【帝国时代一】埃及文明在官方说明文件中的描述
注：英语原文取自最古老版本的帝国时代一的帮助文件中，关于历史的文本量相当巨大，但在win7系统更新后，以win95为基础的hlp文件被淘汰，如今已经很难找到打开hlp文件的方法。如有大佬能提供支援就好了。
注：因为原hlp文件并未随着罗马复兴资料片的更新而更新，所以这个系列不包含新增的罗马、迦太基、马其顿和巴尔米拉文明。
注：因为年代久远（1996年左右），很多记述可能已经与最新的考古发现有着显著的差异。
注：蹩脚英语，翻译腔，懒得润色的语句。
注：英语原文放在前面，汉语翻译放在后面。
更多资料：世界地理历史小常识97：埃及。CV6378334
Egyptian culture (5000 to 30 BC)
The Egyptian culture was one of the oldest and most long-lived of antiquity. It benefited from an abundance of good farmland, nearby mineral resources, and a good strategic position. Despite occasional invasion and internal strife, it endured as a distinctive culture for nearly 5000 years.
Location
Ancient Egypt occupied almost the same area as modern Egypt does today. Its civilization stayed very close to the Nile River. Because it was almost entirely surrounded by desert, enemies could approach only from the west and northeast along the Mediterranean coast, from the south down the river valley, or directly over the sea.
Capital
During its long history, the capital of Egypt was located at various times in Hierakonpolis, Memphis, Herakleopolis, Thebes, It-towy, Akhetaten, Tanis, Sais, and Alexandria. The most important of these were Memphis and Thebes. Alexandria was founded as the capital by Alexander the Great in 331 BC. Greek overlords, the Ptolemaic dynasty, ruled from here until 30 BC.
Rise to power
Agriculture was brought to the Nile Valley prior to 5000 BC by immigrants from the highlands of Palestine. By 3000 BC, agriculture had spread southward up the Nile. Flooding was under control and irrigation put much more land under cultivation. The abundance of food led to large populations and increased wealth for the area.The early history of Egypt was a period of consolidation. Two separate kingdoms rose and vied for power along the river. Around 3100 BC, King Menes of Upper Egypt conquered Lower Egypt (centered on the lowland river delta) and established the First Dynasty.Between 3100 BC and 1300 BC, the Egyptians struggled with Nubians and Kushites up the Nile to the south. Forts and garrisons held the frontier but during periods of weakness these were destroyed. Around 1300 BC the Nubians suffered an important defeat and were neutralized as a threat for about 500 years.Egypt's Dynasty XIII, 1783 to 1640 BC, was very weak. During this period the frontier forts to the south were lost and Semitic immigrants from the east moved into the delta. These immigrants, called the Hyksos, took control of the entire delta region in 1674 BC. The Hyksos eventually adopted Egyptian culture and language, and introduced the horse and chariot.The New Kingdom was founded by Dynasty XVIII in 1552 BC, following a successful war to drive out the Hyksos. This dynasty was the great age of the warrior pharaohs and Egyptian empire. To prevent further incursions from the east, the Egyptians attempted to establish control over the kingdoms in the Levant and Palestine. During this period they vied for control with the Hittites and Mitanni, as well as the local kings. The Egyptians were the dominant power in the Near East until around 1200 BC when the entire area was overrun by barbarians.
Economy
Egypt was an agricultural society dependent on the water and soil brought down each year by the Nile from the highlands of Ethiopia. Extensive irrigation made it possible to farm fields not adjacent to the river but still close enough to be inundated each year and receive new sediments. The principal crops were wheat and barley that were used to make bread and beer, the staples of their diet. They also grew fruits and vegetables and raised cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, geese, ducks, and pigeons. The abundance of food meant a large population and allowed the export of food.The Nile passes through several hilly regions and some of these were rich in minerals. The nearby Sinai Peninsula also held mineral riches. Unlike some other ancient cultures, the Egyptians had relatively easy access to copper and gold, further increasing their wealth. The hills were sources of granite, limestone, and sandstone that they used for construction.The Egyptians were one of the first cultures to build boats and they eventually took these out into the Mediterranean. Egypt became an important Mediterranean port of call as trade increased because it was a rich market for both buying and selling. Principal Egyptian exports were grain, food, linen, perfume, and manufactured goods. Important imports were timber, slaves, silver, horses, pottery, and wine.
Religion and culture
The Egyptian religion had over 2000 gods, though only a few of these were predominant. The important gods had a home town where their principal temple was located. One of the most important was Ra, the sun god, understandably critical to an agricultural society.They believed in a life after death. They referred to this as the "Next world" and thought it was somewhere to the west. They developed elaborate burials and embalming to preserve the body for this second life. Goods and servants were buried with royalty and nobles to serve them.
