Chapter 2: Complex Socities part 2

Summary

The video script delves into the rich history of ancient Egypt, highlighting its original name Kemet and the significance of the Nile River in its civilization. It discusses the concept of Pharaohs and the evolution of the term from 'great house' to a symbol of divine rule. The script challenges the Eurocentric view of Egypt's history, emphasizing the melanated people's self-depiction and the influence of Kemet on later cultures. It also touches on the Book of the Dead, early beliefs in an afterlife, and the societal structure with Pharaohs at the apex. The lecture concludes with a brief on the Bronze and Iron Ages, hinting at future discussions on Hebrews, Judaism, and Persia.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The original name of Egypt is Kemet, signifying 'the land of the black', indicating the indigenous people's self-identification as black or melanated.
• 🏺 The term 'Pharaoh' means 'great house', originally referring to the grandeur of the house and later to the king who occupied it, symbolizing divine rule on earth.
• 🌾 Egypt, or Kemet, was divided into Upper and Lower Kemet, with the Nile River flowing from south to north, contrary to most rivers which flow from north to south.
• 🏰 The pyramids, initially called 'permur' or 'House of death', were mausoleums for pharaohs to enter the afterlife, reflecting the ancient Egyptians' belief in the afterlife.
• 🔮 The ancient Egyptians practiced both monotheism and polytheism, with the sun god Ra and the moon god Amun prominent in their pantheon, highlighting their connection to celestial bodies.
• 📜 The 'Book of the Dead', detailing the soul's journey after death and the concept of judgment by the feather of Maat, predates the Bible by thousands of years and influenced later religious beliefs.
• 🏛️ The civilization of ancient Egypt, part of the Nile Valley or Fertile Crescent, was renowned for its agricultural abundance due to the seasonal flooding of the Nile.
• 👥 Egyptian society was structured with a clear social hierarchy, the Pharaoh at the top, believed to be a direct descendant of deities, embodying divine authority.
• 🛡️ The Hyksos, or 'sea people', brought significant cultural and technological changes, including the introduction of horse-drawn chariots, impacting Egyptian warfare.
• ⚔️ The transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age around 1200-1100 BCE marked a major turning point in material technology and societal development in Egypt.

Q & A

What is the original name of Egypt and what does it mean?

The original name of Egypt is Kemet, which means 'the black land'. It is suggested that the term referred to the fertile soil rather than the skin color of the people, but the ancient Egyptians depicted themselves as melanated individuals.

How did the Nile River influence the division of ancient Egypt?

The Nile River, flowing from south to north, influenced the division of ancient Egypt into Upper and Lower Egypt. Upper Egypt was at the top and Lower Egypt at the bottom, with the Nile's seasonal flooding making the soil fertile and supporting agriculture.

What is the significance of the two different crowns in ancient Egyptian iconography?

The two crowns represent the unity of Upper and Lower Egypt. The 'bowling pin' crown signifies Lower Egypt, while the slanted crop crown represents Upper Egypt. A Pharaoh wearing both crowns symbolized the ruler's authority over a unified Egypt.

What does the term 'Pharaoh' mean and how did its meaning evolve?

The term 'Pharaoh' originally meant 'great house', referring to the grand palaces. Over time, it came to signify the king himself, as the kings occupied these great houses and were considered divine, being the 'God on Earth'.

What was the original name for the pyramids and what did it signify?

The original name for the pyramids was 'per myrrh' or 'permur', which translates to 'House of death' or 'House of the dead'. The pyramids served as mausoleums for the pharaohs to enter the afterlife.

How did the ancient Egyptians view the sun and its role in their civilization?

The sun was seen as a life-giver and was essential for agriculture. The sun god Ra was a central figure in their polytheistic religion, symbolizing the nurturing and development of life, which was crucial for the survival of the civilization.

What is the significance of December 25th in the context of ancient Egyptian beliefs?

December 25th is mentioned as a significant date, but the speaker clarifies that it is not the birthday of Jesus as commonly believed. Instead, it is connected to the winter solstice, a time of significant astronomical and possibly religious importance.

What is the 'Book of the Dead' and how does it relate to ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife?

The 'Book of the Dead', also known as the 'Book of Coming Forth by Day and Going Forth by Night', is an ancient spiritual text that discusses the afterlife, the judgment of the soul, and the concept of the final resting place based on one's life. It predates the Bible and influenced later religious beliefs.

