Science Egyptomania

mummy of ramesses ii

in nineteenth century natural science based on empiricism still in infancy. though lot of ground breaking discoveries made, many ideas debated intellectual community @ time may appear humorous @ best, spurious , opportunistic @ worst observers our time. true regard egyptology: great interest in egypt , history spawned enormous efforts produced indispensable knowledge instance deciphering of hieroglyphics jean-françois champollion in 1824. yet of work in , on egypt not performed full-time scholars rich enthusiasts training , expertise did not quite match interest. major amounts of knowledge have been destroyed poorly documented excavations , poorly performed dissections. popularity of egyptology in educated circles led strange phenomena, instance when amateur egyptologists organize mummy parties , social gatherings pseudo scientific outlook, consisted of unwrapping mummy purchased purpose host.

another rather strange chapter of nineteenth century science relevant regard egyptomania craniology, study of human cranium claimed able determine individual s intelligence , character. egyptian mummies served abundant source object of study — skulls. craniology important regard of question, whether egyptians black or white, debate lead in light of justification of slavery. key figure period seems samuel george morton founded american school of ethnology. put forward theory of polygenesis claiming there not 1 several human races in hierarchical order whites @ top , blacks @ bottom end of scale. although science today disapproves of morton s findings still revalidated professional status, because morton s american school large degree responsible development of current professional status of sciences , renunciation of puritan ideas of monogenesis , christian, clerical worldview, common @ time.