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History & Theories of Urban planning Book

Cities in Pharaonic Civilization

The cities in Pharaonic Civilization had different functions as some were political by
nature that housed government workers and officials while other cities were religious
also by nature. The Nile was the main factor that was a source of fresh water and cause
behind the fertile farmlands which played an instrumental role in creating cities whose
name will last until the end of days. The capitals of ancient Egypt were the largest and
the most important. Throughout the history of ancient Egypt, the capital was in a state
of transformation and constant change. Here is a list of famous Ancient Egyptian cities:

a) Memphis City

The first-ever capital of Egypt was that city from 2950 BC to 2180 BC during the old
and one of the official religious centers as it was the worship center for the holy triad
of the creator god of Ptah, his wife Sekhmet and Nefertem. The city of Memphis is
located 15 mi south of modern cairo in lower Egypt.

b) Thebes City

It is the most well known in the history of ancient Egypt, it served as the capital of
Egypt around 1279 BC during the new kingdom (1570-1070 BC). It is located 675 km
(419 mi) south of Cairo on the east bank of the Nile. The city was the center of culture,
rule, and religion. The city was called now as the city of the creator god Amun and was
also referred to as Thebai by Homer the Greek poet who stated Thebes as the city with
a thousand gates. The city was the location for some of the most famous and important
festivals in ancient Egypt like the festivals of Opet and Shemu.

c) Amarna City

One of the most unknown capitals of ancient Egypt is Amarna, it represents the time of
the biggest religious conflicts and struggles in ancient Egyptian history. The city was a
capital established by Pharaoh Akhenaton (1353-1336 BC) in 1346 BC till his death in
1336 BC the city is located on the east bank of the Nile river about 312 km (194 mi)
south of Cairo and 420 (250 mi) north of Luxer.

2- Mesopotamia Civilization

Mesopotamia is a region of southwest Asia in the Tigris and Euphrates river system
that benefitted from the area’s climate and geography to host the beginnings of human
civilization. Its history is marked by many important inventions that changed the world,
including the concept of time, math, the wheel, sailboats, maps and writing.
Mesopotamia is also defined by a changing succession of ruling bodies from different
areas and cities that seized control over a period of thousands of years.

Photo Details: Map of Mesopotamia. Shown are Washukanni, Nineveh, Hatra, Assur,
Nuzi, Palmyra, Mari, Sippar, Babylon, Kish, Nippur, Isin, Lagash, Uruk, Charax Spasinu

and Ur, from north to south.

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Dr. Sherein El-Shahat