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18. Egypt - Fall of the Pharaohs

Fall of Civilizations・2 minutes read

Abd Al-Latif Al-Baghdadi, a scholar from Baghdad, explored Egypt, captivated by the pyramids at Giza and the country's rich history. Egypt's civilization, from the construction of pyramids to the decline of royal power, reflected the rise and fall of a once mighty empire.

Insights

Al-Baghdadi's fascination with Egypt's pyramids highlighted their immense size and grandeur, captivating him during his travels.
The construction of the pyramids showcased remarkable engineering precision and enduring design, standing as a testament to ancient craftsmanship.
Egypt's history, spanning thirty-one dynasties, reflected the ebb and flow of its civilization through rise and fall periods.
The decline in pyramid construction in Egypt was influenced by shifts in religious burial practices and concerns over tomb robbers targeting the wealth within.
The New Kingdom of Egypt saw territorial expansion, powerful armies, and impressive monuments, including notable rulers like Hatshepsut and Ramesses II.
Akhenaten's monotheistic beliefs and reforms faced resistance, leading to his son Tutankh-Amun restoring traditional worship and dismantling his father's changes.
The assassination of Pharaoh Ramesses III revealed internal strife in Egypt, with conspirators taking advantage of festival chaos to carry out the attack.
The rise of the Nubian kingdom of Kush, adopting Egyptian culture and religion, led to the Nubian 25th dynasty rule over Egypt, uniting fractured states under Piye.

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What did Abd Al-Latif Al-Baghdadi study?
Law, medicine, philosophy, inspired by Aristotle.

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Summary

00:00

Al-Baghdadi's Journey: Egypt's Wonders Revealed

Around 1200 AD, Abd Al-Latif Al-Baghdadi, a scholar from Baghdad, embarked on a journey of exploration.
Al-Baghdadi studied law, medicine, and philosophy, inspired by Aristotle, and traveled to Mosul, Jerusalem, Damascus, and Aleppo.
He wrote a book, The Book of Edification and Admonition, detailing his travels and impressions of Egypt.
Egypt, with its wondrous monuments and ancient remains, particularly struck Al-Baghdadi.
The pyramids at Giza, especially three immense ones, captivated Al-Baghdadi with their size and grandeur.
Local people near the pyramids were described by Al-Baghdadi, some climbing them, others quarrying stone, and some exploring tunnels.
The pyramids' construction was a marvel of engineering, showcasing precision and design that have stood the test of time.
The Great Pyramid at Giza, visited by Al-Baghdadi, was the tallest man-made structure for over 3,700 years.
Egypt's history, spanning thirty-one dynasties and three main periods, reflects the rise and fall of its civilization.
The Nile River, the lifeline of Egypt, has been crucial to the region's human presence, with the land divided into the fertile black land and the harsh red land.

18:51

Ancient Egypt: Cataracts, Trade, and Unification

Cataracts, from the Greek word "kataraktes," were once rushing torrents before being tamed by the Aswan Dam.
Ancient Egyptians believed the cataracts' thundering waters came from vast subterranean seas.
Aswan acted as a natural barrier to ships, marking the end of Ancient Egyptian influence.
The temple island in Aswan, known as Abu or Elephantine, was a hub for the ivory trade with Nubia.
The Nile's flow from south to north and prevailing winds allowed for easier travel downstream.
Thebes, or Waset, grew in a fertile region, becoming the powerful capital of Upper Egypt.
Faiyum, known as Crocodile City, was home to Nile crocodiles, some of which were tamed by Egyptians.
The balance of the two lands, where the Nile split into its delta, was the strategic location for the capital.
The Egyptian year was divided into flood, growing, and harvest seasons, crucial for agriculture.
King Narmer, symbolized by a fighting catfish, unified Upper and Lower Egypt around 3000 BC, as depicted on the Narmer Palette.

36:25

Ancient Egypt: Hieroglyphs, Pharaohs, and Pyramids

Egyptian hieroglyphs were fully-formed in a complex system, possibly developed by a single person.
The hieroglyph for ruler was a shepherd's crook, symbolizing the king's role as a shepherd for his people.
The term "pharaoh" originated from the Egyptian word "per aa," meaning "great house," and was popularized by the Bible.
Pharaohs were considered living embodiments of gods like Horus and Ra in Ancient Egypt.
Egyptians practiced mummification for the dead, preparing bodies for the afterlife.
Specialist embalmers in Egypt offered different embalming methods at varying prices.
Mummification was costly and mainly accessible to the wealthy, including pharaohs.
King Narmer established Memphis as the capital of Egypt, where pharaohs were buried.
Imhotep, a polymath and royal architect, designed Djoser's stepped pyramid, a revolutionary structure in Egyptian architecture.
Pyramid construction required thousands of laborers, mostly professional artisans and peasants working seasonally.

