Influences that Egyptian civilization may have had on their surrounding cultures and civilizati

The following discusses the positive and negative influences that early Egyptian civilization might have had on surrounding cultures and civilizations.  Early Egyptian civilization and culture can be traced and understood by the artifacts, buildings and written records that have survived which also mention or give indications of their relationship with other cultures and civilizations.

Other cultures and civilizations either directly recorded their contacts with early Egyptian civilization or other evidence has survived to indicate what may been positive and negative influences. The early Egyptian influences on other surrounding cultures and civilizations can be detected through the Egyptian or other contemporary accounts although it can be difficult to verify all the events from that period.  Surviving monuments, documents and tombs including the pyramids and the Sphinx attest to the nature of early and later Egyptian civilization and provide information about its links with other cultures.  Much evidence has come from cemeteries due to the Egyptian practice of burying belongings with their owners especially the rich and powerful, to be used in their afterlives. The great majority of early Egyptians were peasants who may have contributed to making the riches and monuments of the rich and powerful but were given little reward for doing so, and usually had as little for afterlives as they had during their lives. Further evidence has disappeared over the centuries carried away by numerous grave robbers. The early Egyptians had a civil service that recorded events and would expand at later times. As shall be examined the early Egyptians came into contact with other civilizations through trade, conquest and war.  Though whether their influences were positive or negative would depend from which perspective these influences were viewed from.

Early Egyptian civilization started to emerge and progress in the regions that later formed Egypt between 6000 BC or earlier and the emergence of the first dynasties of kings known as pharaohs some three thousand years later.  Early Egyptian civilization would lay the foundations of Egypt’s later greatness and the pattern of relationships with surrounding civilizations and cultures (Crystal, 2003, p. 296).  In a similar period civilizations some of which were as advanced the Egyptians developed in Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Summeria and Persia. The early Egyptians would gain contact plus maybe positive and negative influence upon these contemporary civilizations and others that surrounded them (Moore, 1999, p.10). Egyptian folklore dating back to its earliest civilization and the sketchy evidence available attributed the first unified rule of all of Egypt to the Pharaoh Narmer around 3000 BC although Egyptian civilization and culture was well developed by then. More recent archeological excavations and historical research have pointed to the emergence of a united Egyptian kingdom some two hundred years earlier. Some if not all of Narmer’s fourteen predecessors had a secure grip upon the whole country (Verner, 2002, pp.15-16). It would perhaps be more accurate to regard early Egyptian civilization as been made up of two distinct cultures that would gradually merge into a single culture and civilization even though regional differences could be detected.  Put simply those two distinct cultures were based around the two kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt, each with their own customs and religion. Upper Egypt’s main city was Memphis, whilst that of Lower Egypt was that of Thebes, the first close to modern day Cairo, the latter is modern day Luxor.  The two kingdoms tended to be more unified under strong pharaohs and more divided under weaker ones. The more united Egypt was the greater its influence was upon surrounding civilizations and cultures.  When the Egyptian State was weak the cultural differences often divided the kingdom back into two. Thebes and Memphis would often trade places as Egpyt’s capital city depending on the origin of any particular pharaoh or dynasty. Both cities were worthy of performing that role and were potent symbols of early and later Egyptian prestige, power and influence to surrounding civilizations and cultures (Verner, 2002, p. 22).

