2c. History of Religion - Powerpoint

8/13/2019 2c. History of Religion - Powerpoint

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The History of Religion in Egypt:Ancient, Coptic Christianity IslamMs. Sharlyn ScottDesert Vista HSWorld History Geography


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Ancient Egyptian Religion It had its roots in Egypts

prehistory, and lasted formore than 3,000 years. Details of religious belief changed

over time as the importance ofparticular gods rose and declined,and their intricate relationshipsshifted. At various times certain godsbecame preeminent over theothers, including the sun god Ra(sometimes known as Amun Ra)

and the mother goddess Isis.


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For a brief period, inthe aberranttheologypromulgated by thepharaoh Akhenaten,a single god, theAten, replaced thetraditionalpantheon.


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Role of the Pharaoh Formal religiouspractice centered on

the pharaoh, who wasbelieved to possess adivine power by virtueof his kingship. The pharaoh acted asan intermediarybetween his peopleand the gods, and he

was obligated tosustain the godsthrough rituals andofferings so that theycould maintain order inthe universe.


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Therefore, thestate dedicatedenormousresources to theperformance ofthese rituals andto theconstruction oftemples wherethey were carriedout.


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Individual Egyptians Individuals could interactwith the gods for their own

purposes, appealing for theirhelp through prayer orcompelling the gods to actthrough magic. These popular religiouspractices were distinct from,but closely linked with, theformal rituals andinstitutions. The popular aspect ofreligious tradition grewmore prominent throughoutEgyptian history as the status

of the pharaoh declined.


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Funerary Practices The Egyptians madegreat efforts to

ensure the survivalof their souls afterdeath.They provided

tombs, grave goods,and offerings in aneffort to preserve thebodies (throughmummification) andspirits of thedeceased, andprovide them withmaterial comforts inthe afterlife.


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Legacy The overall Egyptiansystem of religion

endured, even throughseveral periods offoreign rule, until thecoming of Christianity inthe early centuries C.E. Egyptian religion leftbehind number religious

monuments andwritings, as well assignificant influence oncultures both ancientand modern.


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Coptic Christianity History

The Copts claim direct descent fromancient Egyptians; the word copt isderived from the Arabic word qu t(Egyptian) Egypt was Christianized during thefirst century C.E., when the countrywas part of the Roman Empire.

According to Coptic tradition,Mark, disciple of Christ,established the first patriarchatesin Alexandria in 42 C.E., and theline of patriarchal (authority)succession has been unbrokensince then.


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Egyptian Christianitydeveloped distinct dogmasand practices during themore than two centuriesthat the religion was illegalunder Roman law. By the 4th century C.E.,

when Constantine madeChristianity the officialreligion of the RomanEmpire, Coptic traditionswere sufficiently differentfrom those in Rome andConstantinople to causemajor religious conflicts.


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Dissension wouldpersist for 150 years,until most Coptsseceded from themain body ofChristianity becauseof the decision of theCouncil ofChalcedon thatChrist had a dualnature, human anddivine.

Copts maintain thatChrist has one single,divine nature(monophysitism)


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The Coptic Churchdeveloped separatelyfrom other EasternChurches.

The Coptic Churchsclerical hierarchy hadevolved by the sixthcentury.

A patriarch, referred to asthe pope, heads thechurch, and is traditionallybased in Alexandria.A synod or council ofsenior priests is responsiblefor electing or removingpopes.


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Copts in Islamic Egypt After 647 C.E., all ofEgypt was under Islamicrule. Christians and Jews

were protected, but didhave to pay a tax to theMuslim government. Most Coptic Christiansconverted to Islam, andwithin 200 years, CopticChristians were aminority. By the 10th century, the

Arabic language hadreplaced Coptic as theprimary spoken language. Today, this indigenousChristian sect. ranges from

3-10 million.


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Islam Early Islam was intenselyexpansionist. Religious fervor, aswell as economic and social factors,fueled this expansionism.

Conquering armies and migratingtribes swept out of Arabia and spreadIslam. By the end of the Islams first century,

Islamic armies had reached far intoNorth Africa and eastward andnorthward into Asia. Among the first countries to comeunder their control was Egypt, whichArab forces invaded in 640 C.E.


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Amr ibn al As, anIslamic convert andcontemporary of theProphet Muhammad,would be the militarycommander in chargeof the conquest ofEgypt. By 641 C.E., he hadconquered Cairo andrenamed the city Al

Fustat. By 647 C.E., after thesurrender ofAlexandria, the entirecountry was underIslamic rule.


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Islamic Rule Amr allowed CopticChristians and Jews to

continue their beliefs asprotected people. Jews and Christians inMuslim territories couldlive according to theirown religious laws ashimmis (toleratedsubject peoples) butwould have to give upcertain political rightsand pay a special tax.

By the 9th century C.E.,most Egyptians hadconverted to Islam


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A Shiah dynasty, theFatimids, conqueredEgypt in 969 C.E. andruled the country for200 years.

Although the Fatimidsendowed numerousmosques, shrines, andtheological schools, theydid not firmly establishtheir faith (Ismailia ShiahIslam) in Egypt.

Numerous sectarianconflicts among FatimidIsmailis after 1050 mayhave been a factor inEgyptian Muslimacceptance of Saladins(al ad-Dn Ysuf ibnAyyb), of the KurdishAyyubids, reestablishmentof Sunni Islam as the statereligion in 1171.


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Al Azhar Universitywas established asone of firstuniversities in theworld by theFatimids, and Saladinwill keep it butchange it from Shiahtheologicalorthodoxy to Sunni.


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The Mamluks, theformer slaves andbodyguards of theAyyubids, willestablish their ownempire in Egyptuntil the Ottomansmake Egypt part oftheir empire in 1517.


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Source of Images All images used were my own photographsfrom Fulbright-Hays Summer 2010 seminarin Egypt

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