How did the concept of judgment after death in ancient Egypt compare to later religious beliefs?

Ancient Egyptians believed in the judgment of the soul after death, with the heart being weighed against the feather of Maat, symbolizing truth and justice. This concept of judgment and the afterlife shares similarities with later religious beliefs, such as Christianity, as noted by Dr. John Henry Clark.

What is the significance of the Hittites in the history of ancient Egypt?

The Hittites, also known as the 'sea people', were an Indo-European language-speaking people who invaded and influenced ancient Egypt. They introduced advanced weaponry and horse-drawn chariots, which changed the nature of warfare and had a lasting impact on the region.

How did the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age affect ancient Egypt and its civilization?

The transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age around 1200 BCE marked a significant turning point in ancient Egypt. The introduction of iron, a stronger material than bronze, led to advancements in weaponry and tools, which in turn affected the society's structure and its ability to defend itself.

Outlines

00:00

🖤 The Origin of Kemet and the Nile River

The speaker discusses the original name of Egypt, 'Kemet,' meaning 'land of the black,' referring to the people, not just the soil. They touch on the depiction of the ancient Egyptians as melanated individuals and describe the unification of Upper and Lower Kemet under Pharaoh Menes. The Nile River's unique flow is highlighted, and the meaning of the word 'Pharaoh' as 'great house' is explained. Additionally, the speaker mentions the pyramids, originally called 'Per Mur,' meaning 'House of Death,' and their role as mausoleums for pharaohs in their journey to the afterlife.

05:00

🌞 Solstices and Egyptian Dynasties

The speaker transitions to discussing the importance of the sun in Egyptian belief, particularly the god Amun Ra, and the significance of the solstices and equinoxes, particularly the Winter Solstice. They argue that December 25th is not the birthdate of Jesus. Chronologically, Egypt is divided into the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms, with 28 heroic dynasties ruling the Nile Valley Civilization. The fertility of the Nile Valley, crucial for agriculture, is emphasized, and the speaker briefly introduces the 'Book of the Dead,' one of the earliest spiritual texts, predating the Bible by thousands of years.

10:02

⚖️ Ma'at and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt

The speaker delves into the Egyptian belief system, focusing on the concept of Ma'at, the goddess of balance and justice. In the afterlife, a soul's heart would be weighed against the feather of Ma'at to determine its fate. If the heart was heavier, it meant the person lived unjustly. This concept of judgment influenced later beliefs about heaven and hell. The Egyptians' contributions to spirituality, particularly their belief in the soul’s journey after death, are compared to Christianity, which the speaker claims recycled African religious beliefs.

15:05

👑 The Pharaoh and Early Invasions of Egypt

The speaker continues with a description of the social hierarchy in ancient Egypt, with the Pharaoh at the top, believed to be a god on Earth. The pharaoh represented divine authority, though not through overt displays of power. They also discuss the Indo-European invaders, known as the Hyksos, who attacked Egypt during the Bronze Age, introducing innovations such as horse-drawn chariots and iron weaponry. The Hyksos' invasion marked a significant point in Egyptian history, as it led to new forms of warfare.

🏺 King Tutankhamun and the Indo-European Influence

The speaker shifts to the famous Egyptian ruler, King Tutankhamun (King Tut), and his well-preserved burial mask, which draws significant attention in modern times. They also mention Indo-European languages and their relationship to ancient civilizations, such as those in Greece, Persia, and India. The Bronze Age collapse around 1200 BCE is identified as a major turning point, with the Iron Age beginning around 1100 BCE, characterized by stronger iron tools and weapons. The speaker ends by hinting at future discussions on Hebrew history and the development of Judaism.

Keywords

💡Kemet

Kemet, the original name for Egypt, means 'land of the black,' referring to the dark, fertile soil along the Nile River. However, it is also suggested that the people of Kemet, as described in their iconography, were melanated or Black. This reflects the cultural identity of the ancient Egyptians, which is a major theme in the video.

💡Upper and Lower Egypt

Upper and Lower Egypt refer to the two regions of ancient Egypt, with Upper Egypt in the south and Lower Egypt in the north due to the flow of the Nile River. The unification of these regions under Pharaoh Menes is an important historical event in Egyptian history, symbolized by the double crown worn by the pharaoh. This unification is central to the development of ancient Egyptian civilization.

