Description

Course Description

mdw nṯr language and its associated culture is an important part of the historical continuity and consciousness of Black people. Consequently, it is imperative to systematically study the culture of  Kmt ‘The land of Black people/The Black nation’ as it manifests through the oldest known written language. This course will provide basic introduction to the history and use of  mdw nṯr ‘divine words’ (Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs) of Ancient  Kmt ‘The land of Black people/The Black nation.’ This course is based on readings from actual  mdw nṯr texts in their original form as they appear in Kemetological literature including transliterations and translations. The course will introduce  mdw nṯr uniliteral, biliteral and triliteral signs, vocabulary, word formation patterns, idioms, underlying grammar, translations, transliteration, cultural concepts and social and philosophical values by engaging specific primary texts in their original context. Texts from various genres including didactic literature, narrative literature, autobiographical and historical inscriptions, temple inscriptions, private and state monuments, etc. Many of the readings will be drawn from the instructor’s book project(s) in progress. This course will focus on the phase of  mdw nṯr referred to as Classical Middle Egyptian (2280 BCE – 1567 BCE). The course provides a unique and innovative examination of civilization as it seeks to interpret the culture and philosophy of  Kmt ‘The land of Black people/The Black nation’ by utilizing a systematic knowledge of the language to critically engage primary texts. Primary texts will be supplemented with readings from scholarly articles and books including Allen (2014), Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of the Hieroglyphs; Collier and Manley (1998), How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs; Gardiner (1957), Egyptian Grammar. This course is tailored for beginners and no previous knowledge or experience in  mdw nṯr is required. By the end of the course, students should feel comfortable handling common types of inscriptions and will have read some of the best–known and most significant textual sources from  Kmt ‘The land of Black people/The Black nation’ that reveal important features of the culture and civilization of  Kmt ‘The land of Black people/The Black nation’ from the inside. Students will also make use of software such as JSesh and other digital resources for typing and word processing of  mdw nṯr.