Characteristics of Egyptian Civilization • Centralized political authority embodied in the absolute ruler the pharaoh in Egypt and the person of the King in the region of Kush (Nubia) • Imperialist expansion in the second millennium B.C.E. as the Egyptian army pushed into Palestine, Syria, and north Africa and south into Nubia and as the Kushites later conquered Egypt and expanded their influence to the south • Highly stratified and patriarchal societies based on an agricultural economy • Development of industries, transportation, and trade networks that facilitated economic growth and the intermingling of cultural traditions • Writing systems: hieroglyphic, hieratic, demotic, and Coptic scripts in Egypt and the yet-to-be- translated Meroitic inscriptions in Nubia • Organized religious traditions that include worship of Amon and Re, sun gods, the cult of Osiris, pyramid building, and in Egypt, mummification of the dead
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Characteristics of Egyptian Civilization Centralized political authority embodied in the absolute ruler the pharaoh in Egypt and the person of the King.
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Characteristics of Egyptian Civilization
• Centralized political authority embodied in the absolute ruler the pharaoh in Egypt and the person of the King in the region of Kush (Nubia)
• Imperialist expansion in the second millennium B.C.E. as the Egyptian army pushed into Palestine, Syria, and north Africa and south into Nubia and as the Kushites later conquered Egypt and expanded their influence to the south
• Highly stratified and patriarchal societies based on an agricultural economy
• Development of industries, transportation, and trade networks that facilitated economic growth and the intermingling of cultural traditions
• Writing systems: hieroglyphic, hieratic, demotic, and Coptic scripts in Egypt and the yet-to-be-translated Meroitic inscriptions in Nubia
• Organized religious traditions that include worship of Amon and Re, sun gods, the cult of Osiris, pyramid building, and in Egypt, mummification of the dead
Classification of Egyptian History
Period Dates Significant Events
Archaic: 3100-2600 BC Unification of Egypt
Old Kingdom 2660-2180 BC Construction of the pyramids
First Intermediate 2180-2080 BC Political Chaos
Middle Kingdom 2080-1640 BC Recovery and Political Stability
Second Intermediate 1640-1570 BC Invasion of the Hyskos
New Kingdom 1570-1075 BC Creation of an Egyptian Empire, King Tut/Religious Chaos.
Final Decline 1075-626 BC Invasion of numerous groups, crushed by Assyrians.
• Ra: Sun God (Amon Re)– Daughter of Ra: Maat: Goddess of
Justice
• Isis: Goddess of Love and Creation
• Married to OSIRIS: death, Nile, creation– Son: Horus (Pharaoh, human
incarnation) Falcon god
Decline of the Old Kingdom:
The 1st intermediate period
• Natural Factors• Class system• Power of pharaohs weakened
The construction of Pyramids:
• Shrouded in mystery• Theories• History Channel Video
The Middle Kingdom:
• 2052-1778 BC• Reunification by Mentuhotep• Conquest of Nubia• Achievements• Reign of the Hyksos
Politics: the absolutism of the Old Kingdom comes to an end.• Pharaohs portrayed it as a Golden Age.• Goal benevolent rule for all. Pharaoh
characterized himself as a shepherd to his people.
• Nomes (districts) were clarified and taxes spelled out.
“He who created me as one who should do that which he had done, and to carry out that which he commanded should be done. He appointed me herdsman of this land, for he knew who would keep it in order for him”
Pharaoh
Nobles and Priests
Merchants and Artisans
Farmers and Laborers
Osiris becomes a more prominent figure.
Osiris cult had the effect (Book of the Dead) of “democratizing” Egypt.
Bronze Chariots Desire for new
territories to create “buffer zones”
The Second Intermediate Period:
• Decline of Middle Kingdom• Hyksos• Division
The New Kingdom:
• 1570-1085 BC• Pharaohs take on a more
militaristic approach• Thutmoses III’s chip on his