Early Egyptian civilization may have had and arguably did have positive influences upon surrounding civilizations and cultures through its various advances in areas such as technology, education and crafts.  Some of the early Egyptians were skilled metal workers and made some of the finest copper and bronze tools plus statues and weapons.  Although other surrounding civilizations may not have always regarded the production of higher quality weapons as such a positive influence (Geddes & Grosset, 2004, p. 400).  The early Egyptians also had a reputation for producing highly capable goldsmiths. Although they tended to do most of their work for the pharaohs or the rich, items were available for export. The early Egyptians were keen on gemstones and were prepared to establish strong trade links to gain supplies. Routes even extended as far as present day Afghanistan to obtain lapis lazuli, a glistening blue stone. It was certainly quite a feat to arrange trade journeys that covered thousands of kilometers (Shaw, 2000, p.320). The early Egyptians started the practice of sending out expeditions to find the materials to construct royal tombs. These expeditions could be could be confined to within Egypt or could go abroad to obtain them. Seeing how even the early Egyptians could transport and build with such large amounts of stone must have been a positive influence upon surrounding civilizations and cultures.  As the building projects of the pharaohs got ever larger they may also have had a positive influence (Verner, 2001, pp.64-65).  Perhaps surprisingly the humble mud brick may have been seen as a positive influence upon surrounding civilizations. Mud bricks offered the possibility of building simple and inexpensive huts quickly.  Mud brick huts had the virtue of staying cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Mud bricks were even found suitable to build fortresses to protect Egypt’s frontiers. They were replaced by stone for the building of palaces, temples and royal tombs as the country’s wealth increased (Tyldesley, 2003, pp. 12-13).

The early Egyptian development of papyrus may have been a positive development and influence upon surrounding civilizations and cultures as it made writing and administration less difficult or cumbersome.  Although papyrus scrolls made from the papyrus reeds that grew by the Nile remained so expensive that only the religious, economic and political elites could afford to use them, they were the only literate members of society anyway.  Papyrus made administration far easier than recording everything on stone tablets and plaques, which was mainly used for ever lasting testaments to the glories of the pharaohs and various gods (Geddes & Grosset, 2004, p. 419). The effectiveness of the early Egyptian administrative system may have been seen as a positive influence by surrounding civilizations. The more developed of these civilizations would emulate the use of papyrus to improve the effectiveness of their own bureaucracies. More effective administration meant greater tax revenues reflected in stronger internal law and power plus greater military power for possible use abroad (Grimal, 1992, p. 57).
The early Egyptians had a positive influence upon surrounding civilizations as being skilful in the use of medicine, although of course as usual only the wealthy and elites within all these civilizations were able to benefit.  Medicine was mostly based on a mixture of herbal remedies and superstitious magic mixed with limited scientific knowledge.  Temple priests were the usual practitioners of medical treatments as they were deemed to have the right balance of knowledge, magical abilities and the capacity to invoke divine intervention.  The early Egyptians would provide the basis of adequate bone setting and amputation but were as ignorant as any other civilizations to the cure of internal ailments.  The early Egyptians tended to believe that health could be improved or harmed by dietary and sanitary conditions, which was advanced thinking for that period of time. The early and later Egyptians certainly maintained their reputation amongst surrounding civilizations and cultures for their medical expertise (Geddes & Grosset, 2004, p. 397).

The further Egyptian civilization developed the more positive and negative influence it had on surrounding civilizations. From an early stage the Egyptians from around the Nile delta had to trade with outsiders to obtain metals, gems and stones for buildings as there were only limited amounts of those resources in Egypt itself. A positive influence then of Egyptian civilization for surroundings was that it stimulated trade and primitive industries within the surrounding civilizations that it came into contact with. Sometimes however it could have negative influences for other cultures particularly those that seemed to threaten Egypt’s supplies or seemed prone to Egyptian conquest (Grimal, 1992, pp.25-27).  The influence of Egyptian civilization on surrounding civilizations and cultures would reach its peak during the Old Kingdom, which last lastly roughly five hundred years from around 2658 BC through to 2185 BC. The Third Dynasty, the first dynasty of the Old Kingdom was when positive Egyptian influence was most marked.  That was when Egyptian civilization had the most to offer the world although strong foundations were built up in the pre-dynasty era and during the First and Second dynasties (Geddes & Grosset, 2004, p.414).  The Egyptians ability to trade with, contact or conquer surrounding cultures was greatly helped by the river Nile. The Nile allowed the Egyptians to export large quantities of crops and import the timber, base metals, precious metals and gems they could not produce themselves.  Egypt could impress and influence its neighbors with its wealth and often trade from a position of strength although later that wealth would attract the attention of potential invaders (Tyldesley, 2003, pp. 22-23).

