A Bridge of Curiosity and Conflict: How Egyptology Connected Europe and Egypt
A Bridge of Curiosity and Conflict: How Egyptology Connected Europe and Egypt Departmental Honors Paper Jessica Burnette Burnette, 1 Outsiders in Egypt Egyptology has been a driving force of cultural clash and exchange in Egypt for a very long time. Even during the Pharaonic Period in Egypt itself, there were people who possessed a deep fascination for the nation’s past. It is hardly a surprise, then, that this fascination continued through time and spread to other nations and peoples. Egypt and its people have borne the brunt of the effects of this foreign fascination with their nation. This is especially true during and following the periods of major European influence in Egypt. Egyptology, even before it was officially called such, was both a major reason for and a way in which Europeans interacted with Egypt and its people. Egyptology acted as a sort of connective tissue between Egypt and Europe. Changes, both cultural and political, in one country would send ripples through that connection, which would then have an effect on the other. That is not to say that the connection was entirely equal. Europe was very much a colonial power in this relationship, and exerted more influence on Egypt than Egypt was often capable of matching in return. Despite the imbalance, neither side was left unchanged by the connection forged through Egyptology. In order to explore how Egyptology changed over time and affected Egypt and Europe, it is important to understand what exactly it is. To judge by the name alone, Egyptology would seem to be the study of every aspect of Egypt: its geology, culture, climate, languages, society, politics, and its entire history.
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