““Gift of the Nile”Gift of the Nile”--Herodotus 5--Herodotus 5thth century BC century BC

Ancient Egypt : Part 1Ancient Egypt : Part 1

What is it about Egypt that inspires odd behavior?

What about ancient Egypt is a mystery to you?

Just a few common beliefsJust a few common beliefs

Egyptians did not build the pyramids. They Egyptians did not build the pyramids. They were helped by aliens.were helped by aliens.

Pyramids contain secret messages encode in Pyramids contain secret messages encode in their dimensions.their dimensions.

King Tuts curse: all who opened his tomb died.King Tuts curse: all who opened his tomb died. Mummification brings immortality. Mummification brings immortality. Egyptians are descended from survivors of Egyptians are descended from survivors of

Lost Atlantis.Lost Atlantis. Egyptians had knowledge of medicine now lost Egyptians had knowledge of medicine now lost

Saqqara, Luxor, Thebes, Abu Simbal, Aswan, Cairo, Karnak, Memphis, Tanis…

Sources of historic Sources of historic information about Egyptinformation about Egypt

Tomb paintingsTomb paintings Egyptian inscriptionsEgyptian inscriptions The secular and The secular and

religious writings of religious writings of other nations other nations (Sumerian (Sumerian inscriptions for inscriptions for example, Greek, and example, Greek, and Roman, Judaic)Roman, Judaic)

MonumentsMonuments

ArchaeologyArchaeology Ancient historians Ancient historians

(Herodotus for (Herodotus for example)example)

GeoarchaeologyGeoarchaeology PaleoclimatologyPaleoclimatology PaleogeneticsPaleogenetics

Archaeology begins…Archaeology begins…

Interest in Egypt is ancient itself…Interest in Egypt is ancient itself… Writings of Herodotus…Writings of Herodotus… Colonial empires encouraged Colonial empires encouraged

antiquarian interest.antiquarian interest. Independently wealthy of colonial Independently wealthy of colonial

class dabbled in archaeology: class dabbled in archaeology: collected antiquities for estates.collected antiquities for estates.

Archaeology in the colonial period Archaeology in the colonial period (late 1760s -1880’s) consisted mainly (late 1760s -1880’s) consisted mainly of museums and universities of museums and universities competing with one another for competing with one another for treasures and large exhibit pieces. treasures and large exhibit pieces.

Systematic recovery of data was Systematic recovery of data was novel and the exception rather than novel and the exception rather than the rule until at least 1820. More the rule until at least 1820. More serious still after 1850.serious still after 1850.

Jean-Francois Champollion (1790-1832)

Rosetta stone

View Gift of the Nile @ View Gift of the Nile @ www.archaeologychannel.org

See also; Digital Egypt for See also; Digital Egypt for universitiesuniversities

Environmental changeEnvironmental change

250,000- 25,000 years ago Egypt 250,000- 25,000 years ago Egypt was more watered, had wide was more watered, had wide expanses of grasslandsexpanses of grasslands

Environmental changes brought Environmental changes brought about desertification starting 25,000 about desertification starting 25,000 years ago and continues today years ago and continues today throughout North Africa. Expected to throughout North Africa. Expected to intensify with global climate change.intensify with global climate change.

Neolithic settlementNeolithic settlement(Archaic Egypt)(Archaic Egypt)

In the region of the Fayum depression In the region of the Fayum depression from about 5200 BC. Characterized by from about 5200 BC. Characterized by farming and domesticated animals.farming and domesticated animals.

Centered on oasis agriculture.Centered on oasis agriculture.

Known as Maadi and Badarian cultures Known as Maadi and Badarian cultures through several phases 5500 BC - through several phases 5500 BC - 4200 BC4200 BC

Female figure. Fayum region 4500 BC

Badarian culture. Carved from hippopotamus incisor.

Similar figures from burials made of wood or clay.

Badarian pottery

Nubian pottery

4500 BC

3800-3100 BC

Sir W. Flinders PetrieWorked in Egypt from 1867-1933. Established the best chronology of pre-dynastic Egypt.