53:46

"Pyramid Builders: Honored Workers, Royal Complexes"

Construction workers who died during the building of the pyramids were honored by being buried within the royal complex, a privilege not granted to slaves.
The construction of tombs for deceased workers led to a restructuring of the Egyptian government, with skilled individuals being appointed to key roles based on merit.
The transformation in government roles included the separation of functions like the Master of Scribes and Controller of Workshops, delegated to capable individuals.
Sneferu, a king following Djoser, embarked on pyramid-building, ushering in a time of prosperity and stability under the protection of Ma at, the embodiment of justice and truth.
Sneferu's attempts at pyramid-building faced challenges, with his first pyramid at Meidum collapsing during construction due to the stone facing falling off.
Sneferu's second pyramid at Dahshur faced issues with the soft ground causing sinking and cracks, leading to a reduced angle and height to prevent collapse.
Sneferu's final pyramid, built with a 43-degree incline from the start, became the first true Egyptian pyramid, standing 105 meters high and setting the standard for future pyramids.
Khufu, Sneferu's son, built the Great Pyramid at Giza, using 2.3 million stone blocks and local limestone for the interior structure, with granite blocks for the burial chamber.
The Great Pyramid was oriented perfectly to true north, built with exceptional organization in about twenty-three years, standing 147 meters high upon completion in 2560 BC.
Khafre, Khufu's son, built a pyramid beside his father's at Giza, slightly shorter but appearing taller due to its location, with steeper sides and fewer stone blocks, retaining original casing stones.

01:11:31

Decline of Pyramid Construction in Ancient Egypt

Pyramids in ancient Egypt were capped with pyramidions made of diorite or granite, often carved with hieroglyphs and possibly encased in decorative metal like copper or electrum.
The largest pyramids in Egypt were built within a hundred years by three generations of the same family, but enthusiasm for massive pyramids waned after Khafre's monument.
Menkaure, son of Khafre, built a significantly smaller pyramid at Giza due to the belief that he wouldn't live long enough to construct a grand monument like his predecessors.
Menkaure's more modest pyramid marked a shift in priorities from grandeur to other pursuits, breaking the trend of monumental pyramid construction in his family.
Later pyramids in Egypt were constructed on a reduced scale, often with a limestone shell encasing a core of mud brick or earth, reflecting a decline in construction quality.
The decline in pyramid construction was influenced by changes in religious burial practices and concerns over tomb robbers attracted to the wealth within the pyramids.
Pharaohs began to build secret tombs to avoid tomb robbers, but even these were not always safe from theft, as evidenced by the damage done to a king's tomb by grave robbers.
Pharaohs sometimes despoiled previous pyramids for stone to expedite their own construction, a practice discouraged in texts like the Instruction of Merikare.
The decline of pyramid construction led to pharaohs being buried in the Valley of the Kings near Thebes, relieving pressure on them and redirecting resources from pyramid building.
The Old Kingdom of Egypt saw a decline in pyramid construction due to decentralization of power, hereditary positions, and a severe drought around 2200 BC, leading to a succession crisis after Pepi II's death.

01:28:47

"Reunification of Egypt under Mentuhotep II"

Ipuwer, an Egyptian writer, describes a chaotic period with theft, violence, and economic collapse.
Trade from foreign lands dried up during this time.
The Prophecy of Neferti predicts a ruler, Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II, who would bring stability to Egypt.
Mentuhotep II was a king in Thebes, Upper Egypt, who aimed to reunite the fractured kingdom.
The city of Heracleopolis in Lower Egypt was a rival to Thebes during this period.
Mentuhotep II defeated Henen-Nesut, uniting Egypt after nearly two centuries of dissolution.
The Middle Kingdom of Egypt followed, focusing on literature rather than grand monuments.
Stories like the Tale of Sinuhe and the Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor were written during this time.
The Papyrus Lansing gives insight into the professions and daily life of common people in Egypt.
Egyptian diet included bread, vegetables, beans, meat like beef and poultry, and unique foods like hedgehogs and foie gras.

