Ancient Egypt:Ancient Egypt:“The Gift of the Nile”“The Gift of the Nile”

(Herodotus)(Herodotus)

Egyptian Civilization: Egyptian Civilization: Geography as DestinyGeography as Destiny

The NileThe Nile– Flows from South to NorthFlows from South to North

– Predictable annual floodingPredictable annual flooding

Stability and UnityStability and Unity– Protected by deserts on the Protected by deserts on the

east and westeast and west

– Developed in relative Developed in relative isolation into a prosperous isolation into a prosperous and stable kingdomand stable kingdom

Nile River

Sahara Desert

A View of Egypt by Satellite

A View of Egypt by Satellite

The Fertile Nile Valley

The Fertile Nile Valley

The Annual Flooding of the Nile

The Annual Flooding of the Nile

Nile IrrigationNile Irrigation

More Benefits of Nile RiverMore Benefits of Nile River• The river served as a highwayThe river served as a highway

– United villages along the riverUnited villages along the river– Travel was relatively easy on the riverTravel was relatively easy on the river– Currents carried barges downstream to the deltaCurrents carried barges downstream to the delta– Sails used to catch winds to return upstream Sails used to catch winds to return upstream

• Additional benefitsAdditional benefits– River attracted wildlife and provided fish for River attracted wildlife and provided fish for

hunting & sporthunting & sport– Papyrus grew along riverPapyrus grew along river

• Used to make paperUsed to make paper

Bordered on the south, east and west by the Bordered on the south, east and west by the Sahara Desert, and on the north by the sea, ancient Sahara Desert, and on the north by the sea, ancient

Egypt was protected from outside influences.Egypt was protected from outside influences.

Great Sahara DesertGreat Sahara Desert

Ancient Egyptian History

Ancient Egyptian HistoryPeriods Time Frame

Nile Culture Begins

3900 B. C. E.

Archaic 3100 – 2650 B. C. E.

Old Kingdom 2575 – 2134 B. C. E.

Middle Kingdom 2040 – 1640 B. C. E.

New Kingdom 1532 – 1070 B. C. E.

Late Period 750 – 332 B. C. E.

Greek Ptolemaic Era

332 – 30 B. C. E.

Roman Period 30 B. C. E. – 395 C. E.

Menes: Unifier of Upper & Lower Egypt

Menes: Unifier of Upper & Lower EgyptOriginally two kingdoms Originally two kingdoms

developed along the Niledeveloped along the Nile

Lower EgyptLower Egypt– Located along the northern NileLocated along the northern Nile– Good farmlandGood farmland– Access to copper mines in Sinai Access to copper mines in Sinai

PeninsulaPeninsula

Upper EgyptUpper Egypt– Located along the southern NileLocated along the southern Nile– King Menes (~3000 BCE) King Menes (~3000 BCE)

conquered lower Egypt, unifying conquered lower Egypt, unifying the kingdom and establishing the the kingdom and establishing the first dynastyfirst dynasty

– Capital at MemphisCapital at Memphis

Powerful pharaohs created a large empire that reached the Euphrates River.

Hatshepsut encouraged trade.

Tutankhamen: boy-king

Ramses II expanded Egyptian rule to Syria.

Egyptian power declined.

Large drainage project created arable farmland.

Traders had contacts with Middle East and Crete.

Corruption and rebellions were common.

Hyksos invaded and occupied the delta region.

Pharaohs organized a strong central state, were absolute rulers, and were considered gods.

Khufu and others built pyramids at Giza.

Power struggles, crop failures, and cost of pyramids contributed to the collapse of the Old Kingdom.

NEW KINGDOM (1532-1070 BCE)

MIDDLE KINGDOM

(2040-1640 BCE)

OLD KINGDOM(2575-2134 BCE)

Three Kingdoms of Ancient EgyptThree Kingdoms of Ancient Egypt

The Old KingdomThe Old Kingdom(2575-2134 BCE)(2575-2134 BCE)

Pharaohs organized a strong Pharaohs organized a strong central state, were absolute central state, were absolute rulers, and were considered rulers, and were considered

gods.gods.

Khufu and others built pyramids at Khufu and others built pyramids at Giza.Giza.

Power struggles, crop failures, and Power struggles, crop failures, and cost of pyramids contributed to cost of pyramids contributed to

the collapse of the Old Kingdom.the collapse of the Old Kingdom.

