The History of Egypt Podcast

Power shifts. Around 2355 BCE, King Pepy I came to power. The new king had trouble establishing his authority, and he had to deal with the effects of his predecessor Teti's murder. Along the way, Pepy even had to deal with a conspiracy against himself... Date c. 2550 - 2540 BCE, www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com, Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast, Facebook www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast, Twitter www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast, Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Who Watches the Watchmen? Around 2355 BCE, King Teti died. Legend tells us that the king was murdered by members of his own family. If this is true, it is the first time in Egyptian history that we hear about royal assassination. Of course, there are many questions about what happened... Date c.2350 BCE, www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com, Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast, Facebook www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast, Twitter www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast, Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A new beginning. Around 2380 BCE, King Teti inaugurated the Sixth Dynasty of Egyptian rulers. Teti married into the royal family and began a new (male) bloodline. This period was creatively fertile, producing famous works like the Wisdom Texts of Ptah-Hotep and Ka-Gemni... Date c.2380 - 2360 BCE, www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com, Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast, Facebook www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast, Twitter www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast, Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Beer, Bread and Pharaoh's Power. Recorded 2019. My guest today is Prof. Leslie Anne Warden, Associate Professor of art history and archaeology at Roanoke College in Virginia, USA. An insightful scholar, Prof. Warden is here to share her investigations into the world of ancient economics, particularly how beer and bread can reveal the inner-workings of Egyptian society. From ceramics to experiments in brewing, Prof. Warden provides a detailed and thoughtful view on the world of the Nile Valley. Look: Pottery and Economy in Old Kingdom Egypt, 2013; University profile, Academia.edu. https://egyptianhistorypodcast.com/episodes/, Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast, Follow the show on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast, Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Unas the Cannibal. Around 2410 BCE, a new trend began in royal pyramid building. King Unas initiated something unusual when he introduced hieroglyphic texts to the burial chamber of his pyramid. These Pyramid Texts are a vast and fascinating body of work. In this episode, we dip our toes into this material, and even see evidence for divine cannibalism... Date c.2410 - 2380 BCE, www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com, Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast, Facebook www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast, Twitter www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast, Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

New Ideas. Around 2440 BCE, a new king came to power. King Djed-ka-Re ("The Spirit of Re Endures") was an effective ruler, who reformed the government and left a rich artistic and written record... Date c. 2440 - 2410 BCE, www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com, Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast, Facebook www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast, Twitter www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast, Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com, Logo Photo by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin via Wikimedia Creative Commons License (cropped and increased contrast) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Part_of_a_door_jamb_showing_the_cartouche_of_Djedkare_Isesi._From_the_Sun_Temple_of_Nyuserre_Ini_at_Abu_Gurob,_Egypt._c._2430_BCE._Neues_Museum.jpg  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An Uphill Battle. The reign of King Ny-user-Re was not a bed of lotuses. After a rocky start, the young ruler worked to make his household and kingdom prosperous. We see this trend in a flowering of artistic and written culture... Date c.2445 BCE, www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com, Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast, Facebook www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast, Twitter www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast, Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I Got You, Fam. After a series of short reigns, King Ny-User-Re came to power and brought some much-needed stability. In his long reign, Niuserre strengthened the power of his government and household. Many records survive from this period, like fascinating tales of the King's hairdressers... Date c.2455 - 2440 BCE https://egyptianhistorypodcast.com/episodes/, Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast, Follow the show on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast, Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Quick Successions. After the death of Sahure, multiple kings came and went in a short span of time. In this episode, we follow the reigns of Nefer-ir-ka-Re ("Making the Soul of Re Beautiful") and Ra-nefer-ef. This period is murky, but we will get through it. Oh, and another powerful queen shows up to manage affairs... Date c.2570 - 2555 BCE https://egyptianhistorypodcast.com/episodes/, Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast, Follow the show on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast, Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Great Fleet. Around 2585 BCE, King Userkaf died and passed the throne to his son, Sahure ("One Who is Close to Re"). At this point, Egyptians launched the first (recorded) expedition to Punt. This mysterious land, somewhere near Ethiopia, Somalia or Yemen, was a major destination for trade. Sahure commemorated the event lavishly... Date c.2580 - 2570 BCE https://egyptianhistorypodcast.com/episodes/, Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast, Follow the show on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast, Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dynasty 5: A New Temple. Around 2494 BCE, the 5th Dynasty began under Khenty-Kaus I and her son User-Kaf. A new household was in power: rulers who had some interesting ideas about what to do with the kingship, and religion... https://egyptianhistorypodcast.com/2013/05/01/episode-10-a-temple-to-the-sun/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

King but not a King. Around 2500 BCE, King Menkaure died without an heir. His sister Khenty-Kau-es ("She is Foremost") stepped into the vacuum and governed the state on behalf of her young son, Shepses-ka-ef. This was an interesting period, with a lasting impact on royal power... Date c. 2500 - 2490 BCE https://egyptianhistorypodcast.com/episodes/, Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast, Follow the show on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast, Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Menkaure and the Egyptian Economy. Around 2520 BCE, King Khaf-Re died and his son Men-Kau-Re took power. Menkaure ("The Spirit of Re Endures") oversaw a more modest phase of pyramid building. His monument at Giza was the smallest pyramid yet. Were all of these pyramids straining the economy? We investigate a social structure very different from our own... Date c.2520 - 2500 BCE https://egyptianhistorypodcast.com/episodes/, Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast, Follow the show on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast, Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Great Sphinx (and others). After Khufu died, the throne passed to Djed-ef-Ra, and then to Khaf-Re ("He Appears Like Re"). The latter king would be famous, for in his time the monument we call the Great Sphinx came into existence... Date c.2550 - 2520 BCE https://egyptianhistorypodcast.com/episodes/, Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast, Follow the show on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast, Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Magic and Prophecy. In this mini episode, we recount stories that the Egyptians told. Stories set in the reign of Khufu and his father Sneferu. Date c.2620 - 2550 BCE, www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com, Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast, Facebook www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast, Twitter www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast, Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.