The Government of Egypt

Pharaohs and Dynasties and Gods – Oh, My!

Who Rules? The ruler of Ancient Egypt

is called a PHARAOH Another word for King

They have a monarchy One person rules Passed from father to son They have absolute

power – they control EVERYTHING! “Updating you Phacebook?”

Who died and made you king? ...

Dynasties – a bunch of rulers from the same family Your grandpa was king, then your dad, now

you!

There were dynasties in Egypt from 3100 BC- 332 BC

Pharaohs carried a power that did not “vanquish at night time, or with death”

When Pharaoh did die – he was no longer “Horus” Being “Horus” passed to his son

Allowed for dynasties to rule for long periods of time

Ponder this one …. When a pharaoh dies his “godliness” is

passed to his son In a sense, the son is his father’s

reincarnation (his dad is reborn into the body of the son)

When a pharaoh takes over for his father, his mother (the previous pharaoh’s wife) is, in a sense, his wife as well The son (in some sense) is his father

Before Pharaohs…Lots of Fighting – land,

resources, prideUpper Egypt vs. Lower

EgyptKing Narmer (of UE)won

and combined the kingdoms… and the crowns

Who da god? You da god!

Early pharaohs carried a shepherd’s crook to show he would lead and care for people Like a shepherd leads and cares for sheep

Soon they actually thought of him as a god - Horus Thought pharaoh made the Nile Flood =

crops!Had to keep pleasing pharaoh/god!

It wasn’t until major famine/civil war that people realized – the king couldn’t control everything – he must not be a god!

Out with the Old and in with the Nubia!

Old Kingdom Spent time …

Trading with NubiaEastern Mediterranean for

wood

People began to challenge the rule of the pharaohs and they were over thrown

Out with the Old and in with the Nubia! Middle Kingdom

Spent time …Public projects

BuildingsIrrigation ditches

Conquering Nubia

Lost control because of foreign invaders – HyksosBetter weapons and tacticsBut…

Egyptian princes planned rebellionBeat the invaders with their own weapons!

Out with the Old and in with the Nubia! New Kingdom – “Golden Age”

Spent time building their empireCreated large armies – prevent conquering

Took back control of NubiaWent up to Canaan – where the Hyksos

Big no-no!Amenhotep – tried to change people from poly

to monotheismAs soon as he died – the people rebelled and

went back to worshipping their old gods

End of Egyptian Rule… No Kingdom

Civil War (war between people in same country) made Egypt weak

Conquered by the Greeks (Macedonia)

Conquered by the RomansWas controlled by foreigners for

the next 2000 years