Egyptian Civilization

Egyptian CivilizationEgyptian Civilization

““The Gift of the Nile”The Gift of the Nile”

Nile RiverNile RiverBegins in heart of Africa and runs over Begins in heart of Africa and runs over

4,000 miles4,000 milesNorthern part- Lower EgyptNorthern part- Lower EgyptSouthern part- Upper EgyptSouthern part- Upper EgyptFloodingFlooding

-Agriculture, 10 mile wide Black Land, Red -Agriculture, 10 mile wide Black Land, Red LandLand

Natural BarriersNatural Barriers

Course of Egyptian HistoryCourse of Egyptian HistoryMenes- king who united Upper and Lower Menes- king who united Upper and Lower

Egypt into single kingdomEgypt into single kingdom-3100 BC-3100 BC

First DynastyFirst DynastyFirst capital at MemphisFirst capital at Memphis

Old KingdomOld Kingdom2575 to 2130 BC – age of prosperity2575 to 2130 BC – age of prosperityPharaohs- absolute power and religious leaderPharaohs- absolute power and religious leaderBureaucracy- departments and levels of Bureaucracy- departments and levels of

authorityauthorityVizier- “steward of the whole land”, chief Vizier- “steward of the whole land”, chief

ministerministerPyramids- dedicated to the deadPyramids- dedicated to the dead

-mummification-mummificationGreat Pyramids at Giza builtGreat Pyramids at Giza built

Mummification StepsAnnouncement of

Death Embalming the Body

Removal of Brain Removal of Internal

Organs Drying Out Process

Wrapping of the Body Final Procession

Middle KingdomMiddle Kingdom 150 yrs of anarchy- crop 150 yrs of anarchy- crop

failures, cost of building failures, cost of building pyramids, power pyramids, power strugglesstruggles

2050 to 1652 BC – golden 2050 to 1652 BC – golden age – stabilityage – stability

Expansion into Nubia, Expansion into Nubia, built fortressesbuilt fortresses

Trade with CreteTrade with Crete Hyksos came 1700 BC to Hyksos came 1700 BC to

occupy land. They awed occupy land. They awed the Egyptians with horse-the Egyptians with horse-drawn war chariots and drawn war chariots and Hyksos adopted Egyptian Hyksos adopted Egyptian customs, beliefs, and customs, beliefs, and names. names.

Invasion by the Hyksos ended this reignInvasion by the Hyksos ended this reign

New KingdomNew Kingdom1567 to 1085 BC- new militaristic path, more 1567 to 1085 BC- new militaristic path, more

contact with Africa and Asiacontact with Africa and AsiaHatshepsut- first female rulerHatshepsut- first female rulerThutmose III- stepson, 17 campaignsThutmose III- stepson, 17 campaignsAkhenaton- introduced god of sundiskAkhenaton- introduced god of sundiskTutankhamen- restored old way, “boy king”Tutankhamen- restored old way, “boy king”Ramses II- 1279 to 1213 BC, fought back and Ramses II- 1279 to 1213 BC, fought back and

bragged all over templesbragged all over templesEverything collapsed in 1085 BCEverything collapsed in 1085 BC

Ramses II TombRamses II TombFought with Hittites Fought with Hittites

of Asia Minor but of Asia Minor but signed first peace signed first peace treatytreaty

Used gold from Used gold from Nubia to pay armyNubia to pay army

The Valley of the Kings is a valley in Egypt where, The Valley of the Kings is a valley in Egypt where, for a period of nearly 500 years tombs were for a period of nearly 500 years tombs were constructed for the kings and powerful nobles of constructed for the kings and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom. the New Kingdom.

With the 2006 discovery of a new chamber and With the 2006 discovery of a new chamber and the 2008 discovery of 2 further tomb entrances, the the 2008 discovery of 2 further tomb entrances, the valley is known to contain 63 tombs and chambers valley is known to contain 63 tombs and chambers (ranging in size from a simple pit to a complex (ranging in size from a simple pit to a complex tomb with over 120 chambers)tomb with over 120 chambers)

The royal tombs are decorated with scenes from The royal tombs are decorated with scenes from Egyptian mythology and give clues to the beliefs Egyptian mythology and give clues to the beliefs and funerary rituals of the period. and funerary rituals of the period.

All of the tombs seem to have been opened and All of the tombs seem to have been opened and robbed in antiquity, but they still give an idea of the robbed in antiquity, but they still give an idea of the opulence and power of the rulers of this time.opulence and power of the rulers of this time.

ReligionReligionPolytheisticPolytheisticSun God- Amon ReSun God- Amon ReOsiris- god of dead and Nile Osiris- god of dead and Nile

- prove oneself to him- prove oneself to him--Book of the DeadBook of the Dead

Isis- taught women rolesIsis- taught women rolesLife after death- mummificationLife after death- mummification

-buried with everything they would need-buried with everything they would need

Society in Ancient EgyptSociety in Ancient Egypt

Peasants

Merchants

Govnt Officials

Daily LifeDaily Life Married YoungMarried Young

-boys at 14, girls at 12-boys at 14, girls at 12-monogamy-monogamy

MenMen Women- inherit property, enter business Women- inherit property, enter business

deals, buy and sell goods, go to court, deals, buy and sell goods, go to court, divorcedivorce-priesthood for goddesses-priesthood for goddesses-no govn’t jobs or scribes-no govn’t jobs or scribes

Concerns- family and property, produce Concerns- family and property, produce children, especially sons to carry on namechildren, especially sons to carry on name

Writing and EducationWriting and EducationHieroglyphics- pictures and formsHieroglyphics- pictures and formsHieratic script- simplified version, cursiveHieratic script- simplified version, cursive

- record keeping, business transactions, - record keeping, business transactions, general needs of daily lifegeneral needs of daily life

Papyrus- plant woven togetherPapyrus- plant woven togetherBoys start as early as 10 yrs oldBoys start as early as 10 yrs old

Rosetta StoneRosetta StoneEarly 1800s Jean Champollion discoveredEarly 1800s Jean Champollion discoveredDeciphered writings by comparing Deciphered writings by comparing

hieroglyphics, demotic script, and Greekhieroglyphics, demotic script, and Greek

Science and MathScience and MathDistinctive styleDistinctive styleGeometry- buildings and surveying fieldsGeometry- buildings and surveying fields

-area and volume-area and volume365 day calendar- 12 months 30 days +5365 day calendar- 12 months 30 days +5Medical expertise in human anatomyMedical expertise in human anatomy

-splints, bandages, fractures, wounds, and -splints, bandages, fractures, wounds, and disease while giving out cures as welldisease while giving out cures as well

Art and LiteratureArt and LiteratureGods and pharaohs much largerGods and pharaohs much largerPeople with heads of animals for certain People with heads of animals for certain

traits. Sphinx at Giza as powerful lion-mantraits. Sphinx at Giza as powerful lion-manTale of Sinuhe- Tale of Sinuhe- how Egyptians viewed how Egyptians viewed

selves and othersselves and others

Riddle of the SphinxRiddle of the Sphinx The Sphinx is said to have guarded the The Sphinx is said to have guarded the

entrance to the Greek city of Thebes, and to entrance to the Greek city of Thebes, and to have asked a riddle of travelers to allow have asked a riddle of travelers to allow them passage.them passage.

““Which creature in the morning goes on four Which creature in the morning goes on four legs, at mid-day on two, and in the evening legs, at mid-day on two, and in the evening upon three, and the more legs it has, the upon three, and the more legs it has, the weaker it be?” weaker it be?”

ManMan