Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt

A Map of Ancient Egypt

Populated AreasThere were three main areas that were populated

in Egypt:

1. The Nile Valley • sole source of water for Egypt• Predictable flooding provided rich fertile soil• Both revered and feared (too much flooding

or droughts)

2. The Nile Delta • Area were Nile empties into Mediterranean

Sea• Largest piece of fertile land• Encompassed major centres of Egypt

3. Faiyum• Lake Moeris lies at end of branch of Nile is

centre of oasis called Faiyum• Irrigation from Nile made Faiyum the third

most populated land

Geographic Effects

• Fertile soil

• deserts provided protection and shelter from outside influences

• Access to Mediterranean increased and expanded trade and culture

• culture was one of stability and not rapid change

• Deserts were an important source of minerals and building supplies (copper, tin, gold and natron, the drying agent used in mummification)

Other Pharaohs

•1470 BCE – Reign of Hatsheput (one of four female Kings)

•1350 BCE – Reign of Akhenaton (Wanted to change religious beliefs to monotheism)

•1334 BCE – Reign of Tutankhamun (Religious revolution is reversed)

•1297 BCE - Reign of Ramses II. He had over 200 wives and concubines, approximately 90 sons and 60 daughters and reigned over 67 years! His reign saw massive building projects in Egypt. The Exodus of Jews from Egypt also occurred during his reign.

•525 BCE – Persians conquer Egypt

•332 BCE – Alexander the Great defeats the Persians and considered savior of Egypt

•50 BCE – Cleopatra VII is crowned Queen of Egypt

•30 BCE – Egypt becomes part of Roman empire after death of Cleopatra VII and Mark Anthony

Politics

How did Pharaoh's rule?

•absolute rulers of the land

•believed to be the earthly embodiment of the god Horus who was the son of Amon-Re

•Therefore they had the divine right to rule

•This allowed them to move between god and their people

•People followed their orders because they believed they were from god

•No one would challenge the King’s authority and he could rule in relative peace

•Ma’at was the goddess and symbol of equilibrium of the universe and the king had to rule according to her principles

•The throne passed on to eldest son of Principal Queen who was usual the eldest daughter of the previous king therefore the king’s sister

•Pharaohs owned all the land – they had a hierarchy of government officials to help him rule

•Second to the Pharaohs were the scribes who would record the doings of the Pharaoh

MA’AT-symbol of the equilibrium

of the universe

Religion• The Egyptians were deeply

religious people

• religious roots were in the worship of nature deities – their first gods were in animal forms

• Those responsible for creation were the most important gods (Atum is the creator God)

• They later developed national gods around the Middle Kingdom (Amon- local god of Thebes; gods of Dead: Osiris, Anubis, Horus and Thoth)

Atum

Afterlife• Life and death was measured in accordance to Ma’at

• Death viewed as a new beginning

• Afterlife common to all, regardless of social status (preparation varied as well as goods stored in tombs)

• 2 Common Principles: 1) body preservation in a lifelike form2) the deceased must have items necessary for life in the afterworld

Text was read from the 'Book of the Dead' which was a collection of spells, charms, passwords, numbers and magical formulas for the use of the deceased in the afterlife.

This scene depicts what occurs after a person has died, according to the ancient Egyptians.

• panel of 14 judges• Weighing of the heart vs Ma’at

Mummification • Mummification focused on Egyptian belief of the importance of preserving the body

• Afterlife would be spent enjoying best of life experiences

• Body covered with natron and dried for up to 70 days

• Body wrapped in linen coated with resins and oils

• Middle Kingdom became customary to place a mask over the face

• Removal of organs (lungs, stomach, intestines, liver) in Canopic Jars were closed with stoppers fashioned in the shape of four heads -- human, baboon, falcon, and jackal - representing the four protective spirits called the Four Sons of Horus.

• brain was sucked out of the cranial cavity and thrown away because the Egyptian's thought it was useless.

Hieroglyphics

Rosetta StoneWhat is the Rosetta Stone? • The Rosetta Stone is a stone with writing on it

in two languages (Egyptian and Greek), using three scripts (hieroglyphic, demotic and Greek). It was carved in 196 BCE.

Why is it in three different scripts?

• The Rosetta Stone was written in all three scripts so that the priests, government officials and rulers of Egypt could read what it said.

When was the Rosetta Stone found? • The Rosetta Stone was found in 1799 by

French soldiers who were rebuilding a fort in Egypt (in a small village in Delta called Rosetta (Rashid)

What does the Rosetta Stone say? • The Rosetta Stone is a text written by a group

of priests in Egypt to honour the Egyptian pharaoh. It lists all of the things that the pharaoh had done that were good for the priests and the people of Egypt.

ArtIn Egyptian art, the translation of information was moreimportant than realism. In creating Egyptian wall art,

several rules must be followed.

• Rule 1: Profile: Head in profile. Side view of eye and eyebrow. Eye never looks straight ahead

• Rule 2: Colour: Men painted in red ochre. Women painted in yellow ochre

• Rule 3: Stance: Hips have a three-quarter turn. Chest and shoulders shown at their full width. Both feet, legs, arms and hands must be shown

• Rule 4: Scale: Size of figures reflects social status. Men are larger than women of equal status. Wives and children often in crouching position, with arms around the calves of the father

• Rule 5: Proportions: Hands and feet are often large compared to the rest of the body

Legal Traditions• Law was governed by religious principle of

Ma’at• Represented truth, righteousness and justice=

balance and order• Laws were applied equally to all classes

specifically protected the family (children and wives)

• Punishments could be quite severe (minor crimes had 100 lashed; rapist were castrated; corrupt officials had their hands amputated; crimes that resulted in a death sentence could have choice= devoured by a crocodile, suicide, burning alive)

Social Roles

Role of Women

• Well treated and had considerable legal rights compared to other civilizations

• Same legal rights as men (land, property, divorce)

• Left women to be economically independent

• Primary role was in domestic life

• Common title for a married women in ancient Egypt was “nebet per” meaning “the lady of the house”

• Bear and raise children

Role of Men

• Head of the family• Men could have numerous

wives but economically men had only 1 wife

• Labourers, craftsmen• Jobs were hereditary

Education

• Contributed to stability and continuity of Egypt• All children, regardless of social class, received some

education• Followed a moral and ethical guide• Goal for education was to ensure youth exhibited self

control and good manners• At 14, young boys followed fathers in jobs, and girls

learned from mothers in the household• Children of priests were schooled more formally• Literacy was stressed for government jobs• Education respected for creating a well rounded

individual

Map of Ancient Trade Routes From Mesopotamia to Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea

Economy

Wealth• Agriculture made up most of Egypt’s wealth – grain, vegetables, fruit,

cattle, goats, pigs and fowl• Fishing was also a major of food and wealth

Economy• Simple economy based on food production and minerals from desert• Because of their access to the Mediterranean their routes extended as far

as Northern Europe, subtropical Africa and the Near East• Trading was done by bartering • Grain, oil and wheat were used as the base of the bartering system• The extensive trading made Egypt a powerful influence on culture, art,

ideas and technology with the other areas• For example our current calendar was taken from the Romans who had

borrowed it from the Egyptians; no currency until the Romans