Because we don't have section on Tuesday the 11th and your MIDTERM is coming up in a couple of weeks (eek!) Professor Morris has suggested that your post for this week should be the type of essay question you would write for an exam.
Coming up with questions is a really great way to make sure you understand the material and can form links between different strains of evidence.
When formulating your question think of the themes that have come up several times in the lectures and reading. Think of a question that could be answered with different types of evidence (visual, historical, literary). One should be able to answer it in a 2-3 written pages so no "yes or no" questions please!
Posts that will receive full points are those that demonstrate critical thought and originality. No repeats please (though of course your hypothetical answers will overlap at times).
And remember you don't need to answer the question in your post.
Have a lovely long weekend and Happy Reading. When we have section again there will be a lot of material to cover so PLEASE get your primary source reading done.
(That eek that you mentioned definitely does not make me feel any more confident about this midterm! Oh boy.) Here's the question:
ReplyDeleteOver the course of the last few weeks, we have talked about the importance
of scribes, priests, and magicians in Egyptian society. Scribes were essential to writing down and recording what was occurring at the time, while priests focused on religion, and magicians conversed with the supernatural. In 2-3 pages, discuss how each of these three societal positions was similar and different to the other two. Talk about what they had in common (education, training, duties) and where they began to go their separate ways. In addition, talk about the kind of influence each role had individually, and how their importance contributed to the greater caste system of ancient Egypt. Feel free to include outside information and cite primary documents to help support your opinions.
(When we first discussed about doctors and magicians in recitation, this quote immediately popped up in my head. I'm so glad I can use it for this post :D)
ReplyDeleteArthur C. Clarke once said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Discuss how the duties of priests, magician, and doctors were similar, and how were they different? Include in your discussion, the different ways religious beliefs seem to have influenced the understanding of medicine in ancient Egypt.
How did the relationships between Egyptian gods mirror the dynamics of the Egyptian aristocracy? Elaborate on the functions of each god which you choose to discuss, and how their behavior reflects that of the members of the Egyptian aristocracy. Provide background information on the stories which you choose to focus on, and then tie in the similarities in their composition.
ReplyDeletewhat roles do priests, magicians and scribes play in the ancient Egypt? Try to think of their contributions in strengthening Egyptian's beliefs and the subtle relationships between those societal positions and Egyptian God. Do you think other societal positions that we haven't learned yet have the same functions?Feel free to use other sources.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDescribe the general functions of soldiers, scribes, magicians, and priests in ancient Egypt. Then, choose out of the four which you would prefer to be if you lived in ancient Egypt. Describe in detail the responsibilities of the role you've chosen, and explain the advantages and disadvantages that go along with that profession. Feel free to be creative! Sources can and should be used to back up your claims and evidences.
ReplyDeleteIn ancient Egypt, magicians had a prominent and repetitive role throughout all aspects of social life. Many priests were thought of us magicians, as they used magic to communicate and reveal the wishes of the gods. However, many doctors were also associated with wizardry, as they used concoctions to heal citizens. Briefly compare and contrast the different roles that these many different “magicians” had in Egyptian society. Be sure to include the different rituals and materials used by all, such as wax and the roles of amulets. Perhaps mention why magic was necessary in Egyptian society, and include specific stories/anecdotes.
ReplyDeleteReligion played a very important role in Egyptian life. It is seen that Egyptian people saw the Pharaoh himself as a deity. Based on this, we can conclude that the relationship between politics and religion was closely linked. Consider other instances that link religion and politics in ancient Egypt.
ReplyDeleteThe harvest season was a sacred time period for the ancient Egyptians. Peasants’ and farmers’ lives revolved around religious rituals. The god Osiris played a major role in their religious harvest rituals and they would celebrate each harvest season with festivals and celebrations, of which the pharaoh would attend. In a short essay, explain the relationship between Osiris and the crop cycle. Also, explain the role the pharaoh played in the harvest festivals.