01:47:28

Beer, Cats, and Power in Ancient Egypt

Many beer factories in ancient Egypt were run by women, with some capable of brewing over a million liters annually using large pottery vats over fires.
The Tekh Festival, known as the Festival of Drunkenness, involved Egyptians drinking beer and falling asleep together, then being awoken by drums to potentially meet the goddess Hathor.
Grain storage in Egypt faced threats from mice and rats, with granaries shaped like beehives storing wheat or barley, and cats were relied upon to control these pests.
Egyptian domestic cats, particularly the African wild cat, were kept for their utility in controlling pests and were even buried with offerings, showing a deep affection for them.
Cats in Egypt were associated with femininity and grace, leading to the reverence of the goddess Bastet, who was depicted with a house cat's head.
Egyptians held festivals where cats were ritually fed with bread, milk, and fish, and killing a cat was punishable by death due to the high regard for felines.
Egypt expanded its territory into the horizon lands, subjugating the Nubians and building fortresses to maintain control, with Senusret III leading brutal campaigns.
Senusret III's reign was marked by intense surveillance of the Nubians, with Egyptian soldiers sending detailed reports on their movements back to the pharaoh.
Senusret III's reign was characterized by paranoia, as seen in his statues depicting him with large ears, symbolizing his extensive spy network and control over his kingdom.
Following Senusret III's rule, Egypt faced a succession crisis, leading to the reign of Sobekneferu, the first female pharaoh, but the dynasty's decline continued, plunging Egypt into chaos during the Second Intermediate Period.

02:05:30

Hyksos Conquest: Egypt's Chariot Warfare and Triumph

An Egyptian inscription known as the Tempest Stelae may record a period when the sky turned yellow and crop yields fell due to a terrifying event.
The gods expressed their discontent by causing darkness in the western region with a tempest that unleashed powerful turbulence.
Volcanic ash, or tephra, rained down on the region, leading to famine due to the collapse of the Egyptian administration.
The Hyksos, outsiders from the Eastern Mediterranean, intended to conquer Egypt using chariots, which Egypt had never used before.
The Hyksos brought chariots with two wheels, pulled by horses, and armed with archers, leading to their military success.
The Hyksos established their kingdom in the Nile Delta, capturing Memphis and the pyramids, causing Egyptian kings to retreat to Thebes.
King Kamose, fueled by personal hatred towards the Hyksos, led a successful campaign against them, reclaiming Avaris and defeating the Hyksos.
Kamose's son, Ahmose, continued the fight, recapturing Memphis and expanding Egypt's borders to Palestine and Sudan.
Egypt's New Kingdom saw its greatest territorial extent, with powerful armies using horse-drawn chariots and impressive monuments built.
The New Kingdom also featured notable rulers like Hatshepsut, who undertook expeditions to Punt, and Amunhotep IV, who promoted the deity Amun-Ra.

02:22:56

"Monotheism in Ancient Egypt: Akhenaten's Legacy"

Egyptians worshiped Amun-Ra, the king of gods and creator of the universe, as described in hymns.
Pharaoh Amunhotep IV changed his name to Akhenaten in his fifth year of rule to promote a new belief system focusing on the sun god Aten.
Akhenaten was the first monotheist in history, promoting worship solely of the Aten and shutting down temples to Amun.
Akhenaten built a new capital, Akhetaten, in the desert to establish the worship of Aten, but faced resistance from Thebes' powerful priestly class.
Akhenaten's grand ceremony in 1342 BC to showcase his new city and faith was attended by delegations from various regions.
A plague spread through the Middle East, affecting Egypt after Akhenaten's ceremony, leading to devastating consequences.
Akhenaten died in 1335 BC, and his son Tutankh-Aten succeeded him, eventually changing his name to Tutankh-Amun to restore worship of Amun.
Tutankh-Amun reversed many of his father's reforms, reinstating worship of Amun and other gods, leading to the downfall of Akhenaten's legacy.
Tutankh-Amun's tomb, discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter, contained treasures that made him famous despite his relatively short reign.
Ramesses II, known as Ramesses the Great, expanded Egypt's boundaries into Syria, battling the Hittite Empire and capturing the fortress city of Kadesh.

02:40:33

Ramesses' Battle at Kadesh: Triumph and Treaty

Pharaoh Ramesses sent chariot riders by sea to meet him at Kadesh.
Scouts captured Shasu tribesmen who misled Ramesses about the Hittite king's location.
Ramesses, excited, hastened northward with only one division, the Amun troops.
The Shasu tribesmen were actually Hittite agents luring Ramesses into a trap.
Hittite armies were hidden in ambush near Kadesh, outnumbering Ramesses.
Hittite chariots attacked the Egyptians, overwhelming them.
Egyptian reinforcements arrived, turning the tide against the Hittites.
A peace treaty was signed between Ramesses and the Hittite ruler, ending the war.
Ramesses focused on construction after the war, building temples and monuments.
Ramesses' reign was Egypt's golden age, but his successors faced challenges, including attacks by the sea peoples and civil strife.

