The Early Egyptian State

Summary

Of all the ancient states, the concept of heterarchy would seem to be least applicable to ancient Egypt.There, according to traditional interpretations, successive polities in the 3rd Millennium BC successfully monopolized power and authority by means of increasingly elaborate and hierarchically- arranged administrative structures and functions. But recent analyses and evidence suggest that state did not maintain absolute control at all times and in all areas of the state, particularly with regard to Nile Delta occupations. The state’s extension of political control and economic exploitation to Delta provinces required innovative and varied administrative methods, some of which perhaps involved heterarchical relationships.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Historical Ecology, Heterarchy and Multitemporal Dynamics: Papers in Honor of Carole Crumley

Keywords

Spatial Coverage