Egyptian administration of the Western Desert from the Old to the New Kingdoms.
PUPSorbonne| N° d'inventaire | 18869 |
| Format | 16 x 24 |
| Détails | 176 p., paperback. |
| Publication | Paris, 2014 |
| Etat | Nine |
| ISBN | 9782840509684 |
From ancient times, the Egyptians demonstrated a need to control the deserts. The arid zones on the margins of the Nile Valley were managed by provincial governors since the beginning of the Old Kingdom, and the main oases were subject to the authority of officials sent on missions by the central government. The process of colonization led to the development of urban centers and the establishment of necropolises. The remains of Balat, dating mainly from the Old Kingdom, constitute the most significant example. Furthermore, the latest discoveries in the desert between Egypt, Libya, and Sudan reveal the ability of expeditions to reach distant territories. The administration of desert regions included the supervision of the network of tracks that allowed the diversion of the roads along the Nile. Depending on the era, they were used to bypass enemy territories or to facilitate political and commercial relations with Nubia and Central Africa. This book brings together textual sources from the Nile Valley that mention the desert and the oases of the West, as well as a series of documents recently unearthed in these regions. The analysis of the sources provides a picture of the positions held by officials in the Western Desert. All categories of Egyptian society are listed: governors, soldiers, priests, artisans, agricultural workers. The study of their titles shows the evolution of the administrative system and the Egyptians' view of the peripheral regions of the country.
From ancient times, the Egyptians demonstrated a need to control the deserts. The arid zones on the margins of the Nile Valley were managed by provincial governors since the beginning of the Old Kingdom, and the main oases were subject to the authority of officials sent on missions by the central government. The process of colonization led to the development of urban centers and the establishment of necropolises. The remains of Balat, dating mainly from the Old Kingdom, constitute the most significant example. Furthermore, the latest discoveries in the desert between Egypt, Libya, and Sudan reveal the ability of expeditions to reach distant territories. The administration of desert regions included the supervision of the network of tracks that allowed the diversion of the roads along the Nile. Depending on the era, they were used to bypass enemy territories or to facilitate political and commercial relations with Nubia and Central Africa. This book brings together textual sources from the Nile Valley that mention the desert and the oases of the West, as well as a series of documents recently unearthed in these regions. The analysis of the sources provides a picture of the positions held by officials in the Western Desert. All categories of Egyptian society are listed: governors, soldiers, priests, artisans, agricultural workers. The study of their titles shows the evolution of the administrative system and the Egyptians' view of the peripheral regions of the country.