This lecture course explores the rise of ancient Egyptian civilization from its prehistoric origins to the late 1000’s BCE. This expansive survey of the world of the ancient pharaohs will emphasize diverse source materials related to some of the most significant social, political, and religious developments to impact Egyptian society from the great pyramid building dynasties of the Old Kingdom to the periods of dynamic expansion under prominent New Kingdom pharaohs. Topics include: the unification and formation of the Egyptian state; the role of the Pharaoh in society; Egyptian mythology and religion; the role of the pyramids and mummification in society, developments in science and technology, female pharaohs, the archaeology of ancient Egypt and recent discoveries, including the legacy and reception of ancient Egypt in modernity. Graded on A-F basis only.