02:58:06

Climate Change Effects: Ancient Egypt's Downfall

Climate system is fragile, interconnected, and small changes can have devastating effects.
13th and 12th centuries BC saw less rain, leading to drought in the region.
Hittites were severely affected by the drought, as seen in the myth of Telepinu.
Telepinu, a god of farming and weather, abandoned his duties due to humanity's misdeeds.
Consequences of Telepinu's rage included barren lands, lack of produce, and famine.
Setnakhte rose to power in Egypt during a period of unrest and chaos.
Setnakhte's son, Ramesses III, aimed to recreate Egypt's glory days and named his sons after Ramesses II's sons.
Sea peoples invaded the region due to crop failures in Europe, leading to widespread destruction.
Ramesses III successfully repelled the sea peoples in a surprise attack at the Nile delta.
Despite the victory, Egypt faced economic decline and internal unrest, including a workers' strike during Ramesses III's reign.

03:15:45

Assassination of Ramesses III and Nubian Rule

Citizens visited the grand temple in Theban necropolis to honor Amun, offering food, drink, and flowers during festivals.
During a festival, plotters took advantage of the chaos to assassinate Pharaoh Ramesses III in his harem.
Ramesses III's mummy revealed a swift, brutal attack with his throat cut to the bone, leading to immediate death.
The mummy also showed a severed big toe, replaced with a prosthetic, possibly taken as proof of his demise.
Ramesses III's assassination led to his son crushing the coup, executing 28 conspirators, and renaming them posthumously.
Egypt faced internal strife post-Ramesses III, with multiple short-lived rulers named Ramesses and societal challenges.
The high priests of Amun in Thebes gained immense power and wealth, controlling significant Egyptian resources.
The priests established a hereditary system, essentially ruling Upper Egypt and overshadowing the pharaoh's authority.
The decline of Egypt's power led to the rise of the Nubian kingdom of Kush, which adopted Egyptian culture and religion.
Kushite King Piye conquered Lower Egypt, uniting the fractured states and initiating the Nubian 25th dynasty rule over Egypt.

03:33:32

Taharqa's Reign: Victories, Defeats, and Legacy

Taharqa led successful assaults on Libyan positions and captured territory in Palestine.
Exceptional Nile floods during Taharqa's reign led to abundant crops and significant funds, allowing him to donate large amounts of gold to the Temple of Amun and restore religious centers.
Taharqa dedicated himself to building and maintaining temples, offering gold, silver, copper, and other precious items to the gods daily.
In 674 BC, King Esarhaddon of Assyria led a terrifying army towards Egypt, but Taharqa managed to repel them.
Herodotus recounts a story of an Assyrian army being attacked by field mice, leading to their defeat or retreat.
Taharqa's forces pursued the Assyrian army back to their borders after their camp was destroyed.
Esarhaddon later returned with a larger army, capturing Memphis and boasting of his victory over Taharqa.
Taharqa reappeared in Egypt, causing Assyrian governors to revert loyalties, but Esarhaddon's son, Ashurbanipal, crushed the rebellion.
Tantamani, Taharqa's nephew, was defeated by Ashurbanipal, leading to the Assyrian sack of Thebes and the symbolic end of Egyptian power.
Cleopatra, the last independent ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt, made efforts to learn various languages, but with her death in 30 BC, Egypt's independent power ended, leading to foreign influence and the eventual loss of hieroglyphic knowledge.

03:51:20

"Echoes of Lost Empires: A Reflection"

The poem "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley reflects on the ruins of ancient civilizations, evoking a sense of awe and melancholy at the passage of time and the fall of empires.
The Harper's Song, an Egyptian hieroglyphic text over 4,200 years old, similarly captures the theme of decay and forgotten greatness, resonating with Shelley's sentiments despite the vast temporal gap.
The text emphasizes the inevitability of mortality and the transience of human achievements, urging listeners to live joyfully and follow their hearts before facing the ultimate mourning that awaits all.
The Fall of Civilizations Podcast, hosted by Paul Cooper, announces the upcoming release of a book titled "Fall of Civilizations: Stories of Greatness and Decline," providing an expanded and updated version of the show with maps and images, set to be available in April 2024 for UK readers and later for US listeners.

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