EM 3 Book Pages Review (Pages 48-52)
Udja,
Prior to the New Kingdom the state supported the Temples/Clergy through grants of land. This support showed the respect and reverence afforded to the Clergy as it allowed the Clergy the ability to provide the teachings to all of society through the clergy members who oversaw different aspects of society. Members of the clergy did this through the rituals performed designed to maintain harmony within the Cosmos/Creation on a full time basis without concern for providence of their basic necessities. It was understood that one is the most productive when one’s attention can be focused i.e., exclusive on the task they have been charged with. Prior to the New Kingdom value was placed on the spiritual nature of life. This value placement is what allowed Kamit to prosper for over 25k years.
The New Kingdom Era which in many ways was glorious, was also the beginning of the downfall of Ancient Kmt. Many invasions of the land occurred during this time and the cumulative effect from them tilted the balance of power within the nation away from the clergy to the military. Additionally, these invasions brought foreigners into the land with foreign ways which diluted and changed the way of life mindset based on Maat which until then was prevalent in the land. Un-maatian ways of beings became co-mingled with the native population and over time led to the adoption by the native people of degraded ways of thinking and being.
Htp
Asr Anpu
