Egypt As We Know, Egyptian Term Paper

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We have numerous proofs that Egyptians already used contracts, testaments and other important institutes of developed society. Also any citizen was allowed to bring lawsuits against guilty person and try to prove that his right or interest was threatened by that person. This was a very important institute of a democratic society because open court was the only legal state organ of justice.

The New Kingdom is also characterized by many Egyptologists as a period of great changes in public knowledge. Many people became literate (mainly upper class representatives) and sure that education of this period was more universal and progressive. Rich nobles and officials felt free sending their children to school; at the same time poor people didn't have such opportunity and it is not strange (if we remember Middle Ages we'll see that the situation was similar).

So, as we can see, Egyptian society was very progressive and other great civilizations, such as Greece or Babylon assimilated many Egyptian achievements. At the same time this society was unique and had specific features which allowed Egyptians enjoy being citizens of such state which had more democratic elements his neighbors had.

The culminating point of Ancient Egyptian history was a period of Akhenaton's reign (1370-1353). Akhenaton was the first pharaoh who noticed that pantheism threatened centralized country because there was no any common ideology as everybody worshiped own god. Pharaoh's original name was Amonhotep (in honor of primary state god Amon) but he had changed the name and called himself Akhenaton (in honor of the sun god - Aton). In one of the interviews in N. Mahfouze's book Akhenaton was convinced that his point-of-view would triumph in the end and god would help him establishing new order. Pharaoh was sure that he would succeed gaining necessary result using peaceful methods and overcome all difficulties and conflicts. Unfortunately he was not understood by the majority of population, also priests and nobles resisted his reform. At the same time he was supported by officials and some representatives of middle class, but they were only minority.

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In another interview when Meriamun talked to some priests they tried to convince that Akhenaton was mad and foolish man because he resisted Amon-Ra, the great god. Priests considered Akhenaton a heretic who betrayed own nation, its traditions and gods' will. I don't think it is correct because priests were offended by pharaoh's actions first of all not because of their spiritual interests but by simple material ones. All priests who worshiped Amon were extremely rich people and had a great influence on state's politics. Also they owned vast lands (about 30% of all lands in Egypt as some historians say) and numerous temples which were very profitable organizations. Sure, they didn't want to lose such privileges and power, so the had the only way out - resistance. Egyptian citizens simply didn't understand their pharaoh and resisted his actions only because of their strong beliefs in traditions and gods power. Ultimately Akhenaton failed and all his achievements were forgotten and destroyed. Tutankhamen was his successor and it is surprising that this most famous pharaoh was not a true leader - he was a puppet of priests (devotees of Amon).

Egyptian civilization had never reached such top of its development as it used to do during the New Kingdom period. This 500-year period is the most interesting period of Egyptian history which is remembered for great military success, economical and manufacturing development and sure - liberalization and democratization of social life. These goals were reached only under the condition of stable and progressive development and complication of social processes occurred in Egypt of that time. At the same time Akhenaton's reform failed because Egyptian society was not able to accept it because of strong religious beliefs and traditional conservatism of Eastern society. Who knows, maybe history would go in other direction if Akhenaton's reform succeeded......

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