Originally posted by Cruizer
...there is also nothing to indicate a normal technological growing curve in pre-dyansty nomads who had some unknown stimulus to congregate and begin
an alien, urban lifestyle.
Oh no? Even though you read my posts on
page 21, I had trouble with the text-codes to
properly
display the pics until
page 31. Even in the Pre-Dynastic times, when
the
seeds of Egyptian Civilization were still nomadic & making seasonal camps out at the playas in the desert (I mentioned Nabta Playa
specifically), there was still the beginnings of large-scale stone-
working. Even so, the archeological records that I wrote of back on page 21
does show the gradual (though relatively rapid) progression of skills that it would have taken for the Giza Pyramids to be built. There's no
indication in the archeological record that indicates that Egyptian culture, skill & sophistication was "given" to them; No indication that the
Egyptians acquired these attributes "suddenly".
I also think you're discounting the contributions of Snefru (1st Pharoah, 4th Dynasty), whom I mentioned also...He was the literal "father" of the
Giza Pyramids (as well as being the literal father of those three Pharoahs who built the GP's), as it was he & his architech (Imhotep) who worked
through the problems of
large-scale pyramids. It took Snefru at least three tries (some Egyptologists credit Snefru with five, but real
evidence is sketchy about two of those five pyramids) to get it right with the Red Pyramid.
I think you're also discounting the fact that, even though "agriculture" arrived relatively late in Egyptian history, the Nile was so lush &
fertile that obtaining food was ridiculously easy...Especially compared to the people living along the Tigris & Euphrates rivers (Mesopotamia). Since
the Egyptians had it comparitively easy as far as
surving goes, this left Egyptians more "leisure time" to develop
sophisication in
their culture (as HowlrunnerIV, whom I quote later in this post, pointed out).
Originally posted by Cruizer
Then 26 dynasties along with the more modern Greek and Roman influences followed never having equalled the scale of those monuments.
Quite possibly because the Greeks &
especially the Romans were more interested in exploiting the high level of agrarian fertility of the Nile
River to feed their armies.
Even so, the Alexander the Great was welcomed more as a
liberator than a conqueror; Greeks were traditional allies to the Egyptians at the
time. Even after Alexander, during Ptolomy rulership, the Greeks integrated more within "Egyptian culture" than any other Greeks of their time. But
then again, even the Greeks used Egypt as their "breadbasket."
Originally posted by Cruizer
Zahi Hawass conceeds that he calculates only 30% of what exists has been unearthed.
I would tend to agree with that statement, in general, but I might consider a slightly higher percentage. Even so, when you look at other ancient
documentation (even unrelated to Egypt, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls) & realize what lousy condition they were in when found, you have to wonder how
much lost historical material can
never be found. Time is the
real enemy of archeology.
Originally posted by zorgon
I am wondering just how much is still hidden away in deep dark basements of museums, like the Bagdad battery.
...Or even still hidden away by the multi-generational families of tomb robbers...
Tomb
security was a high priority on
any Pharoah's list!
Originally posted by HowlrunnerIV
How can multiple "early" civilisations all discover precession? Easy, priests don't generally have to spend time bent over in the fields looking at
the mud, they spend their time staring into the sky and thinking deep thoughts about how they can remain in control, eventually they begin to notice
what's happening up there, whether they are looking from Thebes or Mexico.
Heh...Especially in Mesopotamia; Ditch-digging (for the irrigation canals) was considered a "holy duty" & the preists were the largest
"employers"; They had all kinds of professions working for them...Brewers, potters, even prostitutes (

). The priests drafted anybody they wanted
to for the job.
The rise of the "professional class" during Neolithic times allowed people to "specialize"...Of course, the higher the status of your
"profession", the more time you have to "sophisticate" your profession even further.
This is also why Pharoah in Egypt was also considered to be a "living incarnation" of the divine...It was his "professional class".

It was
the Pharoah who had the chief duty of propogating the gods so that the gods could keep the universe going the way it should. Pharoah's duty was to
protect Egypt's borders, perform the religious duties to keep Chaos at bay & even provide for the people in times of famine/disaster (by storing
surplus food & distribute it during the "lean times"). Yes, I admit it...Pharonic Egypt was more of a Religious Tyranny than anything else, but with
only a few exceptions, Pharoah also had to perform
benevolent duties to the prosperity of his people & the nation.
Originally posted by golddragnet
the pyramids were built by my mate Monkey Harris
Where's your evidence? BTW, one-liner posting is highly discouraged on ATS...Posting that does not show any
effort to keep in line with any
kind of serious scholarship has it's own forums over in BTS. Keep that in mind before you post again.
And as yet
another reminder, specifically to Undo...Stop cluttering up this thread. If you want to step into the "boxing ring" (ATS Chat)
with Marduk, then hammer out your differences there. I believe the Mods are getting pretty tired of repeating their warnings about this
thread-derailment. BTW Marduk...By even
offering any answers to Undo's off-topic diatribes, just remember that you're only encouraging the
problem.
[edit on 26-10-2006 by MidnightDStroyer]