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Introduction to Ancient Egypt and Its Civilization
  • Level Professional
  • Duration 8 hours
  • Course by University of Pennsylvania
  • Offered by

About

Colossal pyramids, imposing temples, golden treasures, enigmatic hieroglyphs, powerful pharaohs, strange gods, and mysterious mummies are features of Ancient Egyptian culture that have fascinated people over the millennia. The Bible refers to its gods, rulers, and pyramids. Neighboring cultures in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean wrote about its god-like kings and its seemingly endless supply of gold. The Greeks and Romans describe aspects of Egypt's culture and history. As the 19th century began, the Napoleonic campaign in Egypt highlighted the wonders of this ancient land, and public interest soared. Not long after, Champollion deciphered Egypt's hieroglyphs and paved the way for other scholars to reveal that Egyptian texts dealt with medicine, dentistry, veterinary practices, mathematics, literature, and accounting, and many other topics. Then, early in the 20th century, Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun and its fabulous contents. Exhibitions of this treasure a few decades later resulted in the world's first blockbuster, and its revival in the 21st century has kept interest alive. Join Dr. David Silverman, Professor of Egyptology at Penn, Curator in Charge of the Egyptian Section of the Penn Museum, and curator of the Tutankhamun exhibitions on a guided tour of the mysteries and wonders of this ancient land. He has developed this online course and set it in the galleries of the world famous Penn Museum. He uses many original Egyptian artifacts to illustrate his lectures as he guides students as they make their own discovery of this fascinating culture.

Modules

Introduction to the Course

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Course Introduction

Introduce Yourself to the Class

    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Introduce Yourself!

Suggested Readings for the Course

    • 2 Readings
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2 Readings

  • Suggested Course Textbook
  • Additional Readings and Resources

History and Chronology

    • 10 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • History and Chronology Quiz

1 Discussions

  • The Kingdoms vs. the Intermediate Periods

10 Videos

  • History and Chronology Part 1
  • History and Chronology Part 2
  • History and Chronology Part 3
  • History and Chronology Part 4
  • History and Chronology Part 5
  • History and Chronology Part 6
  • History and Chronology Part 7
  • History and Chronology Part 8
  • History and Chronology Part 9
  • History and Chronology Part 10

1 Readings

  • Suggested & Further Reading

The Pharaoh and Kingship

    • 7 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The Pharaoh and Kingship Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Ancient Egyptian Kingship vs. Modern Leadership

7 Videos

  • The Pharaoh and Kingship Part 1
  • The Pharaoh and Kingship Part 2
  • The Pharaoh and Kingship Part 3
  • The Pharaoh and Kingship Part 4
  • The Pharaoh and Kingship Part 5
  • The Pharaoh and Kingship Part 6
  • The Pharaoh and Kingship Part 7

1 Readings

  • Suggested & Further Reading

Gods and Goddesses

    • 11 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Gods and Goddesses Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Your Favorite Creation Myth

11 Videos

  • Gods and Goddesses Part 1
  • Gods and Goddesses Part 2
  • Gods and Goddesses Part 3
  • Gods and Goddesses Part 4
  • Gods and Goddesses Part 5
  • Gods and Goddesses Part 6
  • Gods and Goddesses Part 7
  • Gods and Goddesses Part 8
  • Gods and Goddesses Part 9
  • Gods and Goddesses Part 10
  • Gods and Goddesses Part 11

1 Readings

  • Suggested & Further Reading

The Pyramids and the Sphinx

    • 10 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The Pyramids and the Sphinx Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Evolution of Royal Burials

10 Videos

  • The Pyramids and the Sphinx Part 1
  • The Pyramids and the Sphinx Part 2
  • The Pyramids and the Sphinx Part 3
  • The Pyramids and the Sphinx Part 4
  • The Pyramids and the Sphinx Part 5
  • The Pyramids and the Sphinx Part 6
  • The Pyramids and the Sphinx Part 7
  • The Pyramids and the Sphinx Part 8
  • The Pyramids and the Sphinx Part 9
  • The Pyramids and the Sphinx Part 10

1 Readings

  • Suggested & Further Reading

Mummies and Mummification

    • 7 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Mummies and Mummification Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Why Mummify?

7 Videos

  • Mummies and Mummification Part 1
  • Mummies and Mummification Part 2
  • Mummies and Mummification Part 3
  • Mummies and Mummification Part 4
  • Mummies and Mummification Part 5
  • Mummies and Mummification Part 6
  • In the Artifact Lab

1 Readings

  • Suggested & Further Reading

Auto Summary

Discover the wonders of Ancient Egypt in this engaging course led by renowned Egyptologist, Dr. David Silverman. Explore colossal pyramids, enigmatic hieroglyphs, and golden treasures through original artifacts and expert insights. Perfect for arts and humanities enthusiasts, this professional-level course spans 480 minutes and is available via Coursera's Starter subscription. Ideal for those captivated by ancient civilizations and seeking a deep dive into Egypt's rich history.

David P. Silverman
Instructor

David P. Silverman