Event, narrative, official history. History writing in Ancient Civilizations conference at the Collège de France, Paris, june 24 and 25, 2002 Event, narrative, official history History writing in Ancient Civilizations The chair of pharaonic civilization of the Collège de France incorporates, since October 2000, a research group devoted to Egyptian historiography. In this field, the translation and commentary of the royal annals of Thutmose III is being proposed by Professor Nicolas Grimal in a yearly seminar. This work requires new investigations into the annalistic genre, and into the official history writing and its mechanism in Ancient Egypt, that scrutinize the sources from the IIIrd millennium BC. onwards. An increase body of texts—only to speak about royal annals—has indeed emerged for these last ten years, thanks to the discovery and publication of the annals of the VIth Dynasty (Teti to Merenra, about 2300-2250 BC), the XIIth Dynasty (Amenemhat II, 1914-1879 BC) et the XXIIth Dynasty (Pami and probably Sheshank III & V, 837-736). The study of these and related texts requires a proper conceptual frame and methodology, adapted to the Ancient World and esp. the Near Eastern Civilizations. The concepts of event, history, historiography ought to be discussed by specialists of early periods, in order to reach common definitions and promote interdisciplinary research. The aim is not only to gather the common denominators in a classical comparatist way, but also to stress the differences in order to begin fresh investigations in the various fields. As a first step, the following questions could promote such a comparative work: 1. What is an event according to the criteria of official history? The first dating modes use a system of eponymous years. Their list allows to analyse the range of events relevant to ancient monarchies, and to investigate their evolution throughout history. Apart from this dating functions of chronographic documents, which categories of events, generally speaking, does the official history use? 2. What is the function of the recorded events? System of time marks (chronography), key point of cultural memory (linked to the question of the "reality" of the celebrated event or the reactualization of an archetype), commemoration, mobilization for political or cultural purposes, etc. What evolutions can be stressed in this field? 3. How is the event put into writing? Inventory of the various categories and genres of history writing, from historical accounts to epics through royal propaganda and biographies. Question of the interaction between genre and format. 4. To which extent is it an historical/historian writing? In the texts, according to the genres, what is the part dedicated to testimony, and which use of testimony is made in order to promote the verity/veracity of the narrative? Which texts use explanatory components or establish an account of the circumstances? 5. How official history develops into private narrative? To which extent and processes individual biographies and chronicles do include components and schemes proper to state historiography? Does royal propaganda express itself there in a less formal way? For more information, please contact Michel Baud, Collège de France, cabinet d’Égyptologie, 52 rue du Cardinal-Lemoine, 75005 Paris (or 50 rue de Sévigné 75003 Paris), e-mail: michel.baud@egyptologues.net.

event, narrative, official history. history writing in ancient civilizations conference at the college de france, paris, june 24 and 25, 2002 event, narrative, official history history writing in ancient civilizations the chair of pharaonic civilization of the college de france incorporates, since october 2000, a research group devoted to egyptian historiography. in this field, the translation and commentary of the royal annals of thutmose iii is being proposed by professor nicolas grimal in a yearly seminar. this work requires new investigations into the annalistic genre, and into the official history writing and its mechanism in ancient egypt, that scrutinize the sources from the iiird millennium bc. onwards. an increase body of texts-only to speak about royal annals-has indeed emerged for these last ten years, thanks to the discovery and publication of the annals of the vith dynasty (teti to merenra, about 2300-2250 bc), the xiith dynasty (amenemhat ii, 1914-1879 bc) et the xxiith dynasty (pami and probably sheshank iii & v, 837-736). the study of these and related texts requires a proper conceptual frame and methodology, adapted to the ancient world and esp. the near eastern civilizations. the concepts of event, history, historiography ought to be discussed by specialists of early periods, in order to reach common definitions and promote interdisciplinary research. the aim is not only to gather the common denominators in a classical comparatist way, but also to stress the differences in order to begin fresh investigations in the various fields. as a first step, the following questions could promote such a comparative work: 1. what is an event according to the criteria of official history? the first dating modes use a system of eponymous years. their list allows to analyse the range of events relevant to ancient monarchies, and to investigate their evolution throughout history. apart from this dating functions of chronographic documents, which categories of events, generally speaking, does the official history use? 2. what is the function of the recorded events? system of time marks (chronography), key point of cultural memory (linked to the question of the "reality" of the celebrated event or the reactualization of an archetype), commemoration, mobilization for political or cultural purposes, etc. what evolutions can be stressed in this field? 3. how is the event put into writing? inventory of the various categories and genres of history writing, from historical accounts to epics through royal propaganda and biographies. question of the interaction between genre and format. 4. to which extent is it an historical/historian writing? in the texts, according to the genres, what is the part dedicated to testimony, and which use of testimony is made in order to promote the verity/veracity of the narrative? which texts use explanatory components or establish an account of the circumstances? 5. how official history develops into private narrative? to which extent and processes individual biographies and chronicles do include components and schemes proper to state historiography? does royal propaganda express itself there in a less formal way? for more information, please contact michel baud, college de france, cabinet d'egyptologie, 52 rue du cardinal-lemoine, 75005 paris (or 50 rue de sevigne 75003 paris), e-mail: michel.baud@egyptologues.net.