Government
The ancient Egyptians believed their kings were descended from the sun god Ra. They believed they could communicate with the gods through the king.The king had absolute power but was required to perform several important duties. He was responsible for the harvest and irrigation of crops. He directed the government, trade, and foreign policy. He enforced the laws and led the army. During the New Kingdom, the pharaohs usually commanded their armies in the field.Reporting directly to the pharaoh were two viziers, one for Lower Egypt based in Memphis and one for Upper Egypt based in Thebes. Below the viziers were rural districts controlled by governors and towns controlled by mayors. These officials carried out the pharaoh's orders and collected taxes. Scribes kept the records.The Egyptians had no coinage until they were conquered by Alexander the Great. All workers paid taxes by turning over a percentage of their production, whether it was fish, grain, trade goods, pottery, or other goods. In addition, each household had to provide a laborer for several weeks each year for mining or public works. The pyramids were probably built by laborers putting in their annual service.
Military
The Egyptians were among the first cultures to possess the necessary population and wealth to build standing armies of professional soldiers. Prior to the Hyksos invasion around 1675 BC, Egyptian soldiers were equipped with simple bows, maces, and spears. The Hyksos introduced the horse and chariot, which were quickly adopted by the Egyptians in turn. The dominance of the Near East by New Kingdom Egypt, from 1600 to 1200 BC, was primarily due to the large and powerful chariot armies sent into battle there. These chariots carried a driver and composite bow archer and were the elite of the army.
Decline and fall
Egypt survived the catastrophe of 1200 BC by fighting off several major attempted invasions. They went into decline, nevertheless, following the death of Rameses III who was the last of the great warrior pharaohs. Their decline was partly due to trade coming to a virtual halt for several generations. A series of weak kings and civil wars over succession to the throne also eroded their strength.In 728 BC Egypt was conquered by Nubia and held for 60 years. In 665 BC the Assyrians completed a conquest of Egypt by sacking Thebes. A new native Egyptian dynasty arose in 664 BC, eventually throwing out the Nubians and asserting their independence from Assyria by stopping payment of tribute. In 525 BC Egypt was conquered again from the east, this time by Cambryses II of Persia. When the Persians faltered in their war with the Greeks, the Egyptians reclaimed their independence briefly before succumbing once more to Persian invasion by 332 BC. Within a year, however, the Persians themselves were gone, destroyed by Alexander the Great who was accepted by the Egyptians as their pharaoh.Greeks ruled Egypt as overlords from the time of Alexander the Great until 30 BC when Cleopatra VII, the last of the Ptolemaic dynasty, and Mark Antony were defeated by Octavian. Egypt thereafter became part of the Roman Empire.
