No great civilization continues to speak to us like that of ancient Egypt. Yet what made Egypt great were the individuals who ruled it. Great Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt recounts the lives and accomplishments of great leaders such as Tutankhamen, Ramses the Great, and Cleopatra. Professor Bob Brier, an acclaimed Egyptologist, presents a veritable 30-century history of Egypt that peers into almost every aspect of ancient Egyptian life. You'll learn what made Egypt great, what finally brought about its downfall, and why it remains imbedded in our minds today. By the end of the course, you'll feel a stronger connection with the men and women who made Egypt the greatest nation of the ancient world.
Great Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt
Learn what made Egypt great, what finally brought about its downfall, and why it remains imbedded in our minds today.
Overview
About
Dr. Bob Brier is an Egyptologist and Senior Research Fellow at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. He earned his bachelor's degree from Hunter College and Ph.D. in Philosophy from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Professor Brier has twice been selected as a Fulbright Scholar and has received Long Island University's David Newton Award for Teaching Excellence in recognition of his achievements as a lecturer. He has served as Director of the National Endowment for the Humanities' Egyptology Today program. In 1994, Dr. Brier became the first person in 2,000 years to mummify a human cadaver in the ancient Egyptian style. This research was the subject of a National Geographic television special, Mr. Mummy. Dr. Brier is also the host of The Learning Channel's series The Great Egyptians. Professor Brier is the author of Ancient Egyptian Magic (1980), Egyptian Mummies (1994), Encyclopedia of Mummies (1998), The Murder of Tutankhamen: A True Story (1998), Daily Life in Ancient Egypt (1999), and numerous scholarly articles.
01: King Narmer—The Unification of Egypt
This lecture discusses how Narmer, Egypt's first king, unified Upper and Lower Egypt and how the world's first nation came to dominate the Near East for thousands of years.
33 min
02: Sneferu—The Pyramid Builder
The founder of Egypt's "Fabulous Fourth" Dynasty oversaw the beginning of true pyramid construction, Egypt's rise to international power, and the establishment of artistic standards that would last for millennia.
30 min
03: Hatshepsut—Female Pharaoh
This lecture examines the life of one of the greatest individuals in Egyptian history, and discusses why her name was systematically erased from Egyptian records.
30 min
04: Akhenaten—Heretic Pharaoh
The reign of Egypt's most enigmatic and controversial ruler illustrates the consequences of attempting to alter all three of Egypt's fundamental societal pillars: religion, the military, and the role of pharaoh.
30 min
05: Tutankhamen—The Lost Pharaoh
This lecture details the fascinating events—including the first car wreck in Britain—that led to the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen.
31 min
06: Tutankhamen—A Murder Theory
Professor Bob Brier presents his own research suggesting that Tutankhamen was murdered, showing what can be learned from the autopsy of a mummy.
30 min
07: Ramses the Great—The Early Years
Ramses II ruled for 67 years and was one of Egypt's greatest pharaohs, warriors, and builders.
30 min
08: Ramses the Great—The Twilight Years
The last 40 years of Ramses's reign differed markedly from his glorious beginning. This lecture examines the changes in his personality, as well as the assertion that he was the pharaoh of the biblical exodus.
31 min
09: The Great Nubians—Egypt Restored
In the twilight of Egypt's history, the once-dominated land of Nubia fought its way north to defend Egypt from invaders. Under the new rule of five great kings, the Nubians restored much of Egypt's glory.
30 min
10: Alexander the Great—Anatomy of a Legend
The rule of Alexander began 300 years of Greek control of Egypt. This lecture examines the three major stages of Alexander's career: young general, pharaoh, and legend.
30 min
11: The First Ptolemies—Greek Greatness
This lecture examines the beginning of the end for ancient Egyptian civilization, beginning with the rule of the first Ptolemies, who ran Egypt "like a business" and whose great achievements were purely Greek conceptions.
30 min
12: Cleopatra—The Last Pharaoh
Although she was at one time probably the most famous woman in the world, Cleopatra remains an enigma. We reconstruct her history: before Caesar, after Caesar, and with Marc Antony.
31 min