💡Pharaoh

The term 'Pharaoh' means 'great house' and originally referred to the royal palace. Over time, it became associated with the king of Egypt, who was seen as a divine figure, a descendant of the gods. Pharaohs were believed to embody divinity and served as intermediaries between the gods and the people, which reflects the religious and social structure of ancient Egypt.

💡Pyramid (Per Myrrh)

The word 'pyramid' is a mispronunciation of 'Per Myrrh,' meaning 'House of Death.' Pyramids were monumental tombs for pharaohs, serving as places for the deceased rulers to transition into the afterlife. This concept underscores the importance of death and the afterlife in Egyptian religion and the belief in the continuation of the soul beyond physical life.

💡Amun-Ra

Amun-Ra represents the fusion of two major deities in ancient Egyptian religion: Amun, a creator god, and Ra, the sun god. This unification symbolized the merging of Upper and Lower Egypt and the consolidation of religious belief. Amun-Ra became one of the most important gods in Egyptian mythology, symbolizing the life-giving power of the sun.

💡Maat

Maat, the goddess of truth, balance, and justice, played a central role in Egyptian religious belief. In the afterlife, a person's heart was weighed against the feather of Maat to determine if they lived a righteous life. This concept of moral judgment after death predates similar ideas in later religious traditions, such as Christianity.

💡Book of the Dead

The 'Book of the Dead,' also known as the 'Book of Coming Forth by Day,' is a collection of ancient Egyptian funerary texts that describe the journey of the soul after death. It provided guidance for the deceased on how to navigate the afterlife and emphasized the importance of living a life in accordance with Maat. This text is one of the earliest known spiritual writings, predating many religious texts.

💡Hyksos

The Hyksos were a group of people, possibly of Indo-European origin, who invaded Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period. They introduced new technologies, such as horse-drawn chariots, which revolutionized Egyptian warfare. Their invasion marks a significant turning point in Egyptian history, leading to the eventual expulsion and the establishment of the New Kingdom.

💡Bronze Age Collapse

The Bronze Age Collapse around 1200 BCE marked the end of an era dominated by the use of bronze for tools and weapons. This period saw the decline of many ancient civilizations, including Egypt, and the transition to the Iron Age. The collapse had widespread cultural, economic, and political effects, contributing to changes in Egyptian society and military technology.

💡Indo-European Languages

Indo-European languages form a large language family that includes ancient languages like Greek, Latin, and Sanskrit. In the video, it is mentioned in the context of invasions by Indo-European-speaking peoples, such as the Hyksos, who played a significant role in shaping the history and culture of ancient Egypt through their interactions and invasions.

Highlights

The original name of Egypt is Kemet, signifying 'the land of the black', reflecting the self-identification and depiction of the people as melanated.

Egyptians were known for their advanced civilization, with early dynasties and a unique geographical feature: the Nile River flowing 'upward'.

The term 'Pharaoh' means 'great house', originally referring to the grandeur of the residence, later used to denote the ruler of a unified Egypt.

The word 'pyramid' is a mispronunciation; originally called 'per myrrh', meaning 'House of death', serving as mausoleums for pharaohs' afterlife.

Ancient Egyptians practiced both monotheism and polytheism, with the sun god Ra and the moon god Amun prominent in their pantheon.

The concept of the winter solstice, significant in many cultures, is highlighted as not being the actual birthday of Jesus.

Egypt is divided into the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms, with 28 dynasties contributing to the rich tapestry of Egyptian history.

The Nile Valley Civilization, or Fertile Crescent, was renowned for its agricultural abundance due to the seasonal flooding of the Nile.

The Book of the Dead, detailing the afterlife and judgment of the soul, predates the Bible by approximately 10,000 years.

The concept of judgment in the afterlife by the feather of Maat, symbolizing balance and justice, influenced later religious beliefs.

Egyptian society was hierarchical, with the Pharaoh at the apex, believed to be a direct descendant of deities.

The Hyksos, or 'sea people', brought significant cultural and technological changes, including the introduction of horse-drawn chariots.

The transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age around 1200-1100 BCE marked a major turning point in material technology and warfare.

King Tutankhamun's intact burial and the exquisite burial mask are iconic, reflecting the artistic and cultural achievements of ancient Egypt.

Indo-European languages, including ancient Greek, Latin, Persian, Sanskrit, and Hindi, have deep historical roots connected to Egypt.

The lecture concludes with a call to investigate information critically, emphasizing the importance of truth and historical accuracy.