Chronology (abridged)Chronology (abridged)

Pre-Dynastic 3200-2920 BCPre-Dynastic 3200-2920 BC Early Dynastic 2920 – 2575 BCEarly Dynastic 2920 – 2575 BC

– Djoser (pyramid construction begins)Djoser (pyramid construction begins) Old Kingdom 2575 – 2134 BCOld Kingdom 2575 – 2134 BC

– Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure (the Great Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure (the Great Pyramids)Pyramids)

First intermediate 2134 – 2040 BC First intermediate 2134 – 2040 BC – (end of pyramids construction)(end of pyramids construction)

Narmer tablet depicting victorious King Menes

Crown of upper Nile

Crown of lower Nile

King Menes (Narmer)

Middle Kingdom 2040-1640 BCMiddle Kingdom 2040-1640 BC Second intermediate 1640-1550 BCSecond intermediate 1640-1550 BC

– Hyksos invasionHyksos invasion New Kingdom 1550- 1070 BCNew Kingdom 1550- 1070 BC

Thutmose III, Hatshepsut, Amnenhtep IIIThutmose III, Hatshepsut, Amnenhtep III

Akenaten, Tutankhamen, Ramses IIAkenaten, Tutankhamen, Ramses II

Late period 1070-332 BCLate period 1070-332 BC

Egypt under Greek RuleEgypt under Greek Rule

Persia conquers Egypt Persia conquers Egypt 525 BC525 BC

Alexander the Great Alexander the Great conquers Persia, then conquers Persia, then Egypt, and installs his Egypt, and installs his own General Ptolemy own General Ptolemy as Pharaoh. 332 BCas Pharaoh. 332 BC

Cleopatra descendant Cleopatra descendant of Ptolemyof Ptolemy

Early pre-DynasticEarly pre-Dynastic

Early period is poorly known from Early period is poorly known from archaeology. archaeology.

Large cities are built over earlier Large cities are built over earlier settlements.settlements.

These early cultures are known These early cultures are known principally by their burials, pottery, principally by their burials, pottery, and carved art pieces. and carved art pieces.

Archaeological evidence strongly Archaeological evidence strongly suggests that pre-Egyptian civilization suggests that pre-Egyptian civilization in Sudan (South Nubia) from about in Sudan (South Nubia) from about 7000 BC is the source of burial 7000 BC is the source of burial practices commonly associated with practices commonly associated with Egypt. Egypt.

These include, mummification, temple These include, mummification, temple tombs, pyramid-like structures, tombs, pyramid-like structures, Pharaohesque institutions. Also Pharaohesque institutions. Also source of first iron industry in Africa. source of first iron industry in Africa.

Separate kingdoms begin to emerge Separate kingdoms begin to emerge along Nile, each having a different along Nile, each having a different social structure and customs.social structure and customs.

Namer tablet depicts the unification Namer tablet depicts the unification of the two kingdoms following a long of the two kingdoms following a long period of conflictperiod of conflict

Menes conquers the northern Menes conquers the northern kingdom. Unifier of Egypt. kingdom. Unifier of Egypt.

Egypt dependant on NileEgypt dependant on Nile

Agriculture dependant on annual Agriculture dependant on annual floodsfloods

Rich soils deposited along the banks Rich soils deposited along the banks of river.of river.

Nile offered easy transportation Nile offered easy transportation route.route.

Overland at the Wadi Hamatt Overland at the Wadi Hamatt provided a link to the red Seaprovided a link to the red Sea

Arab proverbArab proverb

““Man fears time, yet Man fears time, yet time fears the time fears the

pyramids”pyramids”

Burial practices of the Burial practices of the rich and famousrich and famous

Nobility and high ranking officials Nobility and high ranking officials could afford elaborate death rituals could afford elaborate death rituals and tombs.and tombs.

Royal personages were given the Royal personages were given the greatest tombs and mortuary ritesgreatest tombs and mortuary rites

Common people were usually buried Common people were usually buried in mounds or underground family in mounds or underground family crypts.crypts.

Burial practices based on sacred Mastaba. Mastaba were large burial platforms.

Step pyramid, based on stacked mastaba design. These designs resemble Mesopotamian ziggurats.

