Egypt

EgyptEgypt

““Gift of the Nile”Gift of the Nile”

Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt

Chronology*Chronology*(all dates BCE)(all dates BCE)

c. 3100-2700: Early Dynasticc. 3100-2700: Early Dynastic– Dynasties 1-2Dynasties 1-2

c. 2700-2200: Old Kingdomc. 2700-2200: Old Kingdom– Dynasties 3-6Dynasties 3-6

c. 2200-2050: First Intermediate Periodc. 2200-2050: First Intermediate Period– Dynasties 7-10Dynasties 7-10

c. 2050-1652: Middle Kingdomc. 2050-1652: Middle Kingdom– Dynasties 11-12Dynasties 11-12

* This basic framework was provided by Manetho,an Egyptian priest and historian of the early 3rd century BCE.

Chronology (cont.)Chronology (cont.)

c. 1652-1567: Second Intermediate Periodc. 1652-1567: Second Intermediate Period– Dynasties 13-17Dynasties 13-17

c. 1567-1085: New Kingdomc. 1567-1085: New Kingdom– Dynasties 18-20Dynasties 18-20

c. 1085-30: Post-Imperial Periodc. 1085-30: Post-Imperial Period– Dynasties 21-31Dynasties 21-31

““gift of the Nile”gift of the Nile”– HerodotusHerodotus– cf. Mesopotamia, India. China, cf. Mesopotamia, India. China,

etc. etc.

The geographicalThe geographical imperative imperative

Hymn to the NileHymn to the Nile

Hail to you, O Nile, that Hail to you, O Nile, that issues from the earth issues from the earth and comes to keep Egypt and comes to keep Egypt alive!alive!

He that waters the He that waters the meadows that Re meadows that Re created….created….

He that makes to drink He that makes to drink the desert and the place the desert and the place distant from water….distant from water….

Natural bountyNatural bounty

Right: hunting birdsRight: hunting birds

Agricultural plentyAgricultural plenty

Hymn to the PharaohHymn to the Pharaoh

He has come unto us and has He has come unto us and has united the Two Lands….united the Two Lands….

He has come unto us and has He has come unto us and has brought the Black Land under brought the Black Land under his sway; he has apportioned his sway; he has apportioned to himself the Red Land….to himself the Red Land….

He has come unto us and has He has come unto us and has made Egypt to live; he has made Egypt to live; he has banished its suffering….banished its suffering….

Pharaohs (cont.)Pharaohs (cont.)

Akhenaten(c. 1364-1347 BCE)

Hatshepsut(d. c. 1481 BCE)

Pharaohs (cont.)Pharaohs (cont.)

Battle of KaddeshBattle of Kaddesh– HittitesHittites

Sea PeoplesSea Peoples

Ramses IIIc. 1188-1156 BCE)

Ramses II(c. 1304-1237 BCE)

Monumental architectureMonumental architecture Right: Zoser’s step Right: Zoser’s step

pyramid (c. 2650 BCE)pyramid (c. 2650 BCE) Below: the great pyramids Below: the great pyramids

at Gizaat Giza

Architecture (cont.)Architecture (cont.)

Anatomy of a pyramidAnatomy of a pyramid

War and weaponsWar and weapons

War and weapons (cont.)War and weapons (cont.)

War and weapons (cont.)War and weapons (cont.)

The afterlifeThe afterlife

Writing Writing

Early hieroglyphics