The Non-Written History of Egypt

Egypt has many different types of non-written history including: art and dance. Egypt has been known for their astounding history and how it has been interpreted throughout the years using these different elements.

Produced by the civilization of ancient Egypt in 3000 BC to 100 AD, sculptures, paintings, and agriculture have been highly stylized and symbolic throughout Egypt’s history. Egyptian art uses hierarchal proportion, where the sizes of the figures in the painting determine their importance. This was a way to show the viewers the “story” behind the art. If the figures were big, it showed that the figure was of high importance such as a pharaoh or high officials of the tombs. The smaller figures indicated a figure of least importance such as a figure in nature or servants. The most common place to find paintings are in the Egyptian tombs. The purpose of the paintings inside the tomb was to offer a pleasurable after-life. The themes and “stories” that the paintings included were journeys throughout their afterworld and being introduced to the different gods and peoples they were going to come encountered with. One of the most famous works of art that the Egyptians produced was called “The Book of the Dead”. This book, full of drawings and paintings, was buried with the entombed person and was an introduction tool into the afterlife. It was important to the Egyptians that they be buried with this book full of paintings because without it, they believed their afterlife would be full of confusion and sorrow.

Egyptian dance is also another type of non-written history. Dancing played an importance role in all of the social classes of the Egyptians. The Egyptians had many different types of dancing that they partook in. Funeral dancing took place after the mummification process was complete. The dancing rituals often told the story of the life of the entombed person. The dancing was often portrayed as a celebration and was a common feature in the solemn processes of being entombed.

With all of these different types of non-written history in mind, ancient Egyptian art and dance ties in what historians already know from documented stories to the stories that are interpreted from the arts.

Geographical Elements of Egypt

Egypt, Africa is located in the northeast part of Africa. Egypt has many geographical features such as twenty-seven governorates, two major deserts, and the world’s longest river. Located in the northeast part of Egypt is the largest city and capital; Cairo (30.0500° N, 31.2333° E). Cairo is important to Egypt because it is the home to the nation’s political and cultural life.  The second largest city in Egypt is Alexandria (31.2000° N, 29.9167° E). Alexandria is a major city in Egypt because it is the harbor for exports and imports for the nation. Egypt typically has a hot desert like climate. It is extremely dry all over the nation and receives little to no rainfall. As stated above, Egypt has many amazing geographical features. Located in the Sinai Peninsula lies Mount Sinai (28.5397° N, 33.9733° E). Mount Sinai is significant to Egypt because it is said to believe that it is the location where God gave the laws to the Israelites. The Nile River (02°16′56″S 029°19′53″E), located in the north and flowing to the south, is the longest river in the world. It is 4,258 miles long and is nicknamed the “national river” because it shares its water source with eleven other countries. The two major bodies of water that border the north and northeast of Egypt are the Mediterranean Sea (35.0000° N, 18.0000° E) and the Red sea (22.0000° N, 38.0000° E). They provide Egypt with water sources for traveling as well as exports and imports nationally and from surrounding countries. Egypt has two major deserts that make up most of the nation: the Western Desert (24.0000° N, 25.0000° E), known as the Libyan Desert, and the Eastern Desert (27.3000° N, 32.6000° E). The western desert forms the northern and eastern part of the Sahara Desert and is in the western part of Egypt. The eastern desert extends from the Nile Valley to the Red Sea Coast. The Nile Valley and Nile Delta are the most important regions in Egypt because they house 99% of the population. Not only does Egypt has numerous historical elements but geographic elements as well.

These geographical features have influenced the nation because of the history behind them. Each geographical feature mentioned is extremely important from a biblical and historical background. Every one of the geographical features has helped the county in many ways. The bodies of water that surround the nation and run through the nation provide it with many imports and exports to keep the nation thriving. However, the bodies of water have often been a source for disease in Egypt.  Hepatitis A is common within the nation from contaminated food and water.