Egypt The gift of the Nile Isolated by seas, desert and mountains, the culture developed along fertile strips along the Nile and on the delta. Predynastic period: 4,000 3,100 BC Early dynastic period: 3,000 BC, 1 st and 2 nd dynasties Old Kingdom: 2,600 BC, 3 rd -6 th dynasties (Pyramid building) 1 st Intermediate period: 2,200 BC, 7 th -10 th dynasties Middle Kingdom: 2,100 BC, 11 th -12 th dynasties (Thebes) 2 nd Intermediate period: 1,800 BC, 13 th -17 th dynasties (Memphis) New Kingdom: 1,570 BC, 18 th -20 th dynasties (Empire, prosperity) 3 rd Intermediate period: 1,069 BC, 21 st -26 th dynasties (Nubia) Late period: 525 BC, Persian invasion Cambyses Hellenistic period: 332 BC, Alexander the Great (Alexandria) Moslem period: 642 AD, Arab conquest
Egypt
Egypt Temple at Luxor
Egypt Temple at Luxor
Egyptian Society and Culture Egyptian society was very stable for tens of centuries, and depended on rigid social hierarchies and belief that the royal family were gods. A class of nobles, priests and administrators separated the royal family from the populace, which was largely involved with agriculture and crafts. Egyptian religion was polytheistic with a multitude of gods and goddesses, spirits and demons, as well as a belief in the afterlife, which depended on the preservation of the corpse to as lifelike a state as possible. The practice of mummification reached high levels of excellence and was instrumental in giving the priests some knowledge of anatomy, although it was actually performed mainly by slaves. Medical knowledge in ancient Egypt had an excellent reputation, and other rulers would ask the pharaoh to send them their best physician to treat their loved ones.
Egypt Social hierarchy
Egyptian Medicine Religious and magical beliefs were part of everyday life in Egypt. Most disease were thought to be due to angered gods and evil demons. Most treatments began with a prayer or incantation to a god. Priest-doctors, usually of goddess Sekhmet, used religious belief to great effect and many of the cures relied on the placebo effect. Many animal, vegetable and mineral ingredients were used in remedies and the principle of like cures like was used: Eg: An ostrich egg was used for treating fractured skulls, while an amulet with a hedgehog was used for treating baldness. Amulet use was widespread and this exemplifies the belief in the supernatural causation of disease: Homeopoetic amulets: Portrayed animals with positive emulative attributes Phylactic amulets: Afforded protection from evil Theophoric amulets: Portrayed gods and protected the wearer.
Egypt
Egyptian Medicine Egyptian word for doctor is sewanawe with the first doctor s name recorded in history being Hesy-Ra, the Chief of Dentists and Doctors to Pharaoh Djoser (27 th century BC). Lady Peseshet is the first recorded female doctor (2,400 BC) who is referred to as imy-ar-sewanawet ( lady overseer of female doctors ). Many specialists were known, including dentists, ophthalmologists, gastroenterologists, proctologists (= neru phuyt shepherd of the anus). The pharaohs had their own groups of doctors and specialists, as well as priest-doctors. Houses of Life were combination temples/hospitals where priests and doctors worked together to treat disease with religious and empirical means. By the 19 th dynasty ( 1,500 BC), systems such as medical insurance, pensions and sick leave were enjoyed by employees of Houses of Life.
