What you'll learn

At the end of this course students will be able to identify the main periods of ancient Egyptian history, and refer to evidence key to our understanding of this time.

Course content

7 sections • 56 lectures • 3h 3m total length

What to expect from the course1:11
Introduction video2:42

Introduction (text)1:01
Historical Overview (text)1:59
Egypt and its River (video lecture)6:25
Section 1 Object: Decorated Predynastic Pot (video discussion)4:11
Watch this week's Object Video: a decorated pot recovered from a Predynastic cemetery. Be sure to refer to the Object Fact sheet (as a resource attached to this lecture) for information about this.
Stone Working in Ancient Egypt (video discussion)6:45
A supplementary discussion of stone working in ancient Egypt by technology expert Denys Stocks
Writing Egyptian Hieroglyphs (video lecture)10:28
Watch a lecture explaining how to write in Egyptian Hieroglyphs. You may also find the interactive hierglyph resource, or the printable sheet (both attached as Resources) useful.
History of Egyptology at the University of Manchester (video lecture)3:47
A presentation detailing the history of Egyptology at The Manchester Museum. Please be aware that this presentation includes brief images of human remains.
Additional Reading (text)0:18
Early Egypt: the Land and its Resources
Summary (text)0:41

Introduction (text)1:17
Historical Overview (text)1:32
Section 2 Object: Old Kingdom 'False Door' (video discussion)2:41
Watch this week's Object Video: an Old Kingdom "false door" recovered from a tomb and now displayed on the Egyptology gallery of the Manchester Museum.
First Intermediate Period Stela (video discussion)4:31
A supplementary discussion of an Associated Funerary Object, a First Intermediate Period inscribed stone fragment, recovered from the Dendera cemetery.
Old Kingdom Pyramids (video lecture)7:10
The Purpose of the Old Kingdom Tomb (video lecture)5:55
Watch a lecture detailing the development of The Old Kingdom Pyramids.
Ankhtifi (video lecture)5:32
Watch a lecture on Ankhtifi, an important warlord who lived in the First Intermediate Period.
Additional Reading (text)0:21
Old Kingdom Funerary Architecture
Summary (text)0:45

Introduction (text)1:21
Historical Overview (text)0:48
A historical overview of Middle Kingdom Egypt. Use the King List, Map, and Middle Kingdom part of the Chronology as a reference
Section 3 Object: 'Spinning Statue' (video discussion)3:55
Objects from Kahun (video discusssion)4:46
Watch a supplementary discussion of Three Middle Kingdom Objects recovered from the pyramid-builders' town, Kahun.
The Pyramid of Senwosret II and the town of Kahun (video lecture)6:21
The Two Brothers (note: contains brief images of human remains) (video lecture)3:01
Watch a lecture on the The Two Brothers. Please be aware that this lecture includes brief images of human remains.
Ramesseum Tomb Group (video lecture)3:08
Additional Reading (text)0:05
Life and Death in Middle Kingdom Egypt
Summary (text)0:48

Introduction (text)1:19
Historical Overview (text)1:34
Section 5 Object: Cartonnage Coffin (video discussion)3:46
The Coffin of Perenbast (video discussion)6:18
The Myth of Isis and Osiris (video lecture)6:01
Temple Statues (video lecture)3:34
Burial Practices in the Third Intermediate and Late Periods (video lecture)3:45
Additional Reading (text)0:13
Towns, Cities and Cemeteries of the Dynastic Age
Summary (text)0:34

Requirements

No prerequisites; suitable for all, including those with no prior knowledge of ancient Egypt. You will need a computer or mobile device and an internet connection suitable for the playback of videos. You may also wish to have access to a printer to print out and keep optional further reading, but all of the course can be accessed directly on a computer or mobile device.

Description

This course provides an introduction to ancient Egyptian history, using six items from the collections of the Manchester Museum. These items have been carefully chosen to reflect the development of the Dynastic Age through their origin, manufacture, decoration, and use. Week by week we will examine a different artefact and place it in its social and historical context. This will allow us to journey from Predynastic Egypt and its first king, Narmer, to Greco-Roman Egypt and its final queen, Cleopatra VII.

Since this is an introduction to ancient Egypt, no prior knowledge of the history, geography, religion or society of ancient Egypt is needed - all that we ask is that learners are open minded, tolerant and polite at all times.

The course largely consists of video guides and discussions, accompanied by recommended reading either provided in PDF format or by way of links to curated external sites.

Who this course is for:

All those interested in knowing more about ancient Egypt.

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction2 lectures • 4min

Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt9 lectures • 36min

Old Kingdom Egypt9 lectures • 30min

Middle Kingdom Egypt9 lectures • 24min

New Kingdom Egypt9 lectures • 33min

Third Intermediate Period and Late Period Egypt9 lectures • 27min

Greco-Roman Egypt9 lectures • 30min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: