Egyptian. The magnitude of the river’s necessity is explained by T.G.H James when he states that the early Egyptian empire was known as “The Gift of the River” (14). This shows how the people felt indebted to the Nile for the overall existence of their nation. Also, the Nile River was viewed in a very reverent manner that made the waters into a god. The power of the river was “only rivaled by the life-giving but destructive force of the sun” (David 11). The Nile River also took on many roles throughout the culture of ancient Egypt in addition to its obvious use for drinking water. The river offered an increased source of protection from enemies as well as providing the people with many different food options. Food sources such as fish were made available and the Nile’s flooding allowed the Egyptian people to grow a diverse set of crops like flax, garlic, and fruits. The people were able to grow these foods, because they developed irrigation systems that used the water in an effective manner. Furthermore, the water of the Nile River provided the culture with muddy clay that was used for making bricks or pots, and the waters allowed the Egyptian rulers to be lavished in luxury. The Egyptian empire was very wealthy due in a large part to the metals and minerals that could be found around the river area. So while the Nile provided people with the ability to create objects for daily use, it also gave them a source for trading with other people. While the simple presence of a river may seem like a small detail, the location of the Nile River was absolutely essential to the culture and success of the Egyptians.
Another main aspect of the Egyptian culture was their religious system. The Egyptian people worshipped many gods but the gods had a hierarchy that gave certain gods more power and importance. It is interesting to note that the Egyptian people named their gods after many of the earthly features around them. For example, they had gods just for animals like frogs, fish, cats, and crocodiles. The importance of the gods and other deities can be seen by the fact that gods are found all throughout Egyptian culture. Egyptians looked to the gods for the success of their crops, their safety throughout the day, and also as a source for their existence and creation. Their reliance upon deities produced a belief in the afterlife which evidences itself in Egypt’s most popular destination: the Pyramids. These gigantic structures show how important religion was in the Egyptian’s life. Laborers spent years building these tombs so that the pharaoh could be preserved in an honorable way to respect his position as an intercessor with the gods and as a god himself.
A final main aspect of ancient Egyptian culture is the importance of the arts. Countless numbers of ancient Egyptian artifacts are covered in artistic representations and colorful drawings. These drawings help to reflect specific information about their culture and also serve as a general sign that artistic activity was encouraged during that time. A large number of these decorative pieces were used during burials and in the tombs of the pharaoh and other respected officials. It was necessary for a pharaoh to have ornate decorations all throughout his tomb so that he entered the afterlife properly. High-ranking Egyptians often supported the production of this skill by establishing paying positions for people who were talented in creating things. John Romer talks about this topic and goes on to state that many pottery makers “elevated their craft to an art” that was “never equaled” (42). I think that the large production of arts in Egyptian culture points to the fact that their society was wealthy, and life was good for many of the people. Overall, ancient Egyptian culture was saturated with arts ranging from drawings and pottery to elaborate burial decorations that give us a wonderful insight into the life and culture of the people.
The structure of the ancient Egyptian society was complicated in some regards yet very simple in other ways. One simple factor that greatly contributed to the societal structure of the kingdom was the position of the pharaoh. When Upper and Lower Egypt were united by Menes in the 3rd century B.C., the pharaoh was officially established as the leader of the empire. Not only did he lead the physical affairs of the people, but he also served as a high priest and divine figure. The pharaoh had ultimate power in both the decisions of the empire and the spiritual aspects of the people. The Egyptian people looked to the pharaoh as an intercessor between society and the gods. Because of the pharaoh’s control over almost every aspect of the empire, he was viewed with fear and admiration at the same time. The total dominance of the pharaoh is evidenced simply by the dominating appearance of their tombs and burial sites. In his book First Civilizations, Robert Chadwick talks about how the pyramids “stood as constant reminders of the power and divine qualities of previous pharaohs” (114). The supremacy of the pharaoh was also evident in the establishment of the succession of pharaohs from the same family line. This helped the ancient Egyptians by providing them with a definite ruler that was not under any question. It allowed the people to unite and work towards a better society by having a set system of operations under which to function.
The structure of ancient Egypt was also marked by the importance that was placed on numbers and symbols. Egyptians developed a superstitious mindset that exalted certain numbers and icons as special or divine. For example, the number “7” was associated with growth, while the number “8” was associated with death (Mann 9). This belief in the power of certain numbers affected the structure of the empire by determining the actions of people in their daily life. Ancient Egyptians were afraid to engage in activites that would clash with the numerological patterns of nature or the stars. In addition, symbols and icons played a large role in the structure of the empire. Specific items were given special importance that gave the people a sense of patriotism and respect. Symbols like crowns and special titles impacted the actions of the people by giving them a goal to achieve in the future. Because the Egyptian population highly revered such icons, the structure and behavior of the people were improved to promote the betterment of society.
A final important aspect of ancient Egypt’s structure was the centralized nature of their society. As I have said before, the pharaoh held a position of great power that caused the empire to be highly centralized around him. Their population also demonstrated a heavily centralized location around the Nile River. The combination of being centered in location and centered around a common ruler strengthened the entire empire. In addition, ancient Egypt also exhibited divisions in society that were centered around their traditional government. The divisions under the pharaoh ranked in authority from powerful appointed officials to minor officials to the general population of peasants (Chadwick 139). The overall impact of Egypt’s centralized location and government helped set up a strong empire that was very hard to conquer or divide.
While certain aspects of Egypt’s history may be cast in a mysterious light, enough is known about the ancient Egyptian empire to establish it as a tremendous example of not only a successful African nation but as one of the most successful kingdoms in history. The structure of the Egyptians’ society, with its belief in divine numbers and the importance of symbols, heavily influenced the culture of the people and encouraged the production of artistic projects. Many of these arts reflected the wealth and extravagance of the empire along with the centrality of the Nile River to their daily well-being. While the structure and culture of ancient Egypt may seem vastly different than our civilization today, it is vitally important to study the details of their society and see how certain aspects impacted their people and the overall success of their empire.
Here is a list of supporting works:
Chadwick, Robert. First Civilizations. Montreal: Equinox Publishing Ltd, 2005.
David, Ann Rosalie. The Egyptian Kingdoms. New York: Peter Bedrick Books, 1988.
James, T.G.H. A Short History of Ancient Egypt. London: Cassell Publishers Ltd, 1995.
Mann, Kenny. African Kingdoms of the Past. Parsippany: Dillon Press, 1997.
Romer, John. People of the Nile. New York: Crown Publishers Inc, 1982.
