The long-vanished civilizations of Egypt and the Near East have been a source of fascination since earliest times. While these cultures were still thriving, travelers brought back to Europe tales of rich and exotic lands in Africa and Asia. In the centuries that followed, fact and fancy created elaborate myths about the cities and monuments that lay buried in the deserts.
The Rediscovery of Ancient Cultures
Only in the nineteenth century, at the height of European colonialism, did science begin to replace romance, allowing the study and preservation of ancient artifacts to be undertaken seriously. Almost from the beginning, the great museums in the West played an essential role in rediscovering and studying these ancient cultures. Expeditions organized in Europe and the United States replaced the haphazard collecting of earlier times with planned scientific excavation and preservation.
The reports of the discoveries made on these expeditions, no less than the recovered objects themselves, were eagerly awaited by a public newly awakened to the thrill of exploration. Among the most active of these new explorers was The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Beginning in 1910 and lasting until 1936, the Museum dug first at Lisht and the Kharga Oasis, and then at Thebes, the richest archaeological area in Egypt. In the Near East, the Museum mounted and supported excavations in Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey.
A century of purchases and gifts has added to the objects discovered during the Museum’s own expeditions, making the collections of The Metropolitan Museum among the finest in the world. Egypt and the Ancient Near East presents almost 125 color-plates of some of the most important and beautiful objects from these cultures, all from the collections of The Metropolitan Museum.
Exploring the Archaeological Record
The range of objects, which span some 3,000 years, gives a vivid picture of the wealth, power, and consummate taste of the rulers, and of the skill of their artisans. Monumental panels recovered from Babylon, silver vessels from Anatolia, and a bronze head from Mesopotamia attest to the splendor of the Near Eastern empires and to their vigorous artistic production.
Similarly, reliefs and monumental statuary from the earliest periods of Egyptian history to the Roman conquest record the faces of kings and their courtiers, while the gold jewelry recovered from pharaonic tombs reveals the great wealth and fine artistry at the command of these rulers.
Models of a servant and a ship, both buried to ensure that their owner would enjoy a rich afterlife, and fragments of a farmer’s letters to his family give us a glimpse of what daily life must have been like in this complex society.
Civilizations in Context
The Metropolitan Museum’s collections provide a unique window into the diverse cultures and significant achievements of these long-vanished civilizations. By studying the material remains, we can gain a deeper understanding of the political, social, and artistic developments that shaped the ancient Near East and Egypt.
These artifacts are not mere relics, but tangible connections to the past that allow us to contextualize the broader historical and cultural narratives. As we explore the monumental architecture, intricate artwork, and personal effects recovered from archaeological sites, we uncover the stories of the people who created them and the societies in which they lived.
The Decline of Western Civilization Studies
Unfortunately, the study of these ancient civilizations has fallen out of favor in many modern academic settings. A recent report by the National Association of Scholars has revealed a concerning trend: the traditional Western Civilization survey course, once a staple of undergraduate curricula, has virtually disappeared from general education requirements at top colleges and universities.
The report traces the steep decline of this foundational course, which once provided students with a coherent narrative of the rise of Western culture, from its classical Greco-Roman origins to its modern manifestations. By 2010, the Western Civilization survey was no longer required at any of the 50 benchmark institutions examined, and was available in some form at only one-third of them.
This shift has had significant consequences for students and for American society as a whole. Without a solid grounding in the history and development of Western civilization, many undergraduates now lack the context to fully understand the cultural, political, and intellectual forces that have shaped the modern world.
The Rise of World History
The decline of Western Civilization courses has coincided with the rise of world history as an alternative approach to teaching global history. While world history can provide valuable insights into the interconnected nature of human societies, it often fails to give students the depth of understanding that a focused study of Western civilization can provide.
As the report notes, “students who are left with scant knowledge of Western Civilization are ill-equipped to make sense of their own lives or the world around them.” The unique achievements, creative impulses, and transformative impact of Western civilization deserve careful study, not just as a means of understanding the past, but as a framework for comprehending the present and shaping the future.
Restoring the Study of Ancient Civilizations
To address this concerning trend, the National Association of Scholars has put forth a series of recommendations to reinvigorate the study of ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian civilizations, as well as the broader context of Western history. These include:
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Encouraging universities to examine their curricula and the place of Western Civilization: College presidents, trustees, alumni, and other stakeholders should ask hard questions about the current state of these programs and advocate for their restoration.
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Adopting curricular requirements that include the study of Western Civilization: General education and history major programs should require students to complete a comprehensive survey of Western history, from its classical origins to the modern era.
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Strengthening the pipeline of qualified professors: Graduate programs in history must ensure that new PhDs are competent to teach basic Western Civilization courses, and universities should prioritize these teaching skills in their hiring practices.
By taking these steps, we can work to restore the study of ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian civilizations within the broader context of Western history, ensuring that future generations of students have the knowledge and understanding necessary to appreciate the enduring significance of these lost kingdoms.
The Lost Kingdoms is dedicated to exploring the rich cultural heritage and archaeological wonders of the ancient world. Through in-depth articles, interactive exhibits, and engaging multimedia, we invite you to join us on a journey of discovery into the vanished civilizations that have shaped our shared human history.
