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Egyptology in the Periphery. Valdemar Schmidt and the making of Egyptology in Denmark 1872–1925

Alm, Andreas LU (2019) HISS33 20192
History
Abstract
Egyptology in the 19th and early 20th centuries developed simultaneously with increased imperial presence in Egypt by the European imperial powers, which would have influence on how the discipline was practised. The history of Egyptology has for this reason primarily focused on the big four – Great Britain, France, Germany and USA – and on Egypt itself. The aim of this study is to examine how Egyptology was established and practised in a non-imperial Scandinavian country – Denmark.
Through the agency of Valdemar Schmidt, the initiator of the Egyptology at the University of Copenhagen, I ask the following 3 questions; (1) How did Valdemar Schmidt practise Egyptology? (2) What was his working relation to Egypt and the rest of Europe? (3)... (More)
Egyptology in the 19th and early 20th centuries developed simultaneously with increased imperial presence in Egypt by the European imperial powers, which would have influence on how the discipline was practised. The history of Egyptology has for this reason primarily focused on the big four – Great Britain, France, Germany and USA – and on Egypt itself. The aim of this study is to examine how Egyptology was established and practised in a non-imperial Scandinavian country – Denmark.
Through the agency of Valdemar Schmidt, the initiator of the Egyptology at the University of Copenhagen, I ask the following 3 questions; (1) How did Valdemar Schmidt practise Egyptology? (2) What was his working relation to Egypt and the rest of Europe? (3) Are there any changes over time, and if so, what were they?
Several results can be shown. First, I argue that Schmidt, as the first academic Egyptologist in Denmark, was profoundly influenced by prehistoric archaeology and comparative linguistics, both with Danish roots in the first half of the 19th century. This affected his scientific views in that he believed in using a quantity of sources, even those which many would regard as trivial in order to reconstruct the past. This focus on the small and trivial has previously been attributed to William Matthew Flinders Petrie at least 15 years after Schmidt, and it has been proposed he had done so as for practical purposes as it was easier to take smaller objects out of Egypt and distribute between the subscribers. I argue, in the case of Schmidt, that the way he practised Egyptology was in many ways unpractical and costly, indicating he was more shaped by the scientific ideals of the national context he worked in.
I show how most of the primary and secondary sources needed for his practise were not found in Denmark but were spread in several collections and libraries all over the world. Schmidt spent a large part of his career travelling to museums and studying museum objects to acquire knowledge which he later would communicate to a Danish audience through his many public lectures. I also argue his museum studies should be regarded as fieldwork as he was on a time constrain and tried to make the most of the time he had by, for example, travel at night and never eating anything during the museums opening hours.
In the case of Egyptology, I show how Denmark could be considered belonging to a European periphery. It was hard to get access to books and materials needed. Much of Schmidt´s practise therefore aimed to upheave this sense of periphery and create a milieu in Denmark where Egyptology could be studied. I also argue that Schmidt initially did not consider Egypt itself central to his practise compared to several European museums. This would eventually change as he got involved in the antiquities trade around 1890.
The outbreak of the World War I affected his practise inasmuch he was cut off from access to the European museums and libraries that he needed for his studies. From this I argue Danish Egyptology relied on access to Europe to be able to function. World War I also broke down the ideals of scientific universalism in the warring countries, but as an Egyptologist from a neutral country, Schmidt still regarded international cooperation crucial and expected everything to turn back to normal as soon as the war was over.
Finally, I show how Egyptology in Denmark was not a financially rewarding career. Even with state support, Schmidt had to spend much of his own money on the acquisition of source material and publishing. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Alm, Andreas LU
supervisor
organization
course
HISS33 20192
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Egyptology, History of Egyptology, Archaeology, Denmark, Scandinavia, Egypt, History of Humanities, Periphery, 19th Century, 20th Century, World War I, Mummies, Museums, Mummy unwrapping, Egyptomania
language
English
id
8996374
date added to LUP
2019-10-09 09:36:24
date last changed
2019-10-09 09:36:24
@misc{8996374,
  abstract     = {{Egyptology in the 19th and early 20th centuries developed simultaneously with increased imperial presence in Egypt by the European imperial powers, which would have influence on how the discipline was practised. The history of Egyptology has for this reason primarily focused on the big four – Great Britain, France, Germany and USA – and on Egypt itself. The aim of this study is to examine how Egyptology was established and practised in a non-imperial Scandinavian country – Denmark.
 Through the agency of Valdemar Schmidt, the initiator of the Egyptology at the University of Copenhagen, I ask the following 3 questions; (1) How did Valdemar Schmidt practise Egyptology? (2) What was his working relation to Egypt and the rest of Europe? (3) Are there any changes over time, and if so, what were they?
 Several results can be shown. First, I argue that Schmidt, as the first academic Egyptologist in Denmark, was profoundly influenced by prehistoric archaeology and comparative linguistics, both with Danish roots in the first half of the 19th century. This affected his scientific views in that he believed in using a quantity of sources, even those which many would regard as trivial in order to reconstruct the past. This focus on the small and trivial has previously been attributed to William Matthew Flinders Petrie at least 15 years after Schmidt, and it has been proposed he had done so as for practical purposes as it was easier to take smaller objects out of Egypt and distribute between the subscribers. I argue, in the case of Schmidt, that the way he practised Egyptology was in many ways unpractical and costly, indicating he was more shaped by the scientific ideals of the national context he worked in.
 I show how most of the primary and secondary sources needed for his practise were not found in Denmark but were spread in several collections and libraries all over the world. Schmidt spent a large part of his career travelling to museums and studying museum objects to acquire knowledge which he later would communicate to a Danish audience through his many public lectures. I also argue his museum studies should be regarded as fieldwork as he was on a time constrain and tried to make the most of the time he had by, for example, travel at night and never eating anything during the museums opening hours.
 In the case of Egyptology, I show how Denmark could be considered belonging to a European periphery. It was hard to get access to books and materials needed. Much of Schmidt´s practise therefore aimed to upheave this sense of periphery and create a milieu in Denmark where Egyptology could be studied. I also argue that Schmidt initially did not consider Egypt itself central to his practise compared to several European museums. This would eventually change as he got involved in the antiquities trade around 1890.
 The outbreak of the World War I affected his practise inasmuch he was cut off from access to the European museums and libraries that he needed for his studies. From this I argue Danish Egyptology relied on access to Europe to be able to function. World War I also broke down the ideals of scientific universalism in the warring countries, but as an Egyptologist from a neutral country, Schmidt still regarded international cooperation crucial and expected everything to turn back to normal as soon as the war was over.
 Finally, I show how Egyptology in Denmark was not a financially rewarding career. Even with state support, Schmidt had to spend much of his own money on the acquisition of source material and publishing.}},
  author       = {{Alm, Andreas}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Egyptology in the Periphery. Valdemar Schmidt and the making of Egyptology in Denmark 1872–1925}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}