All about My Travels through the Egyptian Civilization, Early Japanese Civilization, and the Early 20th Century

Deana Mole

January, 24, 2014

Hum/205

Mr. Longstreth

If you could learn about any three cultures, what would they be? This question was asked of me at one point in my career as an art historian and author. I have written a new textbook about the three periods I most enjoyed investigating and learning about. In this book, I hope to give you information on them and encourage you to dig even deeper to learn more about them. The three periods I have chosen for this book are; Egyptian Civilization, Early Japanese Civilization, and Early 20th Century. These are all very different but as you will see as you read the book that even though they are different they have similarities.

All about My Travels through the Egyptian Civilization, Early Japanese Civilization, and the Early 20th Century

Chapter 1

Egyptian civilization developed around 5000 B.C.E. During this time, Egypt was divided into two sections, Lower and Upper. Lower Egypt was actually a narrow strip of land located on either side of the Nile River. It ran for 700 miles from the first waterfall in the south to the Nile Delta. (Benton, J. R. & DiYanni, R., 2012, p. 17) Lower Egypt was in the northern part and was on the fertile land of the Nile Delta where it branched out and ran into the Mediterranean. (Benton, J. R. & DiYanni, R., 2012, p. 17) In about 3100 B.C.E. the two Egypt’s came together under the rule king Namer also known as Menes. Egypt had at least 30 dynasties. These were grouped into different periods according to their achievement and stableness. (Benton, J. R. & DiYanni, R., 2012, p. 17) “Egyptians developed a form of writing it began as pictographs and later combines with sounds, signs to produce a script known as hieroglyphics.” (Benton, J. R. & DiYanni, R., 2012, p. 18)

First was the Old Kingdom which lasted about 500 years. This was a time of social and political cohesion. During this time, dictators owned all the land, minerals and water. The kings shared these with the people in return for taxes and obedience. Life after death was strongly believed in Egyptian culture. This is evident in the items that were put in the coffins of the dead. It included scrolls with prayers and spells to guide the soul In the afterlife. (Benton, J. R. & DiYanni, R., 2012, p. 22) The grandest achievements of this time were the pyramids. Generally these were monuments built for the kings and were filled with the things they would need in the afterlife. At the end of this Kingdom there was much turmoil. This turmoil lasted for 150 years. No single dynasty could reunite the country. Finally prince Mentuhotep II was able to get the lower and upper Egypt to coexist. (Ohio State University, 2014).

Next came the Middle Kingdom and during this time the king had less power over the kingdom. Regional governors were given more power to take care of situations in their parts and the king would only take care of national affairs. Egyptian religion began to accept that the afterlife was meant for everyone not just the kings. During this time great strides were made in expanding the irrigation of the Nile to be able to expand its trading and expansions of colonies. Tombs were erected during this time. The tombs looked much like the persons home. There was a sacred private room along with a room that had a statue of the dead person. “The walls are usually painted of farm life and home life, unlike the earlier paintings of military”. (Benton, J. R. & DiYanni, R., 2012, p. 25) During the Middle Kingdom, there were breakdowns in the authority which left them weak. The Asians took advantage of this bringing in their Hyksos army with horses, chariots, body armor and new bronze weapons. The Egyptians could not defend themselves against this type of attack. They were conquered and ruled by the Hyksos for over 200 years. (Ohio State University, 2014)

Lastly the New Kingdom, “The Theban king Ahmose I disband the Hyksos and overcame some of the foreign people along the way to form the first Egyptian empire”. (Benton, J. R. & DiYanni, R., 2012, p. 25) “During the reign of King Thutmose III he had a series of military campaigns and conquered the land as far as the fourth cataract and takes Egypt borders to its largest size”. (Ohio State University, 2014) Queen Hatsehpsut was increasing the trade and building new temples and palaces. She ruled jointly with her husband King Thutmose III. During Amenhotpe IV kingship he tried to change Egypt’s religion from a worshiping of many gods to a worship of only Aton the Sun, he outlawed all other religions and wanted people to worship him as a God-king. He is the first king to be called Pharaoh. His reign leads to the Hittites taking over Egypt’s far borders and portions of Asia. Next King Tutankhamon takes over and is forced by priests to make the people worship many gods again. Egypt gets it land back from Asia only to be overthrown by Libya. “Many countries tried ruling Egypt at this time and finally Alexander the Greats victory left the Ptolemies in control until Rome takes Egypt and the death of Cleopatra which ended the reign of the Pharaohs”. (Ohio State University, 2014). During all periods religion had great influence and priests were very important in rulings.

