From pyramids to hieroglyphs, the symbols of ancient Egypt are immediately identifiable. But who were the ancient Egyptians really? What do we know about their lives, their aspirations, their worries? How did they see themselves and how did they see other ancient peoples? What evidence do we have that can help answer these questions? "Ancient Egypt and its World" is an undergraduate introductory survey of ancient Egyptian culture, with the objective that students gain a basic understanding of the Egyptian world and the evidence that we use to reconstruct it.

In this course, we will explore Egyptian society, religion, and literature, as well as an overview of the main periods and trends in ancient Egyptian political history and material culture. Other topics will include notions of kingship; the status of women; attitudes towards death and strategies for denying it; contacts and relationships with the “outside” world; principal types of archaeological sites; and hieroglyphs, the sacred script of the ancient Egyptian writing system. The perception and representation of Egypt in modern film, fiction, and the press will be considered as well. In addition to lectures and discussions, students will visit the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology to see the material remains of Egyptian culture firsthand.

Intended Audience:

The course is intended for students with no background in the subject, as well as for students with prior coursework on ancient Egypt.

Class Format:

Two 90-minute lectures in addition to 1-hour discussion section weekly