International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Studies Volume 4, Issue 12, 2017, PP 11-21 ISSN 2394-6288 (Print) & ISSN 2394-6296 (Online) The Debates on the Perception of the Ancient Egyptian Civilization Dr. Jock Matthew Agai School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg *Corresponding Author: Dr. Jock Matthew Agai, School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. ABSTRACT There is a tradition according to which the ancient Egyptians were the most civilized people that ever lived. This researcher contests this tradition and argue that the Semitic Peoples and the archaeological findings in Egypt are primary in developing the construct according to which human civilization started from Egypt. The purpose of this research is to firstly shed light on the reasons that led to the development of the tradition of the ancient Egyptian civilization, and secondly, to highlight the implications of the perception of the ancient Egyptian civilization on other Africans. Keywords: Archaeological Discoveries, Artefacts, Civilization, Construct, Culture, Theories, Perception 3 THE CONCEPT OF CIVILIZATION racialization of the concepts of civilization. Professor Philippe Denis is a senior lecturer in Botz-Bornstein have presented a theory according the history of Christianity at the School of to which the French people and the Germans Religion, Philosophy and Classics, University of originated the concept of civilization (Botz- Kwa-Zulu Natal. Denis believed that the ancient Bornstein 2012:10). Another school of thought Egyptians were not civilized as it has been emphasizes that the beginning of writing is speculated. He thought that the conceptualization equivalent to the beginning of human of the civilization of the ancient Egyptians was a civilization. However, this view is disputed by mere construct formed by individuals who are many other European and African scholars attracted to Egypt or to the Egyptian artefacts (Mizinga 1992:3). Adeoti for example said that and culture.1 On the other hand, a number of writing should not be considered as the major scholars and political heads have argued that and the only criteria for determining the beginning human civilization started in Egypt and that the of human civilization (Adeoti 2014:319). Egyptian civilization is not just a mere construct Adeoti further argued that Africans for example but a material-reality that is denied simply had various way of disseminating and because the ancient Egyptians were Africans.2 preserving knowledge and that their methods of The debates which associated the origins of knowledge preservation which included oral human civilization with Egypt led to the tradition and oral history suggests that Africans were civilized before the emergence of writing (Adeoti 2014:319). Professor Graham Connah of The Australian National University College 1 The author of this article had an interview with also pointed out that writing alone did not in any Professor Philippe Denis, “Egyptian Civilization,” th way negates other means or ways of defining University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Pietermaritzburg, 16 civilization. He emphasized that writing is not November 2015. 2The unique-technological advancements of the the main inspiration for human civilization Egyptians which gained global recognition have (Connah 1987:8). Connah defined civilization as made a number of scholars to argue that the ancient the creation of a city/state where food-production Egyptians were not Africans or black people hence their civilization is not of African origin. The 3The concept of civilization have been defined to argument is that the civilization of the ancient please a group or an individual‟s background (Kreis Egyptians suggests that they were not Africans 2014:1). For example, Connah explained that the simply because it was assumed that Africans do not origin of human civilization had been equated to the have any kind of civilization that warranted a global origin of European culture by a number of Europeans recognition (Adamo 2013:73). writers (Connah 1987:6). International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Studies V4 ● I12 ● 2017 11 The Debates on the Perception of the Ancient Egyptian Civilization and governance exist (Connah 1987:8). Botz- Egyptian settlements (Murnane 1992:36). The Bornstein regarded civilization as human results of these early Egyptian settlements led to technical, material and economic advancement the isolation of Egypt by the Semitic Peoples. aimed at making the human life easy to be The isolation led the Egyptians to begin to managed (Botz-Bornstein 2012:10). Connah innovate their own means of survival (Johnson further noted that the racialization of the concept 1978:9). Johnson explained how the topographical of civilization have contributed to making structuring of the ancient Egyptians motivated scholars to have less interest in the definition of them to begin to initiate specific ways of civilization (Connah 1987:8). meeting their needs: In this research, the concept of civilization has The Egyptians, indeed, were self- been expanded to include cognitive abilities consciously aware of their national whose results are expressed in human culture immobility and separateness. They though and not just material technologies alone. While the Valley had existed since the creation. culture and civilization are different concepts, This is not true, in fact at one time all of the researcher argue that the ancient Egyptian Egypt, like most of Africa, was inhabitable. culture is a precursor for their civilization. In the later part of the Middle Paleolithic Generally, culture is today understood as norms Period, about 10,000 BC, there was an propagated by a particular group of society at a accelerating decline in the local rainfall. specific period of time (Hopkins 2002). While The pastures and the savannahs of the differentiating the words culture from Egyptian plains became desert. Even as civilization, Botz-Bornstein narrowed the late as about 2350 BC, average rainfall in meaning of culture as social practices which are Egypt was much higher than today – up to basically intellectual, spiritual and artistic in six inches a year – but it was decreasing nature. He thought that civilization unlike culture is and continued do so throughout historic material, economic, technical and socially times. Much of the country, therefore, engaging. In other words, Botz-Bornstein became increasing[ly] inhospitable to thought that civilization is factual while culture animals and men. The hippos, the is abstract (Botz-Bornstein 2012:10-11). For the gazelles, the buffaloes and ostriches ancient Egyptians, the practice of their culture gradually became fewer. Wild asses, wild led to different innovations which resulted to the cattle, ostriches and lions continued to be perception that the ancient Egyptians were hunted well into the time of the pharaohs civilized. This researcher argues that the ancient (Johnson 1978:9). Egyptians burial culture is preeminent in the Furthermore, the ancient Egyptians developed construct according to which human civilization smaller kingdoms and one of the reasons for the originated from ancient Egypt. The researcher development of the smaller kingdoms was due cited an example of the implications of the to the kind of isolation they experienced from perception of the ancient Egyptian civilization other parts of the world. Wayne and Simonis on the Yorubas of Nigeria. said that about 5000 years ago, the smaller THE HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF kingdoms in Egypt developed into two important THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION states: Lower and Upper Egypt (Wayne & Simonis Egypt had experienced different kinds of 1994:12). The unification of Egypt which was leadership and different leaders came with initiated by Menes took place around 3000 BCE, and the unification resulted to creating different styles of innovations which affected their civilization. The geographical construction opportunities for further innovations which of Egypt had also influenced their civilization. boosted the civilization of the ancient Egyptians For example, the Nile played a great role in (Grajetzki 2003:7). Wayne & Simonis pointed out initiating and developing the religious, economic, that Menes powerful and civilized reign cultural, political and the social activities of the suggests that there was civilization in the Nile ancient Egyptians. In other words, the Nile Valley which existed for centuries before Menes contributed to the perception of the civilization united the two kingdoms (Wayne & Simonis Egypt. The Nile was firstly associated with 1994:12). After Menes rule, more than 30 farming activities before hunting was accepted dynasties, 50 rulers and indigenous Egyptians as a formal activity in Egypt (Murnane ruled Egypt for 2700 years before foreigners 1992:36). The Egyptian land was fertile for crop like the Hyksos began to invade Egypt (Wayne production but narrowed and elongated and & Simonis 1994:12; Adamo 2010:215). these features hampered the fusion of early 12 International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Studies V4 ● I12 ● 2017 The Debates on the Perception of the Ancient Egyptian Civilization The immediate successors of Menes are not for pharaohs. An example of smaller pyramids known but it is known that Menes successors suggesting how Pharaohs lived during the 5th built sophisticated societies, temples, arts, and dynasty can be seen at