Anonymous
05/25/2016 (Wed) 09:12:21
[Preview]
No.
307
del
Alright /his/kos, let's fucking go. \Arguably the start of Egyptian civilization begins with the Naqada culture(s), (roughly 4000 - 3000 BC). The first phase of the Naqada culture was the Amratian culture. Archeologically the Amratians produced black-topped ware which were made by past cultures as well as white-cross line ware. During this time trade between Upper and Lower Egypt, a central dichotomy in Egyptian history/culture, occurred. There's also evidence the Amratians imported copper either from Nubia or Sinai. This is also the period where mud brick buildings occur but only in small numbers (increased urbanization?). The next phase in the Naqada saga is the Gerzean culture. This is when the building blocks for Dynastic Egypt were laid. Being a continuation of the Amratians, The Gerzeans formed in the Delta and pushed south but failing to overcome the Amratians in Nubia. Breaking away from the black topped ware and white lined pottery, the Gerzeans started to pain their pottery dark red with pictures of animals, people and ships. During this time geographically Egypt declined in rainfall but farming increased so much that the majority of food produced was from the land. Hunting was not gone but was probably confined to the upper class, much like in medieval Europe and Asia (Middle East). With a surplus of food, Egyptians increasingly adopted a sedentary existence and cities grew as large as 5000 (that's a lot!). Much like how mud brick building started in with the Amratians, the Gerzeans one upped them and started mass producing as reeds were the standard pre-Gerzean. Technology also progressed with much more use of copper. Being so similar to contemporary Mesopotamia, Egypt received considerable Mesopotamian influence at this time including cylinder seals, ceremonial "pear-shaped" maces and architecture. The primary route of Mesopotamian trade was Byblos on account of many Byblian artifacts found in Egypt. Cedar also was imported from Lebanon (maybe another Mesopotamian influence?). The last phase of the Naqada is the Protodynastic period. This is when the most unique aspects of Ancient Egypt spring up (hieroglyphics, serekhs, irrigation, royal cemeteries and also the aridification of the Sahara. Musical instruments like the double reed and lyres are also first introduced and also the world's oldest board game, Senet. Another milestone is Narmer (Manly Catfish) and his unification of Upper and Lower Egypt (although this is debatable, Narmer being identified with many rulers.
Now onto the linguistics. The oldest stage of the Egyptian language is Archaic Egyptian which can only be have spoken/written from the earliest records down to 2600 BC in which it becomes Old Egyptian. The reconstructed phonology of Archaic Egyptian is very much like the Semitic languages which it is distantly related. You have all the "gutturals" ħ, χ, ʁ, ʕ(which strangely came from [d]) but you also got palatal consonants like c, ɟ and ç.