Overview of Ancient Egypt Early inhabitants (Neolithic's) called the land Kemet Renamed Egypt by the Greeks The Nile River Valley (annual floods)

Overview of Ancient Egypt Early inhabitants (Neolithic's) called the

land Kemet Renamed Egypt by the Greeks

The Nile River Valley (annual floods) World’s Longest River – flows from South

to North

Two Kingdoms by 4,000 B.C. Lower Kingdom in the North Upper Kingdom in the South 3000 B.C. – Narmer invaded Lower

Egypt Marked the first Egyptian Dynasty

The Old Kingdom (2700-2200 B.C.) Established a theocracy (god-king) Built pyramids to honor god-kings

(mummification) The Middle Kingdom (2050-1700 B.C.)

Egypt was reunited after a time of upheaval The capital was moved to Thebes Were invaded by the Hyksos (from Western

Asia) The New Kingdom (1600-1200 B.C.)

Egyptians overthrew the Hyksos – led by Ahmose

Kings began to use the title Pharaoh

Hatshepsut (1480 B.C.) - female pharaoh Ruled because her son was too young to rule Extensive building projects

Thutmose III (Hatshepsut’s son) Expanded the Dynasty to include Syria Made an “empire” for Egypt – cultural

diffusion Amenhotep: (1370 B.C.) – wife Nefertiti

Decided to make Egypt monotheistic (Aton) Changed his name to Akhenaton Moved the capital to central Egypt

• Tutankhamen (King Tut)– The boy king– Moved the capital back to Thebes

• Ramses II (“the Great”)– Fought the Hittites for control of Syria– A.D. 1995, a tomb was uncovered that held 50 of Ramses 52

sons– Egypt weakened after Ramses’ death• Invasions by the Libyans and Kushites

Social Order Upper class; middle class; lower class Women's’ rights improved btwn. Old & New

Kingdoms Religion: polytheistic (other than

Akhenaton) Gods were depicted as part human part animal

Writing System Hieroglyphics: carved picture symbols Hieratic: cursive for everyday use Rosetta Stone: part Greek and part Egyptian Book of the Dead

Strip of land that stretched from the Med. Sea to the Persian Gulf

Mesopotamia: “the land between the rivers”

Settled in Mesopotamia in 3500 B.C. Built the world’s first cities (Ur, Uruk,

Eridu) Built ziggurats – temples in each city-state

only priests could enter the temples Government: each city was independent

A military leader was chosen to lead/protect 2700: military leaders were viewed as kings Leaders served as king and high priest The legal systems were not clear or consistent

Roles of Men and Women Men had ultimate authority over families Women possessed very few rights (buy/sell

prop.) Writing System

Cuneiform: pictograms on wet clay Gilgamesh was written @ 1850 B.C.

Religion: each god was over a natural force The gods were viewed as unpredictable/angry

Inventions: The wheel, 12 mo. Calendar, arch, and sundial Developed bronze and metal plow

Invaders dreamt of controlling an empire Sargon I and the Akkadians

Came to power in the 2300s B.C. United the Mesopotamian city-states

Hammurabi’s Babylonian Empire Amorites overran Sumerian centers (Babylon) Hammurabi became the dominant ruler Increased Babylon's prosperity Law Code: “Made Justice Appear in the Land”

Law covered the entire region 282 sections on Daily Life Clear punishment for crimes

Babylonian Society Upper Class: Kings, priests, nobles Middle Class: artisans, merchants,

scribes, farmers Lower Class: slaves (from war/had not

paid debts) Borrowed ideas and techniques from

Sumerians Writing system, farming techniques, & religion

Larger than both Sumer and Egypt Located in South Asia Reached its height @ 2500 – 1500 B.C. Used the natural boundaries of the

Himalayas and Hindu Kush Seasonal “Monsoons” affect the

climate Winter temps of 70º; Summer temps of

100º Flooding of the Rivers enriches the soil

Harappan and Mohenjo-Daro civilizations

Centrally planned cities A citadel, city laid out in a grid

Language and Religion Written records (pictograms) Animal/human deities

Collapse Flooding and violent invasion

Zhong Guo – “Middle Kingdom” Isolated from much of the world

Shang Dynasty (1700-1000 B.C.) Myths (Creation and founding

individuals) Early Religion – leaders were both

pol./relig. polytheistic

Achievements: metal workings, silk cloth Mandate of Heaven:

Justified rulers’ authority If a ruler governed improperly, they lost

the mandate