The young ancient Egyptian kingdom, well-provided with resources in its fertile river valley, had little need to interact outside its boundaries. There developed a world-view which contrasted Egypt, representing cosmic order, with other lands representing chaos. But, firstly, the need to obtain luxury goods, then the ambitions of expansionist rulers and the consequent meeting with other states and cultures, introduced ancient Egypt to its diverse neighbours. Through time, alliances formed and dissolved and warfare ebbed and flowed. Over three long periods there was a wealthy and secure Egyptian empire, the collapse of each associated with civil war and, the unthinkable, foreign rulers in some parts of the kingdom. Finally, Egypt was prey for other empires — Assyria, Persia, Greece and Rome — but with its social structure and material culture still recognisable after three millennia.
Taking an approximately chronological view, we will examine the origins of ancient Egypt and her changing relationships with other lands, including: expeditions for the extraction of raw materials, military action inside and outside her borders, tribute flowing into Egypt, trade partnerships (also presented by Egyptian official records as ‘tribute’!), political alliances sealed by intermarriage, emigration and immigration, the fertilization of Egyptian culture by new peoples and ideas from Africa, the Mediterranean and western Asia, her experience of being a client state, and the inspiration she gave to the Classical world.
Maps and a chronology will help to set the lectures in context.
