Ethnic Identities in the Land of the Pharaohs
Past and Present Approaches in Egyptology

Explores ancient Egyptian concept of collective identity, and processes of ethnogenesis among inhabitants of the land of the pharaohs.

Uroš Mati? (Author)

9781108794466, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 December 2020

75 pages
22.8 x 15.1 x 0.5 cm, 0.14 kg

Ethnic Identities in the Land of the Pharaohs deals with ancient Egyptian concept of collective identity, various groups which inhabited the Egyptian Nile Valley and different approaches to ethnic identity in the last two hundred years of Egyptology. The aim is to present the dynamic processes of ethnogenesis of the inhabitants of the land of the pharaohs, and to place various approaches to ethnic identity in their broader scholarly and historical context. The dominant approach to ethnic identity in ancient Egypt is still based on culture historical method. This and other theoretically better framed approaches (e.g. instrumentalist approach, habitus, postcolonial approach, ethnogenesis, intersectionality) are discussed using numerous case studies from the 3rd millennium to the 1st century BC. Finally, this Element deals with recent impact of third science revolution on archaeological research on ethnic identity in ancient Egypt.

1. Introduction
2. From Race to Culture and People: Egyptology of the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century
3. Ethnic Identity: Recent Perspectives In Egyptology
4. Third Science Revolution
5. Concluding Remarks.

Subject Areas: Egyptian archaeology / Egyptology [HDDG]