The supply of stone became a greater issue for the Pharaohs as their building projects got ever grander, a positive influence for those that could trade from a position of strength but not so good for those that were weaker. The Egyptians did not have a fixed border and successful pharaohs showed their prowess by territorial expansion and the building of monuments and temples. For those unlucky enough to be captured by the Egyptians would end up having a bad experience of Egyptian civilization.  Being made slaves must have been one of the most negative influences for people from surrounding cultures and civilizations. Depictions, statues and engravings of enslaved foreign captives are found from the earliest dynasties through to the periods of Greek and Roman rule (Shaw, 200, pp.315-17).  For those people unfortunate enough to work in the mines that produced the precious metals and gems or the stones used in grand building projects favored by Egypt’s cultural and economic elites life would have been hard. To these workers whether enslaved or free conditions were harsh and dangerous, they might have viewed Egyptian influence from a negative perspective if not with indifference, although mine and quarry owners were happy to gain some of the spoils. Perhaps the only difference between enslaved foreigners and the Egyptian peasants was that they had to work for the pharaoh all year round and not just when the Nile made the fields unworkable (Tyldesley, 2003, p. 13).
 
There were often strong hints of imperialism in Egyptian policies towards other countries.
A negative influence may have been the enslavement of other peoples and the cultural re-education of their children into the superior Egyptian culture. In the areas nearest to Egypt itself the non-Egyptian ruling castes were encouraged to replace their own culture for Egyptian culture (Shaw, 2000, pp. 326-27). In a more positive influence the Egyptians would not bar any foreigner that adopted their culture, traditions and ways from making progress on the grounds of their racial or ethnic background. Foreigners would however have to accept Egyptian religion if they wished to be culturally acceptable and assimilated in to Egyptian civilization. Egyptian culture seemed remarkably capable of absorbing foreigners be they immigrants or invaders yet retaining its own identity (Verner, 2002, p.19).  Memphis was the capital of the united Egypt. Memphis was also a cultural melting pot where Egyptians mixed with foreigners. From the capital the early Egyptians were able to exchange their ideas with surrounding civilizations and cultures (Geddes and Grosset, 2004, p.102).

Egyptian Pharaohs believed they had been given their powers by the gods and were supposed to use those powers wisely. Such a belief had both positive and negative influence upon surrounding civilizations. Pharaohs would often adopt a dual strategy in relation to their neighbors. The negative influence was the waging of wars of conquest against peoples such as the Nubians or the Libyans. The Nubians would eventually be part of Egypt itself. In contrast a positive influence was trade relations with people from countries such as Syria and Palestine. Such wars and trading links cane be traced back to the Pharaoh Aha if not earlier (Grimal, 1991, p.50). As the administrative system of the Egyptian kingdom developed its abilities to conduct either war or trade also increased. Either through war or trade their influence or contacts could be found. For instance their trading with the Syrians and Palestinians brought them into contact with the Summerians and Elamites. The Egyptians still seemed eager for trade contacts even after taking over areas such as Nubia and Sinai to gain control over their natural resources (Verner, 2002, p.20). The early Egyptians were enthusiastic about importing expensive items such as gold, ivory, lapis lazuli and spices. The early Egyptians did not always pay for those goods, they were often given in friendship or taken as the spoils of victory (Geddes & Grosset, 2004, p.460). In the later stages of Egyptian civilizations the Nubians would reverse the situation and a Nubian dynasty ruled Egypt.