Art work was very important to Egyptian Culture. One piece of visual art form that was important during this time was Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and Their Children Worshiping the Sun, ca 1348-1336 B.C.E. Eighteenth Dynasty, painted limestone relief, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Agyptisches Muesum. (Benton, J. R. & DiYanni, R., 2012, p. 31) The author of this piece is unknown. This piece is a great change from the traditional art. The purpose of this piece shows Akhenaten and his queen with their three children relaxing and worshiping their single God, Aten, God of the sun. This piece shows their daughters as miniature adults and Akhenaten showing affection which was rarely shown in public. They are shown in a casual pose but they have physical distortions such as, long necks and skulls, protruding abdomens, and large hips. This piece of art work was to show that although they were royalty they still did everything just like everyone else. (Benton, J. R. & DiYanni, R., 2012 p.31-31) This art work is similar to other culture in that is centered on religion. It is still relevant to this day because the culture only worships one god.

Chapter 2

Early Japanese culture had six historical periods they lasted from 300 C.E until 1523 C.E. “It is suggested that people migrated from China and the Korean peninsula to Japan in Neolithic times”. (Muntone (2006-2012) “With this brought many changes to the Japanese culture, a Writing system, Buddhism, advances in medicine, more complex governmental system, and new forms of poetry, music and architecture, and the arts of brush painting and calligraphy.” (Benton & DiYanni, 2012, p. 197). Religion in Japan was Buddhism and Shinto. Buddhism was brought over from China and was not embraced at first. “Later Japan embraced the new religion and started copying the sacred texts, building temples, and ordaining monastics who were three women at first.” (Benton & DiYanni, 2012, p. 197). Japan already had their own religion practices which they later called Shinto as to not mix it up with Buddhism. Shinto was nature worship that appreciated the Japanese land. Shinto rituals could either be carried out in private homes as well as Shinto temples.” (Benton & DiYanni, 2012, p. 198). In the Shinto religion, the most important god was Ameterasu, the sun goddess, who is considered the ancestor of Japanese emperors. (Benton & DiYanni, 2012, p. 198).

Heian period 794 Japan moved the capital to Heian (now Kyoto) it was densely populated.” It was a period of rich productivity and peace with Japanese sovereign strongly supported by aristocratic families.” (Benton & DiYanni, 2012, p. 200). Noh Theatre was during this period. Men and women wrote classical poetry but women wrote most of the prose fiction of the time. Noh’s play subjects were taken from history, legend, and magic. The plays had music, dance, and mimes. “They were played in sets of five, a play for a god, warrior, woman, and demon followed by a contemporary or miscellaneous play.” (Benton & DiYanni, 2012, p. 201). He actors wearing the masks made the plays more mysterious. During the later Heian era rulers lost power to the samurai who were regional warriors in the service of governing nobility. “These warriors were used by the families competing for power which was instrumental in the change of the twelfth century from court rule to that of military leaders who controlled Japan while the court retained only its cultural and symbolic meaning.” (Benton & DiYanni, 2012, p. 201). After this the capital was moved to Kamakura to get away from the court. Finally imperial rule was restored in 1868.

In Ninth century Buddhism and Shinto combined making different forms of Buddhism; Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and Chan. Pure Land Buddhism was popular with the everyday people. Chan was from China which was meditation and its focus was on self discipline. In Japan this became known as Zen Buddhism. “The Kamakura period ended in civil war in 1333 insurrections of one kind or another continued to plague Japan until 1573.” (Benton & DiYanni, 2012, p. 203). The Heian period was a peak time for Japanese literature, art, and culture.

A very interesting piece of visual art work of the Japanese culture was the Noh mask. “There were originally about sixty basic types of Noh masks.” ("Introducing the World of Noh", 2014) The Noh’s masks were made out of wood and about ten inches in height. The making of the masks were established as a hereditary art passed down in the family. They started being made during the Muromachi period. ("Introducing The World Of Noh", 2014) The masks were used for religious and secular ritual as well as entertainment. Noh dramas used minimal props and scenery. Plays were five different plays in sequence traditionally. The masks were accompanied by elaborate costumes, chant, mime and dance. It is often difficult to tell the actual feelings expressed in a Noh mask, it is up to the performer to bring the emotion to the mask. The masks represent the growth of art in such as wood work, painting with brushes and theatre. The masks were influenced by religion as most things were in all cultures of that time. Noh masks are still made and handed down from generation to generation to this day.