Legacy
The ancient Egyptians are remembered for the quality and quantity of cultural objects that have survived to the present, including the Pyramids, the Sphinx, the treasures of Tutankhamen's tomb, the other monuments and temples of the Nile Valley, hieroglyphics, mummies, and papyrus. They are also remembered in the West because of their prominent role in the history of ancient Israel as recounted in the Old Testament.
埃及文化（公元前5000至公元前30年）
埃及文化是古代最古老最久远的古文明之一。他受益于丰富良好的农田，矿产资源的靠近以及良好的战略地理位置。尽管偶尔遭到入侵或内战，但文化经历了将近五千年保持独特。
位置
古埃及占据了几乎和今天埃及相近的地区，它的文明非常贴近尼罗河。由于几乎完全被沙漠包围，敌人只能从地中海沿岸的西部和东北部、河谷南部或者直接从海上进攻。
首都
埃及的首都在漫长的历史中先后位于海拉康波利斯、孟菲斯、赫拉克勒波利斯、底比斯、伊提亚塔维、埃赫塔吞、坦尼斯、萨伊斯和亚历山大里亚。其中最重要的是孟菲斯和底比斯。公元前331年，亚历山大大帝建立了亚历山大里亚。希腊领主、后来托勒密王国在这里统治埃及直到公元前30年。
发展壮大
公元前5000年，来自巴勒斯坦高原的移民将农业带到了尼罗河谷。公元前3000年，农业向南延伸到尼罗河，洪水受到了控制，灌溉土地越来越多。食物丰富引起了人口增长、财富增加。埃及的早期是巩固的时期，两个独立的王国兴起并沿着河流夺取权力。大约公元前3100年，上埃及国王美尼斯征服了下埃及（以尼罗河三角洲为中心）建立了第一王朝。公元前3100年至公元前1300年，埃及人和库塞特人、努比亚人一起向南，在边界建立了军营和要塞，但在虚弱的时期，这些军营要塞都被破坏。公元前1300年左右努比亚遭受了重大的失败，并在后来的500年作为一种威胁保持中立。埃及的第十三王朝，公元前1783至公元前1640年非常虚弱。在这段时期，南方的边防堡垒沦陷，东方的闪族人移民进入三角洲，这些被称为希克索人的移民在公元前1674年控制了整个三角洲。希克索最终使用了埃及的文化和语言，并引进了马和战车。新王国在公元前1552年建立（第十八王朝），成功战胜了希克索。这个王朝是法老战士和埃及帝国的伟大时代。为了防止东方的进一步入侵。埃及人试图对黎凡特人和巴勒斯坦的王国进行控制。在这段时期内，他们与赫梯、米坦尼及当地的国王一起受到控制，埃及直到约公元前1200年都是近东的绝对统治者，直到整个地中海都被海民野蛮人淹没。
经济
埃及是一个由每年从埃塞俄比亚高原流下的尼罗河水涨落保持水土而维持的农业社会，广泛的灌溉使得可能不甚靠近河流但每年仍可被河水淹没并得到新的沉积物的农田也能耕种。主要作物是用于制作面包和啤酒的小麦和大麦，它们是埃及主要的饮食。他们还种植水果蔬菜、养牛、猪、羊、山羊、鹅、鸭和鸽子。食物丰富意味着人口众多，允许出口食物。尼罗河穿过了几个丘陵地带，其中一些矿物质丰富。附近的西奈半岛也拥有矿产资源。与其他古文明不同，埃及人相对容易获得铜和黄金，进一步增加财富。山丘是用于建造建筑物的花岗岩、石灰岩和砂岩的来源。埃及人是第一批建造船只的文明之一，并最终将其带入地中海。随着贸易的增加，埃及成为一个重要的地中海港口，因此，它是一个丰富的买卖市场。埃及主要的出口产品是粮食、食物、亚麻布、香水和手工制品。重要的进口产品是木材、奴隶、银、马、陶器和葡萄酒。
宗教与文化
埃及的宗教有2000多个神，尽管其中只有少数是主要的。重要的神在他们家乡有主神庙。最重要的是拉，太阳神，对农业社会显而易见的重要。他们相信人死后有另一个生活，他们将其称为“下一个世界”，认为这是西方的某个地方，他们开发了精心设计的埋葬和防腐方法，以保护身体的第二次生命。商人和仆人被埋在皇室和贵族身上，为他们服务。
政府
古埃及人认为他们的国王是太阳神拉的化身。他们相信可以通过国王与神交流。国王有绝对的权力，但要履行几项重要职责。他负责保证作物的灌溉和收获，指导政府、贸易和外交政策、执法、领军。在新王国，法老们通常在野外指挥军队，直接向法老报告的是两个军机大臣。一个负责下埃及，在孟菲斯。另一个在上埃及，在底比斯。以下是由市长控制的省市和附属农村。这些官员执行法老的命令，征收税款。书记保留记录。埃及在亚历山大征服前从未造币。所有工人通过通过上交一定比例的产物来交税，无论是鱼类、粮食、商品、陶器还是其他商品都要交税，此外，每个家庭每年必须作为工人提供几个星期的采矿或公共工程。金字塔可能是由劳工年度轮班提供服务修建的。
军事
埃及是第一个有足够的人口和财富来维持职业常备军的文明之一。在公元前1675年希克索入侵之前，埃及士兵装备了简单的弓箭、胸甲和矛。希克索引进了马和战车。公元前1600至1200年，新王国的埃及在近东占主导地位，主要是由于大型战车在那里发动战斗。这些战车带着司机和复合弓箭手，是军队的精英。
衰落与灭亡
埃及在公元前1200年的大灾难中幸存下来，打退了几次重大的入侵。然而，随着最后一位最伟大的法老战士，拉美西斯三世的死亡，埃及走向了衰败。他们的衰败是由于几代人以来贸易的停滞不前。一系列弱小的国王和对王位继承的内战消耗了实力。公元前728年，埃及被努比亚征服了60年，公元前665年，亚述通过摧毁底比斯完成了对埃及的征服。公元前664年诞生了一个新的埃及王朝，推翻了努比亚人，并通过停止进贡宣称独立。公元前525年埃及又被东方征服，这次是被波斯的坎布雷斯二世。当波斯人与希腊人争霸时，埃及短暂的恢复了独立，然而公元前332年又被波斯入侵，一年之内，波斯帝国被亚历山大大帝所毁灭，被埃及人接受为法老，希腊人从此开始统治埃及。直到公元前30年，最后一个托勒密王朝因为卷入马克安东尼和屋大维的内战而战败，从此埃及成为罗马帝国的一部分。
遗产
古埃及被相当质量和数量的文物所记住，包括金字塔、狮身人面像、图坦卡蒙陵墓、尼罗河谷的方尖石碑、寺庙、象形文字、纸草等都有记载。他们也被以色列人因为历史上的突出作用被牢记着：他们在西面。
2017年7月5日翻译于西苑新家
