Ancient Egypt

Location: most of modern day Egypt – along the Nile River

Political Organization• 3000 BC unification under King Narmer

– first Egyptian dynasty centered at Memphis where Upper and lower Egypt meet.

• pharaoh =– pharaohs had absolute power and owned all land;

however, they were expected to behave morally and were judged on good deeds.

• theocracy = – pharaoh stood at center of religion, government, and army

government run by religious leaders

god-king (son of Horus),

Thutmose III1504-1450 B. C.

E.

Thutmose III1504-1450 B. C.

E.

Tutankhamon1336-1327 B.

C. E.

Tutankhamon1336-1327 B.

C. E.

Ramses II1279-1212 B. C.

E.

Ramses II1279-1212 B. C.

E.

Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt

Scorpion King or Narmer

Impact of Geography• Limestone and granite:

– long lasting buildings– long lasting art

• Nile River: – regular flooding = positive view of

life and afterlife– floods = great soil– year round water for irrigation

Fertile Nile River

Annual Flooding of Nile River

Impact of Climate• large deserts =

• dry climate =

Nile Irrigation - Shaduf

obstacles to invaders

must irrigate crops

Religion• polytheistic• Akhenaton forces Egyptians to worship one god (monotheism) temporarily• Pharaoh believed to rule even after death through his/her ka; therefore, tomb more important than earthly palace

belief in many gods

Osiris Isis Horus Osiris Isis Horus

Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

The Sacred Trinity

God of the Dead[reincarnation of dead]

God of the Dead[transports the dead]

Goddess of Marriage

Preparations for the Underworld

Preparations for the Underworld

Priests protected your KA, or soul-spirit

Priests protected your KA, or soul-spirit

ANUBIS weighs the dead person’s heart against a feather.

ANUBIS weighs the dead person’s heart against a feather.

1. Linen 6. Natron2. Sawdust 7. Onion3. Lichen 8. Nile Mud4. Beeswax 9. Linen Pads5. Resin 10. Frankinsense

1. Linen 6. Natron2. Sawdust 7. Onion3. Lichen 8. Nile Mud4. Beeswax 9. Linen Pads5. Resin 10. Frankinsense

Materials used in Mummification**all classes planned for their burials**

Preparation for Afterlife

Egyptian MummiesEgyptian Mummies

Seti I1291-1278 B.

C. E.

Seti I1291-1278 B.

C. E.Queen Tiye,

wife of Amenhotep II

1210-1200 B. C. E.

Queen Tiye, wife of

Amenhotep II1210-1200 B. C. E.

Ramses II1279-1212 B.

C. E.

Ramses II1279-1212 B.

C. E.

Journey to the Underworld

Journey to the Underworld

A boat for the journey is provided for a dead pharaoh

in his tomb.

A boat for the journey is provided for a dead pharaoh

in his tomb.

The dead travel on the “Solar Bark.”The dead travel on the “Solar Bark.”

Egyptian Book of the Dead

Egyptian Book of the Dead

The Final JudgementThe Final Judgement

Anubis Horus Osiris Anubis Horus Osiris

Inventions / Innovations• Hieroglyphics-

– originally pictographs, but eventually pictures represented words as well as sounds

• calendar developed (365 days and 12 months)• Math:

– system of written numbers– basic geometry (to measure floods)

• Science:– Set broken bones– Surgery– checked pulse

one of 3 writing systems developed by the Egyptians for economic, royal, and administrative info.

Hieroglyphics “Alphabet”Hieroglyphics “Alphabet” 24 “letters” + 700 phonetic

symbols 24 “letters” + 700 phonetic

symbols

Egyptian Math & Draftsmenship

Egyptian Math & Draftsmenship

11 1010 100100 10001000 10,00010,000 100,000100,000 1,000,0001,000,000

What number is this?

What number is this?

Architecture• Pyramids – tombs for pharaoh's afterlife• built by peasants when Nile was flooded (not slaves)

Stepped Pyramid at Saqqara

Stepped Pyramid at Saqqara

“Bent” Pyramid of King Sneferu

“Bent” Pyramid of King Sneferu

Giza Pyramid ComplexGiza Pyramid Complex

Plan of the Great Pyramid of Khufu

Plan of the Great Pyramid of Khufu

The Valley of the KingsThe Valley of the Kings

Champollion & the Rosetta Stone

Champollion & the Rosetta Stone

Archaeologist, Howard Carter (1922)

Archaeologist, Howard Carter (1922)

Entrance to King “Tut’s” Tomb

Entrance to King “Tut’s” Tomb

King Tutankhamon’s Death Mask

King Tutankhamon’s Death Mask

1336-1327 B. C. E.

1336-1327 B. C. E.

King TutankhamonKing Tutankhamon

King Tutankhamun’s Tomb

King Tutankhamun’s Tomb

Treasures From Tut’s Tomb

Treasures From Tut’s Tomb

The Valley of the Queens

The Valley of the Queens

Temple of Queen Hatshepsut

Temple of Queen Hatshepsut

1473-1458 B. C. E.

1473-1458 B. C. E.

The Ankh – The “Cross” of LifeThe Ankh – The “Cross” of Life

QueenNefertitiQueen

Nefertiti

Abu Simbel:Monument to Ramses II

Abu Simbel:Monument to Ramses II

1279-1213 B. C. E.

1279-1213 B. C. E.

Papyrus PlantPapyrus Plant

Hieratic Scroll PieceHieratic Scroll Piece

Papyrus a paper-like writing material created from the papyrus plant that grows on the banks of the Nile.

Other technological inventions Other technological inventions include:include:

- Make-up- Make-up- Toothpaste- Toothpaste- Medicine- Medicine

- Ships- Ships- Ramps, levers, and other - Ramps, levers, and other

engineering items needed to engineering items needed to construct the pyramidsconstruct the pyramids

Economic System• traded agricultural surplus: wheat barley (from Nile which provided silt)• mining of large mineral deposits of copper which used for bronze tools.

Gold and copper were mined by slaves which greatly enriched the royal treasury.

• had enough economic strength to support massive public works =

Construction projects financed by the government for the benefit and use of its citizens

Egyptian Society – based on a strict class system

- Hierarchy: a system in which people or things are placed in a series of levels with different importance or status

Scenes of Ancient EgyptianDaily Life

Scenes of Ancient EgyptianDaily Life

Ancient Egyptian Housing

Ancient Egyptian HousingMiddle Class

HomesMiddle Class Homes

Peasant Homes

Peasant Homes

Making Ancient Egyptian Beer

Making Ancient Egyptian Beer

Making Ancient Egyptian WineMaking Ancient Egyptian Wine

An Egyptian Woman’s “Must-Haves”

An Egyptian Woman’s “Must-Haves”

PerfumePerfume

WhigsWhigs

MirrorMirror