Join members of The Italian Oxbridge Society for a lecture on “The deep roots of the Egyptian civilisation: A Saharan perspective” by Giulio Lucarini.

While we are familiar with Pharaonic Egypt, how many of us have a clear understanding of the events that unfolded along the Nile Valley and the surrounding deserts before the construction of the pyramids?

The history of Egyptian civilisation traces back to a deep past, commencing at least at the beginning of the Holocene. Following the last ice age 20,000 years ago, which rendered the Sahara a cold, arid, and virtually uninhabited region, improved climatic conditions around 12,000 years ago facilitated the repopulation of these areas by groups of hunters-gatherers and later herders, who thrived in more favorable environments.

These conditions persisted until approximately 7,000 years ago when the southward shift of the monsoonal rain belt led to the Sahara's aridification, compelling local populations to migrate towards the Nile Valley. These groups coming from the desert played a crucial role in shaping the subsequent development of Egyptian civilisation.