posted on 2022-03-29, 01:41authored byAdam Fazzolari
The formation of the Egyptian state is one of the most widely debated topics within the study of Early Egypt. Scholars have argued a variety of factors for state origins including agriculture, kinship and trade, but none has been more prolific than war. This study aims to investigate a wide variety of evidence for warfare in order to clarify the role and impact it had on the origin of the state. Discussions are sourced from three different areas which include anthropological theories and concepts, archaeological evidence and iconographic data. An understanding is therefore generated on the basis of both the theory and the evidence which indicates that warfare was not a major factor of state formation in Egypt. Although evidence for violence is present in the Predynastic Period, archaeological remains are consistent with conflict, not war. This suggests that while violence played a role, it was not to the extent of full-scale warfare. An analysis of violent motifs within the iconographic remains supports this hypothesis as depictions appear to be symbolic representations of the power of the king rather than depictions of warfare itself. A brief investigation into the presence of warfare during cultural and political unification which were important precursor to the state shows that war was not a factor in these evolutionary processes either.
History
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Anthropology of warfare and the state -- Chapter 2. Archaeological evidence -- Chapter 3. Iconographic evidence -- Conclusion.
Notes
Theoretical thesis.
Bibliography: pages 79-90
Awarding Institution
Macquarie University
Degree Type
Thesis MRes
Degree
MRes, Macquarie University, Faculty of Arts, Department of Ancient History
Department, Centre or School
Department of Ancient History
Year of Award
2014
Principal Supervisor
Yann Trsitant
Rights
Copyright Adam Fazzolari 2014.
Copyright disclaimer: http://mq.edu.au/library/copyright