Egypt Edwin-Smith Surgical Papyrus (17 th Cent BC)
Egyptian Herbalism The Edwin-Smith Papyrus, the Kahun Papyrus, and the Ebers Papyri outline anatomy, disease, hygiene, disease, and healing knowledge. Treatments utilising surgery, mineral, plant material, and animal product remedies are given, as well as how these treatments were administered, (orally, topically, and through suppositories, pessaries and enemas). Pain relief thyme Diuretics and laxatives Dill, balsam apple, onions, parsley Asthma sesame, honey and milk, frankincense Digestive aids garlic, sandalwood, juniper, mint Chest pains juniper, mustard seeds, aloe Headaches aloe, poppy seeds Wound dressing honey, a natural antibiotic Anaesthetic poppy seeds (also used for insomnia) Burns and skin diseases aloe Epilepsy camphor Vomiting mustard seeds to induce it, mint to stop it
The Aegean Civilisation This is the Bronze Age Greek civilisation, which was already flourishing in Crete by 3,000 BC. The indigenous people of Greece are known as Pelasgians or Protogreeks and their language was different to Classical Greek. The civilisation was found throughout the Southern Aegean and southern Mainland Greece, with many remains localised in Crete, Santorini (Thera) and the Peloponnese. In Crete, it is known as the Minoan Civilisation, after legendary king Minos. It was destroyed by the catastrophic eruption of the Thera volcano in 1,600 BC. The eruption was the most violent in recorded history and had worldwide effects, even described in Shang Dynasty records in China. The eruption seems to have inspired Greek myths of Atlantis, caused turmoil in Egypt and facilitated the descent of the Dorians who merged with the surviving Pelagians to engender the Greeks.
Aegean Civilisation Red/Pink
The Minoans Archaeological evidence shows settlements on Crete from 7,000 BC. After 5,000 BC there is evidence of hand-made ceramic pottery which marks the beginning of the civilisation, which Sir Arthur Evans, the famed archaeologist who excavated Knossos, named Minoan. Minoan chronology based on palace destruction and reconstruction Prepalatial ( 3,000-1900 BC) Protopalatial (1900-1700 BC) Neopalatial (1700-1400 BC) and Postpalatial (1400-1150 BC). Major palaces in Crete are in Knossos (largest), Phaestos, Malia, Zakros and Gournia, with many more smaller settlements throughout the island. Thera and the Peloponnese also boasted many palaces and towns.
The Minoans Knossos Palace ruins in Crete
The Minoans Knossos Palace reconstruction
The Minoans Knossos Palace
Minoan Culture Minoan art reveals a society of joyous disposition, in touch with their environment, and in awe of the logical order of the natural world. Unearthed artifacts reveal a people who had developed a high degree of civilisation, had self-respect and a keen eye for observing and adapting to their physical environment. Rich palaces and villas were surrounded by villages and a highly organised society existed, with a rich mercantile economy. As seafaring people, the Minoans traded with other peoples of the Mediterranean. Ships also protected the coast and the palaces needed no fortifications. Arts, crafts, metalworking, pottery, sophisticated wall paintings, plumbing, heating and running water made life in the Minoan palaces very cofortable and modern. Women enjoyed a high place in society with indications that even if the society was not matriarchal, women were seen as equals to men.
The Minoans Knossos Palace Queen s Room
The Minoans Knossos Palace Queen s Room
The Minoans Knossos Palace Throne room
The Minoans Thera Akrotiri excavation site
The Minoans Thera Spring Fresco
Minoan Culture The first written scripts of the Minoans resemble Egyptian hieroglyphics. The Phaistos Disc from the Phaistos palace dates from 1,750 BC. Linear A then developed at 1,500 BC, which was a syllabary that has not been deciphered. Clay tablets have been found in palaces and villas. Linear B was the written script of later Minoan times and was used by the Mycenaeans. It was deciphered on 1953 by Michael Ventris, who showed it was an early form of Greek. This was also written on clay tablets. Most of the Linear B tablets are inventories and lists of goods fro trade and in storage, highlighting the mercantile nature of Minoan society and its prosperity.
The Minoans The Phaistos Disc from Crete
The Minoans Linear A and Linear B clay tablets
The Minoans Linear B syllabary
Minoan Religion Religion had an important role for Minoans and many activities, and artistic products revolved around religious cult. As the art of the period shows, the Minoans deified the natural world and found in it a logical order that allowed man to live in harmony with nature. Ritual celebrations usually took place in sacred caves, on sanctuaries on mountain peaks, in palaces and villas which all had their own sanctuaries. Animal and bloodless sacrifices, along with processions were part of ritual worship of the great female nature goddess, and during these festivities worshipers used music, dance, and prayer to achieve a state of religious ecstasy that put them in touch with the supernatural. The sacrifice of the bull, and bull-leaping games, were central part of the Minoan religious festivals, symbolising man's interaction with powerful natural forces, and ultimately his triumph through skill and power.
