This introduction into the work of the German Egyptologist Jan Assmann is divided into three parts. The first part contains biographical notes on Jan Assmann. The second part consists of an introduction of the main works of Jan Assmann. Based on this works on commemorative culture, the Egyptological works on religion, on the development of state and on the emerging self-awareness as a collective in ancient Egypt are interpreted as empirical case studies on historically early processes of social differentiation. The controversial work on the Egyptian traces in the biblical Exodus narrative reflects an intense debate between different social and cultural studies, and makes the transition to the third part, which tracks the scientific influence of Jan Assmann. In addition to the controversy over the potential for violence of monotheism here the focus is on recent controversies in the field of culture of remembrance.