The early Egyptian civilization could not always have positive influence upon surrounding civilizations and cultures as these sometimes came into conflict with Egypt. War was certainly a negative influence that early Egypt had upon some of its neighbors. Some conflicts were instigated by the Egyptians whilst others were started by other countries. From an early period the Libyans were frequent enemies (Geddes & Grosset, 2004, p.390). For long periods the Egyptians either directly occupied or treated large parts of Nubia and Palestine as their colonies. The early Egyptians had started the process of taking advantage of the resources of Nubia and directly controlling trade with the Palestinians. Eventually fortresses would maintain as well as symbolize Egyptian power and influence in both areas (Shaw, 2000, p.318). Whilst the early trading links with the Nubians may have been mutually beneficial between the Egyptians and the wealthiest Nubians, relations were not always peaceful. The early Egyptians seemingly resorted to more forceful means to extract the resources they wanted. Evidence of further negative influence were signs that parts of Nubia were over farmed and over mined as a direct demand of Egyptians demands (Shaw, 2000, p.322). In many respects the rulers of early Egypt had to take care of national defenses whether that had a positive or negative influence on its neighboring civilization and cultures. For Egypt and the Nile represented a land of plenty and wealth. The factors that allowed early Egyptians to have such strong influences on their neighbors also made Egypt a tempting target for invaders or rivals for the Pharaoh’s twin crowns (one for upper ad lower Egypt) (Tyldesley, 2003, p.15). In many respects early Egypt was the starting point of the future artistic greatness of Egypt. By the second Dynasty the basis of Egyptian economic, religious and political institutions were established. These were sure foundations that allowed the Egyptian state and civilization it fluctuations in power and influence upon surrounding civilizations and cultures. Egypt’s influence and power would prove to be open to cycles of rise and decline of being dominant or dominated by surrounding civilizations and cultures. Early Egyptian administration proved effective and could act as a positive influence or role model to surrounding civilizations. The basic system of administration and law making would prove durable in Egypt until the arrival of the Romans (Grimal. 1992, p.57).   

Therefore as has been argued above early Egyptian civilization can be regarded to have had both positive and negative influences upon surrounding civilizations and cultures.  A positive influence was the promotion of trade between the Egyptian and surrounding civilizations as it promoted economic growth and development. Trade was essential to the further advancement of the civilizations involved in that trade and established cultural as well as economic links.  Trade allowed the Egyptians to import the timber to build their ships that in return exported Egyptian agricultural and pottery products that helped to feed other civilizations that were not blessed by the bounty that the Nile gave Egypt. Trade also generated wealth in the form of precious metals and gems that allowed the Egyptians to build their pyramids, their civil service and their military strength.  Other positive influences that early Egyptian civilization had upon surrounding civilizations and cultures included technological advances such as the use of papyrus or building techniques.  Early Egyptian civilization included some of the most skilled metal workers especially in bronze and gold, although advances in the use of bronze had a more positive impact. The early Egyptians negative influences upon surrounding civilizations and cultures included the Egyptian attitude in general and those of the religious and political elite in particular towards foreigners.   The early (and indeed later) Egyptian elites believed that the religions and cultures of other civilizations were generally inferior to their religion and culture.   The early Egyptian civilization superiority complex often had a negative influence upon surrounding civilizations and cultures as they adopted aggressive or expansionist foreign policy.  On the other hand the Egyptian policy towards other civilizations was often determined by pragmatism towards its surrounding civilizations and cultures that often meant more beneficial relationships through trade rather than damaging wars.
 

Bibliography

Crystal, D (2003) The Penguin Concise Encyclopedia, Penguin Group, London
Geddes and Grosset (2004) Ancient Egypt Myth & History, The Gresham Publishing Company, New Lanark (there is no indication of the authors initials)
Grimal, N (1992) A History of Ancient Egypt, translated by I Shaw, Blackwell, Oxford
Moore, R I (1999) Philip’s Atlas of World History, Chancellor Press, London
Shaw, I (2000) The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, Oxford University, Oxford
Tyldesley, J (2003) Pyramids – the real story behind Egypt’s most ancient monuments, Viking, London
Verner, M (2002) The Pyramids – Their Archeology and History, translated by S Rendall, Atlantic Books, London