Transcripts

okay once again I had a technical

difficulty I'm sorry we're going to

continue and pick up where we left off

and in part two so the original name of

Egypt is Kemet

and the Anglo-Saxons

egyptologists

it was their contention that

black land which means that

they were proposing that the soil was

black and not

the people but it is clear that the

individuals that live there that

describe themselves as this is the land

of the black that we are a black people

and they depicted themselves the

iconography and the images showed that

they were a melanated people

with melanin In Their Skin you there's a

long history of Egypt or Kemet with

Greeks and Romans invading and

ultimately taking over and the ptolemies

in later years but early on

in the first dynasties you had upper and

lower chemical

the Nile River is the only river that I

know I can stand corrected if anyone

chooses to challenge me you're welcome

that runs upward example the Mississippi

River Flows Down from Minnesota St Louis

Memphis and Germans all through that

direction and comes to the Gulf of

Mexico

so the Nile River would flow upward

so

upper Kimmy was at the bottom and lower

Kevin was at the top

in that period

upper cabin and lower kimid became

unified under the Pharaoh Minis

minis the first m-e-n-e-s

if you look at some of the images

imagery of Egypt you will notice that

there are two different crowns one of

the pins if you go on Google and check

it check some pictures you will see one

kind of looks like a bowling pin

the other is just around slanted crop so

to show that you are the ruler of

unified Kimmy if it was both of the

crowns the circular one with the bowling

pin at the top

the word Pharaoh we all should be

familiar with that

means great house

it originally meant great house then

Kings

occupied a great house in life

and the word pyramid is a

mispronunciation that was Miss screwed

by the Anglo-Saxon oh this is this is

what they use to describe it well

actually what it was initially called by

the original inhabitants was per myrrh

p-e-r-m-u-r permur

House of death Murder

permur House of death

yes the pyramids are

mausoleums if you will

great structures for the pharaoh to

enter into the Afterlife

okay

it's an answer into the Afterlife the

Pharaoh the greenhouse the leader of the

people

again I talked about

monotheism and polytheism

in ancient Egypt there was a belief in

Upper and Lower Egypt in the sun god

ra

and our moon

a-m-o-n and R A Rob

so when the

entities Unified

the same God of just a different name

because he had the same attributes

became Amun ra

the sun god

the son was a symbol of a life-giver the

son is responsible for the uh nurturing

and development of

agriculture

we need sun melanated people interact

with the Sun

the sun is prevalent in Cycles it's a

later lecture at a later time but you

have the winter solstice the summer

solstice and also equinoxes

I want you to look that up on your own

and when I ask you in class be able to

tell me what is an equinox

what is the winter solstice what is the

summer solstice but the winter solstice

is one that's very prevalent because it

directly addresses December 25th and why

that day is important

I go on the record and will stand

emphatically and say December 25th is

not

Jesus's so-called birthday

that's not what that means

okay

so Egypt is divided chronologically into

the Old Kingdom the Middle Kingdom and

The New Kingdom

and there were uh 28 heroic dynasties if

I'm not mistaken

my mind that kind of escapes me now but

I would have to come back to that and

this civilization what it dwelled was

called the Nile Valley Civilization or

the Fertile Crescent

it was called that because the Nile

Valley flooded seasonally and it would

make the soil so fertile and moist that

there would be an abundance

of Agriculture and food provided for the

people

as they were citizens

of course as it grew under the rule of

law

you had to have food provided so as the

population grew population explosions

there were

a greater need for food and the now

never let them down

I want to mention to you the book of

coming forth by day and going forth by

night

which is abbreviated or known by

egyptologists as the Book of the Dead

which is one of the first

spiritual text which existed probably

about 10 000 years before any Bible was

printed whether it was the glutenberg

Bible the King James

the uh Tyndale Bible there are various

Bibles

but you didn't get mass production of

the Bible until you got the glutenberg

printing press which enabled that to

occur

that's another subject matter for

another time

but the book of coming forth by day and

going forth by night

was not just a simple book that

with a book of myths per se but it

addressed what happens to the soul and

death and the belief in an afterlife

the ancient chemites were one of the

first societies

that was predicated upon

the belief that the soul and death

was judged

and that there was a final resting place

based on how you lived your life

this is before

so-called Christianity if you will but

if you look at the underlying the

underbelly of it you will see that

theoretically it's similar to what is

now called Christianity

as Dr John Henry Clark said that

