Introduction to Ancient Egypt and Its Civilization

University of Pennsylvania

About this Course

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Colossal pyramids, imposing temples, golden treasures, enigmatic hieroglyphs, powerful pharaohs, strange gods, and mysterious mummies are features of Ancient Egyptian culture that have fascinated people over the millennia.  The Bible refers to its gods, rulers, and pyramids. Neighboring cultures in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean wrote about its god-like kings and its seemingly endless supply of gold.  The Greeks and Romans describe aspects of Egypt's culture and history.
As the 19th century began, the Napoleonic campaign in Egypt highlighted the wonders of this ancient land, and public interest soared.  Not long after, Champollion deciphered Egypt's hieroglyphs and paved the way for other scholars to reveal that Egyptian texts dealt with medicine, dentistry, veterinary practices, mathematics, literature, and accounting, and many other topics. Then, early in the 20th century, Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun and its fabulous contents. Exhibitions of this treasure a few decades later resulted in the world's first blockbuster, and its revival in the 21st century has kept interest alive.

Join Dr. David Silverman, Professor of Egyptology at Penn, Curator in Charge of the Egyptian Section of the Penn Museum, and curator of the Tutankhamun exhibitions  on a guided tour of the mysteries and wonders of this ancient land.  He has developed this online course and set it in the galleries of the world famous Penn Museum.  He uses many original Egyptian artifacts to illustrate his lectures as he guides students as they make their own discovery of this fascinating culture.

Learner Career Outcomes

21%

started a new career after completing these courses

29%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

14%

got a pay increase or promotion

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Intermediate Level

Approx. 8 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (Brazilian), German, English, Spanish

Skills you will gain

Art HistoryArtHistoryMythology

Learner Career Outcomes

21%

started a new career after completing these courses

29%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

14%

got a pay increase or promotion

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Intermediate Level

Approx. 8 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (Brazilian), German, English, Spanish

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.51/5 (272 Ratings)

David P. Silverman

Eckley Brinton Coxe, Jr. Professor of Egyptology

Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations

99,296 Learners

2 Courses

Offered by

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(10,825 ratings)

Week

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Welcome to the Course

This module includes a discussion thread to introduce yourself, and suggested readings and resources.

1 hour to complete

1 video (Total 2 min), 2 readings

1 video

Course Introduction2m

2 readings

Suggested Course Textbook10m

Additional Readings and Resources10m

Week

Week 2

2 hours to complete

History and Chronology

2 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 54 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

10 videos

History and Chronology Part 17m

History and Chronology Part 26m

History and Chronology Part 33m

History and Chronology Part 44m

History and Chronology Part 54m

History and Chronology Part 65m

History and Chronology Part 75m

History and Chronology Part 84m

History and Chronology Part 96m

History and Chronology Part 105m

1 reading

Suggested & Further Reading10m

1 practice exercise

History and Chronology Quiz30m

Week

Week 3

1 hour to complete

The Pharaoh and Kingship

1 hour to complete

7 videos (Total 33 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

7 videos

The Pharaoh and Kingship Part 14m

The Pharaoh and Kingship Part 24m

The Pharaoh and Kingship Part 34m

The Pharaoh and Kingship Part 42m

The Pharaoh and Kingship Part 56m

The Pharaoh and Kingship Part 65m

The Pharaoh and Kingship Part 74m

1 reading

Suggested & Further Reading10m

1 practice exercise

The Pharaoh and Kingship Quiz30m

Week

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Gods and Goddesses

2 hours to complete

11 videos (Total 46 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

11 videos

Gods and Goddesses Part 14m

Gods and Goddesses Part 25m

Gods and Goddesses Part 35m

Gods and Goddesses Part 45m

Gods and Goddesses Part 54m

Gods and Goddesses Part 65m

Gods and Goddesses Part 72m

Gods and Goddesses Part 84m

Gods and Goddesses Part 92m

Gods and Goddesses Part 104m

Gods and Goddesses Part 112m

1 reading

Suggested & Further Reading10m

1 practice exercise

Gods and Goddesses Quiz30m

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
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The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
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Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
This Course doesn't carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Course Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more. Online Degrees and Mastertrack™ Certificates on Coursera provide the opportunity to earn university credit.

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Introduction to Ancient Egypt and Its Civilization