Early Egyptian Civilization

Abstract

ALTHOUGH the paintings in the tombs of Memphis, of Beni Hasan, and of Thebes, have preserved to us the knowledge of much of the civilization of Egypt, yet hitherto we have handled but few examples of the implements used, and those are mostly undated. Broadly speaking, the three sites just named represent respectively the Old Kingdom before 3400 B.C., the Middle Kingdom about 2600 B.C., and the New Kingdom from 16oo B.C.; and though debarred from scientific work in these richest districts of Egypt—owing to national jealousies—I have been fortunate enough to discover two small towns, each only occupied for a couple of centuries, which have thus revealed the works of the Middle and New Kingdoms with chronological exactness. Beside the Egyptian interest of these places, they are of prime importance for Mediterranean history, having been colonies of foreign workmen.