Technology and Culture in Pharaonic Egypt - Actor Network Theory and the Archaeology of Things and People

The inherent paradox of Egyptology is that the objective of its study -- people living in Egypt in Pharaonic times -- are never the direct object of its studies. Egyptology, as well as archaeology in general, approaches ancient lives through material (and sometimes immaterial) remains. This Element explores how, through the interplay of things and people -- of non-human actants and human actors -- Pharaonic material culture is shaped. In turn, it asks how, through this interplay, Pharaonic culture as an epistemic entity is created: an epistemic entity which conserves and transmits even the lives and deaths of ancient people. Drawing upon aspects of Actor-Network Theory, this Element introduces an approach to see technique as the interaction of people and things, and technology as the reflection of these networks of entanglement--back cover.

List of contents

1. Introduction: A Conceptual Framework; 2. Technology and Archaeological Practice: Medicine; 3. Technology and Material Culture: Nutrition; 4. Technology and Conceptualisation: Craft; 5. Technology, Environment and Religion; 6. Technology and Society: Script; 7. Conclusion; References.

Summary

Drawing upon aspects of Actor Network Theory, this Element introduces an approach to see technique as the interaction of people and things, and technology as the reflection of these networks of entanglement.

Product details

• Authors: Martin Fitzenreiter, Martin (Independent Researcher) Fitzenreiter, Fitzenreiter Martin
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.03.2023
• EAN: 9781009074353
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0907435-3
• No. of pages: 75
• Series: Elements in Ancient Egypt in Context; Elements in Ancient Egypt in C
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Antiquity; HISTORY / Ancient / Egypt, History of Science, Social and cultural anthropology, Archaeology by period / region, Impact of science and technology on society, Ancient Egypt, Egyptian Archaeology / Egyptology, c 2686 to c 323 BCE (Ancient Egyptian period)