Religious Transition in Egypt

Like many countries that succumb to battles, occupations and colonialism, Egypt went through phases of Religious change. Three majors religions had their periods in Egyptian history. In the beginning Egypt maintain a native form of a pagan religion in which they believed in various God's and engaged in practices to honor said gods. Over time events in other parts of the world, such as the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, had created a fervor of Christianity spreading through the Mediterranean at the hands of the Roman conquers. This Brought Egypt into a Christian phase, there Christian believers were and still are, referred to as Coptics. This Christian majority was fairly short lived. Eventually Islam had found it's way across the Middle East and into parts of Africa.  Today Islam remains the majority religion of Egypt.

(Unknown.The Sacred Lake of Karnak.LookLex:Encyclopaediahttp://i-cias.com/e.o/egypt.ancient.religion.htm)

The Early Egyptian religion, a pagan religion, honor various gods that had changed throughout the years both in name and importance. These Gods usually had specific purposes or things they would be in charge of. Amon Ra, was the Sun God, Isis was a Goddess who protected children and families.   Evidence of this religion is marked in nearly every bit of Archaeological evidence found today. Paintings, artwork, statues, tombs, and monuments all were erected in some way or another to honor their religion and their gods. Even Pharaoh was considered a God on Earth. Although minor pieces of this religion had changed overtime, the fundamentals always remained!

(Fairchild, Alana. Goddess Isis. March 18, 2015. The Isis Reclamation Project.http://www.laylaisis.com/category/goddess/)

In the 1st Century A.D., Christianity began to spread across the Mediterranean. As the roman Empire acquired new territories, it brought with it Christianity. This gave Birth to the Coptic Christians, that still exist today. These Coptic Christians are said to be the original descendants of Ancient Egyptians. Trouble began to breakout between the Coptic and the Holy Roman Church over practices and dogmatic beliefs. Just over a hundred years later, the Coptic Christians separated themselves from the Roman Church, functioning fully on their own. 

(Moha, Taco.Unnamed. August 26, 2010. The Holy Trip.https://plus.google.com/photos/+TacoMoha/albums/5509816435490902177)

Christianity began to be Challenged around 650A.D. when Islam started to spread throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa. Not long after Muslims set foot onto Egyptian soil was the entire nation under Islamic rule, where it remains today. Christians and Jews were allowed to continue ego practice their religions, but they were required to pay taxes and occasionally barred from certain political privileges. Eventually many Coptics converted to Islam. Where today, between three and ten million Coptic Christians remain in Egypt. 

(Unknown.Unnamed.March 4, 2015. Pamela Gellar.http://pamelageller.com/2015/03/egyptian-government-closes-27000-mosques-in-move-to-fight-islamic-terrorism.html/)

Sources:

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/180764/Egyptian-religion

http://cmes.arizona.edu/sites/cmes.arizona.edu/files/2c.%20History%20of%20Religion%20-%20powerpoint.pdf

http://p2048-www.liberty.edu.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/docview/2633033?accountid=12085

Egypt's Non-written History

When most people think of types of "non-written" history, they immediately begin to imagine various art forms such as paintings, sculpting, architecture, and music. All of these forms of art provide a civilization, culture or an entire country with a sampling of what life may be like or have been like. It provides an emotional and vibrant story that a written history may not give. Because Egyptians did not write history, so these forms were some of the only indications of life in the past.

Egypt's history is filled with un-written forms of history. Even their written word used pictures, hieroglyphics, in place of letters. 

Beyond this pictorial form of the written word, ancient Egyptian artwork was an incredibly important part of their culture, as well as a significantly helpful tool in determining how life was in ancient Egypt. Egyptians used painting and sculpting for various purposes utilizing symbolism within their work. Lining the walls of tombs and temples across Egypt are the elaborate paintings that tell a story, or depict a specific (spiritual) journy. These paintings in the burial chambers of the dead were often road maps of sorts for the spirit of the dead to get to the afterlife.

The most iconic forms of art and the non-written forms of history in Egypt's are the sculptures, statues and arcitecture. Egyptians often incorporated both, leaving the world with incredible works such as the Great Sphinx in Giza seated in front of a pyramid, this half man half lion was an incredible depiction of how the Egyptians represented their Gods and guardians of their civilization. 

In addition, sculptures litter the tombs and excavated terraine of Egypt. These statues made from various metals and materials depending on the purpose they were serving, were ways in which this ancient race honored Pharaohs, priests and Gods. 

The final form of the non-written forms of history in Ancient Egypt was music. This form was particularly difficult for researchers to obtain more information on music played was never written down, and the only signs of music utilized in this society was the excessive dipiction of musicians and musical instruments within the paintings.  This indicates that music was an important aspect of, at the very least, affluent society in ancient Egypt.

Overall art and the un-written forms of history were the most important aspect of ancient Egyptian culture to researchers today because there was no written history. So much has been discovered by analyzing these works. Without them, the world may not know about the day to day life of the Egyptians, what was important to them, their religion or even major events such as climatic change or plague. 

Sources:

http://www.touregypt.net/music.htm

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/symbolism2.htm

http://www.hudsonfla.com/artfirstciv.htm

Egypt: An Overview

Egypt is country with a hot, dry, desert climate and lies on the far northeastern corner of the African continent. It has been home to the oldest civilizations and the most iconic man made and well as natural elements. Bordering Egypt is the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Libya to the west, and the Sudan to the south. Most of the Egyptian country side is desert aside from a narrow strip of land running parallel to the Nile River. This Nile River Basin provides Egypt with its only nutrient rich soils for agriculture. Much of the Egyptian desert is flat, on the southwestern tip and along the easter coast and Sinai Peninsula the landscape become mountainous.

The Nile River has been providing Egypt with nutrients, agriculture and food sources(animals) for centuries. The ancient Egyptians began attempting to harness the Nile's power, attempting to control where the water goes and how much goes there by using early forms of dams. Over the years the Nile not only affected the survival of  the Egyptian people, but it also began to influence religion, culture, and politics.

The capital of Egypt is Cairo. Cairo lies at 30°2′N 31°13′E / 30.033°N 31.217°E / 30.033; 31.217. Cairo lies on the northeastern corner of Egypt in the midst of the Nile River Delta. Most Egyptian cities sit along the coast, or the Nile River. This was because the Nile provided the only source for water and nutrients for food. The rest of Egypt was desert, providing little in the means of support to its citizens. The Nile played key roles when it came to wars, invasions etc, because enemies knew if the Nile was taken there was little chance for survival.

Sources:
http://www.mapsofworld.com/egypt/geography/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/nile_01.shtml