A comparison/overview of the Neolithic People and the Egyptians:
Ancient Egypt, to me and many others, is a fascinating time and culture. Some of the greatest archaeological discoveries come from this land. I grew up watching Discovery and Nat Geo, etc. , glued to the television for the better part of an hour or two per segment. Never through any of it was I able to trace the history of Ancient Egypt from the beginning of its existence, nor did much of the great tales I’d learned of come from earlier periods. I’m used to hieroglyphs, images of people working along the Nile River…. You won’t find those things in the Neolithic.
The Neolithic can sometimes be mistaken for the Predynastic Period because these times overlap a bit. For me, it is easiest to distinguish the two time periods, first, by location, and second, by cultural content. Much of the Neolithic period takes place in the Western and Eastern Deserts of Egypt (Dates of occupation range from approximately 7500-7000 BC to 3500-3000 BC). Only the latter portion of the Neolithic exists elsewhere. One major site of settlement in the Western Desert at this time is Nabta Playa. It was an oasis of tremendous size that flooded seasonally. Living conditions here were kept simple. Before permanent settlements were made, the inhabitants uprooted and moved in towards the Nile River where they reestablished their roots and created what came to be known as the Predynastic period.
In the Predynastic period, Egyptian culture really blossomed (in comparison to the Neolithic). This is where the most known forms of writing appeared. Artistic creativity exploded and much pottery with elaborate and intricate designs can be found at sites along the Nile from the Predynastic period. Its an exciting and even dark time in Ancient Egyptian history and I’m thrilled to learn more about how they lived Millenia before Christ walked the earth.
Although I very much enjoy tales of the royal bloodlines of Ancient Egypt, I am curious what the lives of the commoners was like? What did they do? How exactly were their lives different from royalty? Did they receive education? Were they able to mummify their dead? How did they fight ailments (did they have access to the same resources)?
The Neolithic can sometimes be mistaken for the Predynastic Period because these times overlap a bit. For me, it is easiest to distinguish the two time periods, first, by location, and second, by cultural content. Much of the Neolithic period takes place in the Western and Eastern Deserts of Egypt (Dates of occupation range from approximately 7500-7000 BC to 3500-3000 BC). Only the latter portion of the Neolithic exists elsewhere. One major site of settlement in the Western Desert at this time is Nabta Playa. It was an oasis of tremendous size that flooded seasonally. Living conditions here were kept simple. Before permanent settlements were made, the inhabitants uprooted and moved in towards the Nile River where they reestablished their roots and created what came to be known as the Predynastic period.
In the Predynastic period, Egyptian culture really blossomed (in comparison to the Neolithic). This is where the most known forms of writing appeared. Artistic creativity exploded and much pottery with elaborate and intricate designs can be found at sites along the Nile from the Predynastic period. Its an exciting and even dark time in Ancient Egyptian history and I’m thrilled to learn more about how they lived Millenia before Christ walked the earth.
Although I very much enjoy tales of the royal bloodlines of Ancient Egypt, I am curious what the lives of the commoners was like? What did they do? How exactly were their lives different from royalty? Did they receive education? Were they able to mummify their dead? How did they fight ailments (did they have access to the same resources)?