Who Was King Tut

Edwards establishes the complexity of ancient Egypt’s economy, as well as its systems of religious belief, trade networks, and agriculture. The ancient civilization is presented as a thriving society comprised of several major metropolises that were fully supported by a major network of food and goods production. The author also emphasizes the vital role of the Nile in supporting Egyptian civilization and acting as the “heart” (8) of ancient Egypt. This metaphor stresses the vital role of the Nile in sustaining life, for just as a person cannot live without a heart, a civilization of permanent structures could never have sprung up in the desert without a reliable water source to irrigate farmland and sustain people and animals alike. Unlike the arid desert, the Nile banks remained lush and fertile, supporting abundant life and growth. As Edwards states:

All along the riverbanks was rich farmland. Peasant farmers tilled their fields with plows pulled by oxen. They sprinkled seeds in the soil to grow wheat and vegetables. They raised pigs and goats and sheep. They planted fruit trees and grew grapes. The river also gave the people fish to eat and ducks to hunt. (8)

The variety of food types produced along the Nile floodplains is emphasized, and Edwards stresses the varied diet of ancient Egyptians. As well as providing water and food, the Nile also facilitated the exchange of goods between Egyptian towns and cities. As Edwards observes, “The Nile was the “road” that boats traveled, bringing goods from city to city” (8). Trade via boats enabled the consistent movement of goods in a manner that was far less taxing than overland trade, further supporting the development of a sophisticated empire, for the extensive reach of such trade meant that food types and resources could be enjoyed in geographical locations far from their origin. This fact is illustrated by the archaeological evidence of King Tut’s life of luxury as a young boy, for he enjoyed a diet originating in all corners of the empire that his father ruled.

Furthermore, the Nile supported the construction of permanent structures, unlike the nomadic lifestyles of desert dwellers. The major metropolises of Thebes and Memphis sprang up on the banks of the Nile, and the clay from the river’s edge was used to build houses and infrastructure. Furthermore, heavy stone blocks were transported by barges along the Nile, allowing for the construction of elaborate and costly statues, pyramids, and tombs, such as those in the Valley of the Kings. The success of Egyptian architectural and engineering techniques is highlighted by the fact that many of these structures still stand, thousands of years after their construction.

Lastly, Edwards emphasizes the continuity of the Egyptian civilization, and her descriptions are designed to emphasize the society’s strength and power. For example, King Tut was the “twelfth King of the Eighteenth dynasty” (62) within the New Kingdom period—one of three periods, each of which spanned hundreds of years and numerous dynasties. Tellingly, the great pyramids of Giza were constructed many years before King Tut lived, and Edwards uses this fact as a reminder that King Tut would have studied ancient Egypt as well, the years before his own rule, emphasizing the immense period of this civilization.