Christianity is a recycling of religious

beliefs that was prevalent and has its

Genesis in Africa that was recycled and

given back to you to assist in your

enslavery that's a powerful remark

Dr John Henry Clark

so the Book of the Dead talks about this

the afterlife

and

the Judgment by

the feather of Maya living by the

principles of balance and Justice Maya

m-a-a-t

powerful concept

and The Story Goes that

upon the day of judgment that the soul

of the person coming before Maya would

be weighed with a pair of scales

like the Statue of Liberty symbolically

holding scales and being blindfolded but

my art would weigh the heart

with the feather of Justice if you look

up Maya

Google it

m-a-a-t you will see my yacht placing

the feather of justice and righteousness

with the heart

and if the heart was heavier than the

feather you were found wanting

thus you get told terms like black heart

dark hearted

cold-hearted heavy hearted

it has his

uh

Origins with

and connections to Maya

so that that was the origins of Heaven

and Hell and these were some of the

country just a few of the contributions

that the Egyptians were allowed to

uh we're not allowed but brought forth

to mankind

Egyptian Life Center around family

there there's an abundance of documents

about Egyptian life

but for the most part

the Egyptians were farmers and workers

but they had a

a hierarchy a social construct social

hierarchies which started with the

Pharaoh as I said Pharaoh means great

house and it is believed that the

Pharaoh is descended from deities

God on Earth God God present the god

king

this is what was believed early

Divinity lives

within the Pharaoh not as if he was able

to

have a spooky demonstration of power

like throw a lightning bolt but it is

believed that he was a direct descendant

and that God operated through him as if

he wasn't representative of Abu rock on

Earth

the self-created god the son the son God

he and there's others

there's the god Pata ptah The God Who

created himself from nothingness

from the primordial Waters of noon

we'll get deeper into that as well

so I talked a little bit about how the

ancient chemis looked they were a black

people but One initial

Invasion that occurred was the hixels

and they were called the sea people by

the chemis

they were

a Indo-European

language speaking people and they came

in and rabbits and attacked ancient

Kimmy

the Hicks off

invasions occurred during the bronze era

now you have the bronze era and you have

the iron Arab

nine hour or second and brought about

a great a stronger weapon as we know

that iron is stronger than bronze but

still is stronger than iron and iron can

what rust still can't rust

okay but steel is made from Iron Ore

so the hixsons DC people came in and

uh introduced

horse-drawn carriages which was an

advanced from Weaponry early on

you see the images of a chariot being

pulled by the horse you're able to shoot

a bow and arrow

swiftly you're able you you're able to

uh not have to get so close to the

person you're you're combating

so therefore one of the things that the

hixels brought in

similarly

similarly

I mentioned the indo-europeans and this

is where we're going to stop at but a

lot of us have seen

a noble King Tut is King two two common

the boy King he has to be one of the

most

famous individuals

from

Egyptian Lord because

his grave burial Mass was found intact

and you see the attention to detail with

uh

the mask the burial mask of King two to

come

so I mentioned Indo-European languages

and Indo-European languages

or languages that are

is a language family that includes

ancient Greek Latin Persian Sanskrit

and Hindi

we'll talk more about the Aryans and The

Vedic Age in chapter three this is

chapter two

so

the Bronze Age collapsed around 1200 BCE

as I said we've done away if you will

with BC and A.D before Christ and after

death and you use

CE common error or before the Common Era

so 1200 years

before

historians say that the Bronze Age began

to collapse

the brawn ages when weapons

cups and medallions and jewelry

ornamentations were made from bronze

which is a pretty strong

element

for those of you that may not know

bronze kind of resembles brass

but

iron was strong so the Iron Age began

about 1100 BCE

okay

so catch that chronologue

the Bronze Age collapsed around 1200 BCE

historians consider that as a major

turning point and according to the book

it says that the Iron Age began

around 1100 BCE a hundred years later

this is where we'll stop at this is what

we were going to address today continue

to look at the chapter in the

information we will we will talk about

definitions

the Hebrews and those other people that

I mentioned

and we will talk about the difference

in a Hebrew the original Hebrew

Jewish

Zionism

and the religion of Judaism

as it relates to where it came from and

who the Hebrews were where they came

from and talk about some biblical

accounts as well as some historical

accounts

about

their uh journey through life

and we're going to talk about Persia and

that's basically going to be the end of

chapter two and we're going to run right

on into chapter three

remember

always investigate the information you

receive

if it is indeed the truth

it should stand a test of Investigation

peace