Before 4000 BC, a period known as Neolithic, the first settlements appeared on the lower banks of the Nile Valley, in Upper and Lower Egypt. These people had various origins from the east, west and, some of them, the south. The arrival of these inhabitants ushered in a major change in lifestyle, or rather, the jobs of hunter and shepherd were replaced by the establishment of agricultural communities.
History | Ancient Egypt
In early settlements, there is strong evidence of the practice of grain cultivation, especially in Merimde and the villages of Fayum (map below) where wheat and flax were grown. The annual flood reached much of the land on all sides of the river, and after its retreat, marshy pools remained along the edge of the desert. These marshy territories were covered by immense tangles of papyrus and reeds that grew even deeper between the lagoons of the Delta. The areas were cleared to adapt them to cultivation, even wild animals (snakes, crocodiles, hippos and elephants) had to be dispersed.
On the other hand, the diversity of origin isolated some tribes who preferred to settle in other locations along the valley. In fact, the origin of names and provinces was observed precisely in these tribal units, which served as the basis for the formation of Egypt's political structure in historical times. Subsequently, the fertile and large Nile River provided easy access between many places along the entire length of its banks, which enabled ethnic, cultural and language uniformity, the consequence of which was a certain concealment of individual differences.
On the other hand, the diversity of origin isolated some tribes who preferred to settle in other locations along the valley. In fact, the origin of names and provinces was observed precisely in these tribal units, which served as the basis for the formation of Egypt's political structure in historical times. Subsequently, the fertile and large Nile River provided easy access between many places along the entire length of its banks, which enabled ethnic, cultural and language uniformity, the consequence of which was a certain concealment of individual differences.
It is worth noting that the greatest triumph of the prehistoric period was the control gained over the land, materialized in the containment and use of the Nile floods. The early Egyptians demonstrated great skill in clearing land for cultivation, filling in swamps, and building dikes to protect against floods. Gradually, canals were used for irrigation. Certainly, these developments were the result of an organized work scheme carried out on a large scale, which drove the growth of a local political structure in each district.
Information about the predynastic period exists thanks to evidence observed in the cemeteries of Upper Egypt, in which objects were found. The gradual development in Egypt has been dated throughout the Amratian [1] and Gerzean [2] periods until the beginning of the Dynastic Eras. It is worth highlighting that:
“More recent excavations have yielded remains of even earlier stages of primitive culture, not only in Upper Egypt at Tasa and Badari, but also in the north. The village of Merimde, at the western end of the Delta, represents one of these early stages of man's development in the Nile Valley. Related to this are the settlements of Fayum and El-Omari, not far south of modern Cairo. They roughly correspond to the time of Tasa and Badari in the south who preceded the Amratian culture. The large settlement at Maadi is recognized as postdating the nearby site of El-Omari and some other sources of predynastic objects have begun to be known in the Eastern Delta”
(MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON, p. 16).
Another issue must be emphasized: although much research has been done to prove the cultural differences between the people of Upper and Lower Egypt, which presupposes greater development in the Delta, we cannot forget that currently very few places in the north have been explored. Therefore, knowledge about the period prior to the Amracian culture of Upper Egypt must undergo additional analysis.
The data on religious practices contained in the Pyramid Texts indicates real historical events. It is important to mention that such materials were found on the walls of the burial chamber of King Unas (photo on the side), the last pharaoh of the Fifth Dynasty, whose objects are considered much older, or rather, belonging to a much more distant time. Note that these findings indicate the gradual political unity of Egypt, in addition to highlighting the differences between Upper and Lower Egypt, which were confirmed throughout historical periods, when with each political weakening of central power the tendency was for the separation of country into two parts. Check out another very pertinent and interesting point below:
“At first, the Delta names seem to have formed into coalitions. The western names were traditionally joined by the god Horus, while the eastern part of the Delta was joined by the god Anedjty, Lord of Djedu, who was later assimilated by the great god Osiris”
(MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON, p. 16).
Still regarding this method of naming, it was noted that the worship of Horus as the main god prevailed throughout the Delta region, so that the names of the west influenced those of the east and, consequently, established the northern kingdom. Incidentally, Horus was also prominent in Upper Egypt, as his adherents believed it was the place where Horus defeated Seth, with his main seat at Ombos. Given the above, the thesis that defended the assertion that "the cult of Horus had spread due to the conquest of the south resulting in the pre-dynastic formation that united the entire country" was doubted. Archaeologists, however, discovered that in the late Gerzean period two separate kingdoms worshiped the god Horus, whose southern and Delta capitals were respectively Hierakonpolis and Bhutan.
Tradition attributes the unifying event in Egypt to Menes (photo on the side), the first king of the First Dynasty who can be confused with other kings, such as Narmer and Aha, due to several similarities between them. In fact, at that time, the Southern Kingdom exercised dominion over Egypt. It is believed that, during the Second Dynasty, a revolt broke out in the north, but was suppressed by the kings of Upper Egypt, who in a way “revived the experience of authority of Seth, the ancient local god”, possibly to ensure their unity. There are those who advocate the theory that it was precisely the advancement of the political organization of the South, a strong and resilient people, throughout Egypt's history that helped to consolidate the country, especially after times of ruptures and divisions.
In the Eleventh Dynasty, the Theban Kingdom unified Egypt after the chaos created in the First Intermediate Period and with the expulsion of the Hyksos in the Seventeenth Dynasty. Therefore, the hypothesis of pre-dynastic union of Egypt with the conquest of the south by the people of the Delta is treated with great skepticism. At this stage, the use of stone tools was replaced by copper instruments, including the development of this one. Throughout the Badarian and Amracian periods, the production of flint objects reached an excellent level and capacity, while copper corresponded to a production of small quantities, as the craftsman was still in the apprenticeship phase in which copper was used for weapons. and tools.
“With the Gerzean Period we began to find the practical use of the metal with the possibilities of development in all vessels that this implies, as well as the consequent decline of the flint industry. The influence of invention can be clearly seen in the rise and decline of other crafts” (MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON, p. 17).
Now, the development of artisanal ceramics was combined with an insignificant work on stone vases until the end of the pre-dynastic period, when the emergence of the stone drill brought beauty, speed and low cost to the production of stone vases. There was, therefore, a gradual loss in the manufacture of ceramic pieces until the advent of the potter's wheel at the end of the Second Dynasty caused the potter's craft to regain its previous prestige.
It is believed that the first villages were formed by shelters made of reeds with openings at one end in order to protect the peasant from the hot daytime sun and nighttime wind. The inhabitants of Merimde, in order to acquire additional protection for their “dormitory”, dug oval holes in the ground and covered them with a layer of clods of beaten mud. Another protection stratagem was based on using a pan sunk into the ground to drain all the rainwater and a hippopotamus bone that served as a step into the depression.
Initially, the first reed and wicker huts had a round or oval shape, however, in the Gerzean period, the floor plan became rectangular. In the village of Maadi, the small huts were built with a protective wall, which was in front of the entrance, designed to serve as a windbreak.
Despite the scarcity of remains from these first settlements, their structure gives us an idea of the architectural system made up of clay bricks and light materials that emerged in the First Dynasty. The large brick tombs with their outer walls demonstrate the enormous capacity of the architect of the time. Among the first great constructions, we can mention the temples of the Third Dynasty, mainly the step pyramid of Saqqarah (photo below), a light stone construction.
“The bricklayer imitated columns formed by bundles of reeds covered in mud, roofs made of palm wood and walls made of mud bricks. Picket fences and projecting wooden elements were carved in relief into the small stone masonry. Even the wooden doors are shown, as if they had been thrown against the wall. As naive as this adaptation to the stone may be, the result is beautifully proportioned, light and very pleasant”
(MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON, p. 18).
This entire process was considered a “sophisticated architectural development” regarding the use and handling of bricks, wood and light materials. The mastery of the stone cutter facilitated the construction of a building entirely made of stone, an evolution of Memphite. It is pertinent to highlight that, already during the First Dynasty, “workmen had learned to open chambers in the rock for the great tombs at Saqqarah, while on the other side of the river, at Helwan, large slabs of masonry were used to line the burial chambers” . Perhaps most splendid is the granite block floor in the central chamber of Wedymu's tomb at Abydos.
In the Palermo Stone – one of seven surviving fragments of a stele known as the "Royal Annals of the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt" – there is a record of a stone temple built by King Khasekhemuwy at the end of the Eleventh Dynasty, whose tomb was raised with some limestone blocks and the rest brick. Such hard stone construction represented a great achievement of the Fourth or Fifth Dynasty.
Quotes:
[1] The Amracian culture, also called "Naqādah I culture", was the predynastic Egyptian cultural phase, settled in Upper Egypt, at Al-āmirah near Abydos. Numerous sites, dating from around 3600 BC, have been excavated and have revealed an agricultural lifestyle, similar to that of the earlier Badarian culture, but with advanced skills and techniques (ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA).
[2] Centered mainly at Naqādah and Hierakonpolis in Upper Egypt, Gerzean culture was contemporary with that of Al-Maādī in the north and characterized by buff-colored pottery with pictorial decorations in dark red paint; the use of a tubular drill with an abrasive for cutting stone; pear-shaped apple heads; stone corrugation for sharpening knives; and an advanced metallurgy (ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA).
Source:
ANCIENT EGYPT. MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON.
Author: Vanessa Chamma
Graduated in Arabic Literature and bachelor's in international relations
Researcher and Author
Lines of Research: History, Middle East, Geopolitics.
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