Egyptologist Stuart Tyson Smith of UC Santa Barbara is a specialist in ancient Sudan, including the cultures of ancient Sudanese Nubia. While modern Egyptology was founded by classicists and Mediterranean scholars whose background colored their view of Egypt, Dr. Smith locates Egypt culturally in Africa. His research shows that the line that 19th and 20th century scholars drew between Egypt and Nubia is far more permeable than they ever dreamed. Dr. Smith's talk is in 110 Barrows Hall on the UC campus. It is free and open to the public. The event will be preceded at 1 p.m. by ARCE's free holiday party and benefit souk, where various Egyptian crafts, books and souvenirs are sold at good prices to benefit the local chapter and Egyptology at Berkeley. The public is also welcome at the party and souk.
