James Breasted American Egyptologist, archaeologist and historian. Date of Birth: 27.08.1865 Country: USA

1. Biography of James Henry Breasted
2. Academic Career
3. Archaeological Expeditions and Eastern Institute
4. Legacy

Biography of James Henry Breasted

James Henry Breasted was an American Egyptologist, archaeologist, and historian. He was born in Rockford, Illinois on August 27, 1865. Breasted studied at the Chicago Theological Seminary, Yale University, and the University of Berlin.

Academic Career

In 1894, he was appointed as an assistant professor of Egyptology at the University of Chicago, and in 1905, he became a professor of Egyptology and Eastern History. At the recommendation of the German Royal Academies, Breasted embarked on a project to copy and systematize Egyptian inscriptions in European museums, and he also contributed to the compilation of the Berlin Egyptian Dictionary. These efforts allowed him to gather material for his seminal work, "Ancient Records of Egypt: Historical Documents from the Earliest Times to the Persian Conquest" (1906-1907), which has become a classic in the field.

Breasted also authored other notable works in the field of Egyptology, including "History of Egypt" (1905), "Ancient Times" (1916), "The Conquest of Civilization" (1926), and "The Dawn of Conscience" (1933), which explored a wide range of humanistic ideas. His book "Battle of Kadesh" (1903) remains a significant study of the first well-documented battle in human history. However, his most esteemed work is considered to be the monumental "Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus" (1930), a comprehensive study of an ancient medical text.

Archaeological Expeditions and Eastern Institute

Aside from his philological and historical pursuits, Breasted conducted archaeological research. From 1905 to 1907, he led an expedition to Egypt and Sudan. In 1919, he founded the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago and served as its director, continuing his fieldwork by organizing expeditions to Egypt, Palestine, Turkey, Iraq, and Iran. These expeditions included excavations at Luxor, Megiddo, and Persepolis. The Oriental Institute became the largest center in the Western Hemisphere for the study of the Near East and its archaeology, as well as for the publication of related materials.

Legacy

James Henry Breasted passed away on December 2, 1935, in New York City. His contributions to the fields of Egyptology, archaeology, and history were immense, and his works continue to be influential and highly regarded to this day. Breasted's dedication and scholarly achievements have left an indelible mark on the understanding and knowledge of ancient Egypt and the Near East.