Europe remained in the tribal group of prehistoric times with only primitive social structures and living in fear of the mysterious powers of nature.
It was in the eastern Mediterranean area that man first emerged from his primitive state. Civilization began in the Nile River valley and the valley of the Tigris-Euphrate rivers. Here we find man inventing systems of social and religious orders.
Powers of nature were tamed by personifying them in a form to which man could appeal and offer gifts of appeasement. So rose civilizations regulated by religious orders and doctrines.
Because of its invulnerable position in the Nile valley with the deserts of the North Africa to the west, the deserts of Arabia to the east, and the mountains and jungles of Africa to the south, the civilization of Egypt lasted 4,000 years uninterrupted by outside powers. As no external flumes came to bear and unshakable, a tradition of social, religious and artistic practice evolved by this calm and peaceful race of people.
Egyptian art was made to last for eternity into the life after death. Approximate dates of Dynasties: Pre-Dynatic - up to - 3,200 B.C. Thinite Era I to III - 3,200 - 2,778 B.C. Meniphitic Empire III to XI - 2,778 - 2,065 B.C Kingdom of Thebes XI to XVII - 2,065 - 1,580 B.C New kingdom at Luxor and Karnak XVII to XXV - 1,580 - 1,085 B.C.
Old Kingdom (2,700 - 2,000 B.C)
In this period all art was funerary. There was worship of the earthly majesty of the king (Pharaoh) and art served in re-creating his image, deeds and possessions for the after life.
Middle Kingdom (2,000 - 1,500 B.C)
An important period of change in which the absolute power of the Pharaoh declined and worship of the Sun god Ra saw the development of a religious ceremonial art. The temple took place of the tomb and with it came the column.
New Kingdom (1,500 - 1,000 B.C)
The golden age of Egyptian civilization. The empire declined and for a while fell under foreign rule. In her struggle to drive out the foreign rulers, Egypt changed from a quiet peace loving place into a strong military power. The empire extended south into Nubia, east into Syria and across the Mediterranean to Crete. Egyptian ships traded far and wide - to the East African coast, Persian Gulf, India and possibly Australia, bringing home spices, metals, precious stones and timber.
Egypt was conquered by the Persians and then by the Romans, but they kept their individual style to the end.
Egyptian Architecture
A wealth of stone and the desire to make the dwelling of the dead last forever saw the development of stone Mastabas (flat topped pyramid) and step pyramid which culminated in the giant smoothly finished pyramids of Gizen during the old kingdom. In the middle kingdom funerary architecture lost importance and temples were cut from cliff faces for the developing religions.
These excavated temples gave way to free standing temples of the New Kingdom. The Pylon temple of the New Kingdom was a closed building clothed in mystery - the idea of secrecy found in pre-historic art-. Inside was the image of the god or gods and only the priests were allowed entry. The massive proportions of these temples expressed the immobility of the religious faith.
Egyptian Painting
A natural art was used throughout the entire Egyptian civilization. From early Mastaba to the late Pylon temple, all interior walls were profusely decorated. These murals were done to a very rigid set of rules which did not change throughout the entire 3,000 years of civilization.
The human figure was shown composed of details arranged in their most representative view - the face in a profile, the eye front on, the two legs in a side view in a walking position, the torso seen from the front to show both shoulders (the concept is called "Haptic", children still work this way). They had no knowledge of perspective - scenes were composed in schematic form - objects were shown in their best view and grouped into diagram form.
The importance of objects is indicated by size -e.g.: the Pharaoh was shown larger than his priests who were larger than the worker. In the portrayal of nature, Egyptians excelled in their knowledge of animals, birds, fish, and plants with which they had close affinity. Wall carvings and relief's were also painted and, like the murals, were treated with a limited range of colours - red, yellow ochre, green blue and black.
Egyptian Sculpture
Only the hardest and most durable stone was used . The figure closely following the shape of the original block. The surface was polished to a high finish. Sculpture was usually an accessory to architecture and was like painting done to a rigid set to rules; The law of frontality in which the head and trunk face ahead with arms to side, one leg forward of the other in walking attitude. No rotation of the axis ever appeared. The old kingdom showed stiff but earnest attempts at naturalism. The new kingdom showed a refined gracefulness which reflected the peace and serenity of the people.
Due to the custom of burying the Pharaoh and nobility with their possessions in readiness for the afterlife, we have found in their tombs perfectly preserved examples of their way of life. Where objects were unsuitable for burial - Houses, servants, cattle, boats etc. - small wooden models were made to suffice.
No abstract of geometric decoration was used as the Egyptians had a love of living things, so decoration involved plant and animal - fish, bird forms. The coffin or sarcophagus was made in lavish and elaborate from to protect the body of the dead person for the afterlife.