ReplyDeleteAs we have read in Deir el-Medina and other Egyptian nomes health problems were treated with Medicine and and Magic. Texts like the Papyrus Ebers listed magic spells that could be recited to treat illness. Illness could also be treated by doctors, who offered treatment plans-- Rxs and instructions ie Qen-her-khepesh-ef's medical papyrus. Would you agree/disagree with the statement that the Egyptians' use of magic reflects the modern Eastern tradition while the use of Doctors connects closely to Western tradition and why? Please use specific evidence to support your assertion..ie: processes (filling an Rx, spells against: nightmares/enemies...etc) Feel free to draw on information in Donadoni readings and McDowell pdfs or outside sources.
ReplyDeleteScribes were held in very high regard in ancient Egypt. In 3 paragraphs, describe the role of the scribes in Egyptian society and how they played a part in everyday life. Be sure to discuss how they integrated themselves within other major classes, such as priests, the military, or Egyptian royalty.
ReplyDeletePick two social classes, such as priests, scribes, craftsmen, etc. What do they have in common? How do they differ? Think about training, home life, potential for growth, etc.
ReplyDeleteIn a brief essay, discuss the social order in Egypt. Be sure to include the relationships between laborers, priests, pharaohs, and the divine and how the interactions between these groups illustrate different aspects of Egyptian culture.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of the Egyptian pharaoh being a god is something that many cultures and many different people know and realize. he is both the political and the religious head of the nation. In 2-3 pages, compare and contrast the balance between religion and politics in ancient Egypt to the prevalent church/state system in ancient roman catholic empires.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThrough readings and lectures, we have learned about the different social classes/professions that made up ancient Egyptian society. These people included peasants, farmers, artisans, scribes, priests, magicians, doctors, etc. Even though each group was responsible for their own work, there were some overlaps between them. Pick at least two professions and describe how they interacted with one another in the community and how their work overlapped and strengthened Egypt’s economy and morality. Using specific examples from previous readings, were there any occurrences of negative relationships between the professions? If so, how were they fixed? How important was a sense of community and teamwork to Egyptians. Examine a member’s speech and usage of words to determine what was the most important aspect of their life. In addition, describe how these members utilized religion and/or any other higher power to guide and help them accomplish their works.
ReplyDeleteIn few paragraphs, describe what the economy of Ancient Egypt looks like. Where did Craftsmen and Merchants stand in Ancient Egyptian society? What were the roles of Guilds? Was the economy influenced by religion?
ReplyDeleteSorry for the late response. I've been relying on Nancy's weekly email reminders too much!
ReplyDeleteDuring the semester we've examined the details of social classes from a variety of periods over their 3000+ year history. Change happened slowly, if at all, in ancient Egypt. Pick one social class (priest, soldier, artisan/craftsmen, royalty) and two periods (Old Kingdom, First Intermediate Period, etc) to discuss/compare/contrast their role in society during those two periods.
During our studies of Egyptian history, we have learned that Egyptian papyri have variously portrayed different aspects of Egyptian culture. Examining medical papyri, how do the medical texts and practices symbolize and reflect on Egyptian beliefs? What keys aspects of practicing medicine held a significant place in Egyptian culture?
ReplyDeleteSamantha Jean-Louis
There were many topics covered by our studies of Ancient Egypt so far. One of the most important aspects of Ancient Egyptians' lives was religion. The people who were most involved in religious aspects were priests and kings. How did religion play a role and affect the daily lives of Egyptians? How were the priests any different from the scribes? You may want to consider why they believed that being a scribe was more advantageous than being a farmer.
ReplyDeleteBased on medical papyri and Ancient Egyptian stories about magic and medicine, how did the Egyptian's social constructs concerning 'medicinal magic' play a role in the politics of the time? In other worlds, how did the Egyptian rulers deal with foreign rulers based on their medicine and magic? Please cite at least two instances of your claim. --Melanie Zelikovsky
ReplyDeleteDuring our studies of Ancient Egypt these last few weeks, we have examined many primary sources, including stories and myths. To what extent do these stories reflect the daily life of Ancient Egyptians?
ReplyDelete