The Minoans Three priestess figurines from Crete
The Minoans Three snake goddess figurines from Crete
The Minoans Bull leaping fresco from the Knossos Palace
Minoan Medicine Minoan medicine was interwoven with religion and the recurring symbol of the snake associated with healing and medicine that is seen worldwide is also evident in Cretan goddesses. Crete has a very diverse flora and numerous herbs, flowers and plants of every kind flourish in its mild climate even today. Archaeologists have found Minoan distillation equipment and jars with organic residues that have been chemically identified. Medical plants and oil residues identified include lavender, laurel, sage, rosemary, coriander, cumin, dittany, rue, saffron, safflower, anise, verbena, aleppo pine, myrtle and fig. Many of these are still use by herbalists I Crete today. In Chamalevri in W. Crete aromatics were made since 2,000 BC. Complex cosmetics were found, containing ingredients such as anise, carnations, oil of iris, beeswax, honey, olive oil and resin.
The Minoans Minoan ritual from a sarcophagus in Ayia Triada
Summary Mesopotamia: First civilised societies with sophisticated religion, culture and occupational differentiation. Ashipus performed spiritual diagnostics based on a supernatural causation of disease, while Asus treated disease more pragmatically based on empiricism. Egypt: Advanced culture, with early invention of writing, metal working skills, highly organised social and culture and civilisation. Advanced religious beliefs and social structure. Priest doctors treated patients based on a supernatural causation of disease, while lay doctors treated disease more pragmatically based on empiricism. Aegean civilisation: The Pelasgians and Protogreeks developed a highly civilised culture with advanced religion, writing system and well-organised social order. Arts and crafts flourished.
For Further Investigation Mesopotamia: 1916 film: Intolerance Silent classic: Babylon section of film focusses on Belshazzar 1962 film: War Gods of Babylon Italian epic film loosely based on Sardanapalus 1963 film: I am Semiramis Story of Queen Semiramis ( 800 BC) 2001 documentary: Secrets of Ancient Empires: The First Civilizations Egypt: 1954 film: The Egyptian Story of Sinuhe the physician in the 18 th Dynasty 1955 film: Land of the Pharaohs Romanticised film about ancient Egypt 1961 film: Nefertiti, Queen of the Nile Life of Nefertiti, famous queen 1963 film: Cleopatra Notoriously expensive film flop about Cleopatra 2003 documentary: Egypt: Land of Mummies Excellent! Aegean Civilisation: 1960 film: Minotaur the Wild Beast of Crete Italian epic film loosely based on Theseus 1961 film: Atlantis, the Lost Continent Fanciful interpretation of the Atlantis legend 2000 documentary: Empires - The Greeks Crucible of Civilization very good
For Further Investigation Mesopotamia: http://www.indiana.edu/~ancmed/meso.htm - Mesopotamian medicine http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/nemythology/a/mesopotamiarel.htm - Mesopotamian religion http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/plaintexthistories.asp?historyid=aa53 - Mesopotamian history http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/11000 - etext of the Epic of Gilgamesh Egypt: http://www.touregypt.net/ehistory.htm - Egyptian history http://historylink101.net/egypt_1/religion.htm - Egyptian religion http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/ancient_egyptian_medicine.htm - Egyptian medicine http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/egypt/ - Egyptian culture http://www.egyptianmyths.net/ - Egyptian mythology http://www.touregypt.net/edwinsmithsurgical.htm - Edwin-Smith Papyrus Aegean Civilisation: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/episodes/sinking-atlantis/90/ - Full Minoans documentary online http://heritage-key.com/world/palace-knossos-discovery-and-renovation - Knossos palace http://heritage-key.com/world/legend-atlantis - Atlantis legend