Egypt The Origin of Civilization

Egypt: The Origin of Civilization by Salama Moussa

Overview of the Book and Author

The Book

First published in 1935 during the height of Egyptian nationalism, Egypt: The Origin of Civilization is one of Salama Moussa’s most influential works advocating “Pharaonism” as the foundation of Egyptian identity.

The book reflects the influence of the materialist and racial theories circulating in Europe at the time, particularly in the wake of Egyptological discoveries such as the deciphering of the Rosetta Stone.

Moussa argues that Egypt was the cradle of human civilization, grounding his thesis in the idea of “biological continuity” between modern Egyptians and their ancient ancestors.

The Author

Salama Moussa (1887–1958) was a pioneering Egyptian intellectual and a leading voice of the Enlightenment movement in the Arab world. During his stay in Europe (1906–1909), he was deeply influenced by Darwin, Marx, and the Fabian socialists.

returned to Egypt to champion rationalism, secularism, and women’s emancipation.

He founded the Egyptian Socialist Party in 1921 and edited influential journals such as Al-Hilal and Al-Majalla al-Jadida. Moussa was among the first to introduce socialist ideas into Arabic thought, shaping an entire generation of writers—including Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz.

Core Themes of the Book

1. Biological and Cultural Continuity

Moussa rejects the notion of a break between modern Egyptians and the pharaohs. He emphasizes:

Racial continuity: “The blood running through Egyptians today is the same that flowed in their ancestors’ veins six thousand years ago,” he insists, claiming that physical features such as facial structure and skin tone have remained essentially unchanged.
Linguistic continuity: He argues that Coptic (written in Greek letters) is a direct descendant of ancient Egyptian. Had it spread beyond church use, it might have reclaimed its place as a national language.

2. Egypt as the Cradle of Global Civilization

Drawing on the theories of British anatomist Grafton Elliot Smith, Moussa contends that:

Civilization radiated outward: Egypt was the starting point from which civilization spread to the rest of the world through trade and conquest.
Cultural evidence:
- Greek myths, including The Odyssey, were inspired by Egyptian tales.
- The Hindu veneration of the cow stems from the Egyptian goddess Hathor.
- The Roman calendar, adopted by Julius Caesar, was based on the Egyptian solar calendar.

3. Pharaonic History as a National Foundation

Moussa urges Egyptians to study their ancient history not merely as heritage but as a “laboratory” for understanding humanity’s development:

Organizational roots: Ancient Egypt illustrates the leap from Stone Age communities to centralized statehood through innovations such as:
- Irrigation networks, exemplified by Lake Moeris in the Fayoum.
- A taxation system based on land measurement after Nile floods—giving rise to geometry.
Scientific foundations: He links mummification practices to the early development of chemistry, and the study of Nile cycles to the invention of the astronomical calendar.

4. Egypt’s Global Influence

The book traces Egyptian influence across continents:

Asia: Pharaonic inscriptions in China suggest early trade contacts.
Europe: Greek architecture, including the columns of the Parthenon, was modeled on Egyptian temples at Luxor.
Africa: Nubian and Sudanese kingdoms adopted Egyptian deities such as Amun and Isis.

5. Critique of the “Civilizational Break”

Moussa strongly challenges the claim that the rise of Islam severed Egypt from its Pharaonic roots, declaring:

“Politics, society, and the arts in Egypt trace their origins back to the Pharaonic age; civilization itself is an ancient Egyptian invention.”

Structure of the Book (Hindawi Edition)

Chapter	Main Content
1. The Lesson of the Pharaohs	Why studying ancient history is essential for national identity.
2. Human Lineages	Biological analysis arguing for the continuity of the “Egyptian race.”
3. Egypt as the Origin of Civilization	Comparisons between Egyptian antiquities and other civilizations.
4. Gold and Mummification	How natural resources drove scientific advances.
5. Egypt and Greece	Egyptian influence on Greek architecture, including the Parthenon.
6. Shared Myths	The story of Osiris and its parallels with Mesopotamian myths.

Critical Assessment

Contributions

Defining a Pharaonic identity: Offered an alternative national vision against dominant Islamic and pan-Arab narratives.
Accessible history: Moussa’s clear, engaging style brought academic debates within reach of the general public.

Criticisms

Racial essentialism: His reliance on European biological theories, such as craniometry, reflects what is now considered pseudoscience.
Overlooking plural origins: He downplays the influence of Mesopotamia and other civilizations on Egypt itself.

For the original summary in Arabic