Chapter 3

By the Early 20th century, art was taking new directions. World War I called the Great War happened and changed people’s lives forever. People were still religious and believed in one god. Also during this time the Russian Revolution, Fascism in Europe, and the New Deal. Art and artists that were thought to be outrageous were now accepted. Leaders of art now went against the normal and went with what was against tradition. People wanted to see unique, shocking, avant garde in art work. The different types of new art were Fauvism, Cubism, Futurism, and German Expressionism. (Benton & DiYanni, 2012, p. 531) Fauvism was launched by artists such as van Gogh and Gauguin They believed color could be an expressive force in its own right and correspond to “the artist’s temperament”. Cubism is an object presented all aspects of the object simultaneously. Cubism was invented by two unknown painters, Pablo Picasso and George Braque. These two worked together for seven years until the outbreak of World War I. (Benton & DiYanni, 2012, p. 534) Futurism was based in Italy before World War I. Futurism is a movement aimed directly and deliberately at a mass audience. It sought to involve the public in an instant reaction to social challenges, rather than in a slow and gentle thought process of art forms. German Expressionism consisted of two separate branches, Die Briicke (The Bridge), established in Dresden in 1905, and Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) formed in Munich in 1911. (Benton & DiYanni, 2012, p. 534) It was the freeing of colors and the celebration of sexuality.

World War I began in August 1914 a Siberian nationalist assassinated the Habsburg archduke, heir to the throne of Austria and Hungary, and his wife on the street in Sarajevo, Bosnia. (Benton & DiYanni, 2012, p. 536) Within weeks, Europe was at war against the Allies. The Great War took over eight million soldiers in action and many millions more through malnutrition and disease in the West. The war ended in 1918 with the Treaty of Versailles being signed. After this came the Russian Revolution, Russian Tsar Nicolas II was forced from power and a democracy was promised. Within a few months, Russia was in a bitter civil war which lasted for three years.

The war had an impact on art which brought about a new art movement called Dada, which is a kind of anti-art. Surrealism was the spirit of avant garde was still thriving it dealt with dreams it also gave neurotic people liberation. Photography came to light and helped show the plight of American farmers and sharecroppers devastated by Depression and drought.

The art work by Kathe Kollwitz, The Mothers 1919, lithograph, captures the tragedy of World War I in this image of lower-class German mothers left to fend for themselves and their children after the war. The black and white medium emphasizes the harshness of their reality. (Benton & DiYanni, 2012, p. 537) This visual piece of art represents the aftermath of war. The piece of art represents the aspects of the culture during the war times in early 20th century. Previous cultures from different civilizations influenced this act due to there were many wars that have occurred. This piece of art work still has meaning in modern day cultures, even though there may not be a war there are still women left alone to take care of themselves and their children by themselves.

The role of diversity in the arts and its impact upon the future can be seen in everything we do and see. Through time, the arts have changed from carving stone in to rough shapes to learning to use other materials to make better carvings. With each culture and civilization it has passed on its different inventions to become the modern marvel that is today. As the years go by more and more inventions will be made, and all civilizations will change again. All cultures and civilizations will be forever changing and becoming more modern.

In all the civilizations covered one thing remains constant, all forms of civilization have always held religion to the highest standard.

References

Ohio State University. (2014). Ancient Egypt. Retrieved from http://ehistory.osu.edu/ancient/egypt/overview.cfm

Benton, J. R. & DiYanni, R. (2012). Arts and Culture: An introduction to the humanities (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall

In Chambers dictionary of world history. Retrieved from http://search.credoreference.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/content/entry/chambdictwh/ancient_egyptian_civilization/0

Muntone, S. (2006-2012). Japanese Civilization. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/study-help/article/ancient-history-japanese-civilization-heian-period/l/

Kreis, S. (2006). The History Guide. Retrieved from http://www.historyguide.org/ancient/lecture3b.html In this article it gives information on the different Egyptian Dynasties. This article also gives information on the writing system they created. It has good information on the religion and arts of this period. This article will help with my final paper on Egyptian civilizations.
Owen, R. J. (2004). The Body as Art in Early-Twentieth-Century German Poetry. Monatshefte, 96(4), 503- 520.
This article explains the fascination with using the body as an art form in the early 20th century. It also gives references to German poetry in the 20th century. After reading this article I believe this will not help me with my paper on the Early 20th century.
Muntone, S. (2012). Japanese civilzation. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/study-help/article/ancient-history-japanese-civilization-heian-period/l
In this article helps explain the roles of social and political people. It tells how you were born in to the privilege. It gives details on how the emperor was more symbolic than political. It gives details of the religious system, royal tombs. I believe this article will help me when writing my paper.