Djoser complex

Age of Pyramid buildingAge of Pyramid building

The first pyramid The first pyramid complex: 2630 BCcomplex: 2630 BC

The great pyramid The great pyramid during the old during the old KingdomKingdom

Pyramids not Pyramids not constructed after constructed after 2300 BC2300 BC

Zawi Hawass

Bent Pyramid at Djozer

The Great Pyramid

““controversy”controversy” Those who cannot accept or refuse to Those who cannot accept or refuse to

believe the Egyptians built the pyramids believe the Egyptians built the pyramids have focused most of their attention and have focused most of their attention and efforts to the Great Pyramid. Bottom line efforts to the Great Pyramid. Bottom line premise: it is too large a monument to premise: it is too large a monument to have been built without aid of have been built without aid of sophisticated machinery or that the stones sophisticated machinery or that the stones were too heavy to be moved with the were too heavy to be moved with the technology available to the ancient technology available to the ancient Egyptians.Egyptians.

Therefore…Therefore…

The Egyptians did not build them. The Egyptians did not build them. The technology could only have been The technology could only have been provided by extraterrestrial provided by extraterrestrial assistance.assistance.

Two contrasting hypotheses concerning construction.

internal ramp models.

Zahi Hawass has made several major discoveries as Chief of Archaeology and Director of Antiquities and for Egypt.

Most recent research may rewrite what is known about the Great Pyramid.

The so-called air passages may not The so-called air passages may not be for air at all. The newly discovered be for air at all. The newly discovered hidden chambers may conceal actual hidden chambers may conceal actual tombs or other historic tresaures; but tombs or other historic tresaures; but how to investigate them?how to investigate them?

Kings buried in tomb complexes Kings buried in tomb complexes rather than pyramids.rather than pyramids.

Pyramids were built by Egyptians, Pyramids were built by Egyptians, not foreign slaves. Archaeological not foreign slaves. Archaeological studies have located “workers city” studies have located “workers city” and burial sites. Slave labor more and burial sites. Slave labor more common during New Kingdom.common during New Kingdom.

Readings : Feder chpapter 10Readings : Feder chpapter 10 Scarre: Chpater 10 pgs 371-381Scarre: Chpater 10 pgs 371-381

Complex at Cheops (Khufu) the Great Pyramid

Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure

Valley of the Kings

Burial Temple of Hatshepsut in Valley of the Kings

Interactive Web assignmentInteractive Web assignment

Visit Ancient Egypt Web site (Digital Visit Ancient Egypt Web site (Digital Egypt for Universities)Egypt for Universities)

Excellent source for more project Excellent source for more project images.images.

(Digital Egypt for Universities)(Digital Egypt for Universities)

http://http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/Welcome.htmlac.uk/Welcome.html

Solar boat at Cheops Pyramid

Egyptologist

Dr. Kamal el Mallakh

Solar boat entombed adjacent to Solar boat entombed adjacent to Great Pyramid.Great Pyramid.

Four in all.Four in all. Were these ever used?Were these ever used? How typical are these boats?How typical are these boats?

Sewn boat technology

Rowers

Fowling. Reed boat.

As the Bantu groups migrated they As the Bantu groups migrated they carried with them technology and carried with them technology and subsistence strategies affecting the subsistence strategies affecting the environment: iron tools and agriculture.environment: iron tools and agriculture.

New archaeological evidence suggests New archaeological evidence suggests that forest clearing for farming and that forest clearing for farming and cattle grazing increased the spread of cattle grazing increased the spread of malarial mosquitoes by creating ideal malarial mosquitoes by creating ideal habitat.habitat.

Bantu MigrationsBantu Migrations

Western cultures of Africa belonging Western cultures of Africa belonging to Niger-Congo language groups.to Niger-Congo language groups.

Agricultural communities settled Agricultural communities settled along fertile river valleys.along fertile river valleys.

Groups began sub-Saharan Groups began sub-Saharan expansion by 3000 BCE into east and expansion by 3000 BCE into east and southern Africa.southern Africa.

Bio-cultural evolutionBio-cultural evolution

Links: production of iron tools allowed Links: production of iron tools allowed Africans more productive and efficient Africans more productive and efficient farming—created ideal habitat for farming—created ideal habitat for mosquitoes—increased malarial mosquitoes—increased malarial infection rate—stimulated biological infection rate—stimulated biological adaptation in response—leading to adaptation in response—leading to sickle cell trait.sickle cell trait.

While sickle cell can kill, it also lends While sickle cell can kill, it also lends protection from malaria. protection from malaria. (Two edged sword)(Two edged sword)