The Middle KingdomThe Middle Kingdom(2040-1640 BCE)(2040-1640 BCE)

• New capital Thebes in upper (southern) EgyptNew capital Thebes in upper (southern) Egypt

• ~1600 BC ruler became known as the pharaoh~1600 BC ruler became known as the pharaoh

• Came to an end when the Hyksos, a people Came to an end when the Hyksos, a people from western Asia, invaded. The Hyksos had from western Asia, invaded. The Hyksos had Bronze Weapons and Horse Drawn ChariotsBronze Weapons and Horse Drawn Chariots

• The Hyksos ruled Egypt The Hyksos ruled Egypt for 110 yearsfor 110 years

New KingdomNew Kingdom(1532-1070 BCE)(1532-1070 BCE)

• Early female ruler Hatshepsut (1473-1458 BCE)Early female ruler Hatshepsut (1473-1458 BCE)– Had a tomb built as part of a major building projectHad a tomb built as part of a major building project– Succeeded by stepson, Thutmose IIISucceeded by stepson, Thutmose III

• Thutmose established Egypt as an empire, gains wealthThutmose established Egypt as an empire, gains wealth

• Through trade and conquest, Egyptians learned Through trade and conquest, Egyptians learned other ideas and blend cultures (movement)other ideas and blend cultures (movement)

New Kingdom (cont.)New Kingdom (cont.)(1532-1070 BCE)(1532-1070 BCE)

• Amenhotep IV – aka Akhenaten (1353–1335 BCE)Amenhotep IV – aka Akhenaten (1353–1335 BCE)– makes many unsettling changesmakes many unsettling changes– Makes Egyptians monotheisticMakes Egyptians monotheistic

• Aten the sun godAten the sun god– Claims to be equal to AtenClaims to be equal to Aten– Weak ruler, lost part of empireWeak ruler, lost part of empire– Priests & soldiers unhappy w/ changesPriests & soldiers unhappy w/ changes– Egypt returned to old ways after his deathEgypt returned to old ways after his death

• Tutankhamen (1333–1324 BCE)Tutankhamen (1333–1324 BCE)• Ramses II (1290-1224 BCE)Ramses II (1290-1224 BCE)

– Long rule: 66 yearsLong rule: 66 years– Many children (52 sons, plus daughters…)Many children (52 sons, plus daughters…)– Had many temples and tombs builtHad many temples and tombs built– May have been the pharaoh associated with MosesMay have been the pharaoh associated with Moses

Mummy of Ramses II

Tut

Pharaohs organized centralized state

Built enormous tombs, the pyramids

Power struggles, crop failures and cost of pyramids caused collapse

Corrupt government suffered frequent rebellions

Land drained for farming

Hittites invaded and conquered

Pharaohs created a large empire

Traded with lands along eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea

Nubians, then others invaded

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Egyptian Social Hierarchy

Egyptian Social Hierarchy

Some Famous Egyptian Pharaohs

Some Famous Egyptian Pharaohs

Thutmose III

1504-1450 B. C. E.

Thutmose III

1504-1450 B. C. E. Ramses II

1279-1212 B. C. E.

Ramses II1279-1212 B.

C. E.

Tutankhamon

1336-1327 B. C. E.

Tutankhamon

1336-1327 B. C. E.

Egyptian Priestly ClassEgyptian Priestly Class

Egyptian NobilityEgyptian Nobility

Egyptian ScribeEgyptian Scribe

Scenes of Ancient EgyptianDaily Life

Scenes of Ancient EgyptianDaily Life

Women in Egyptian SocietyWomen in Egyptian Society

• Status of WomenStatus of Women– Relatively high status for that time in historyRelatively high status for that time in history– Could buy and sell propertyCould buy and sell property– Could seek divorce (although rare)Could seek divorce (although rare)– Property inherited through female lineProperty inherited through female line– Role of wife & mother importantRole of wife & mother important– Girls did not attend schoolGirls did not attend school– A woman’s status increased A woman’s status increased

when she had childrenwhen she had children– Sometimes women considered property,Sometimes women considered property,

but were treated kindlybut were treated kindly– Queen might rule with pharaohQueen might rule with pharaoh– If pharaoh had more than one wife, the first wife was most If pharaoh had more than one wife, the first wife was most

importantimportant• Her son would be the next pharaohHer son would be the next pharaoh

An Egyptian Woman’s “Must-Haves”

An Egyptian Woman’s “Must-Haves”

PerfumePerfume

WhigsWhigs

MirrorMirror

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

EducationEducation• Original purpose of schools was Original purpose of schools was

to train prieststo train priests• Subjects taughtSubjects taught

– Reading & writingReading & writing– MathMath– Religious ceremonies & ritualsReligious ceremonies & rituals

• Eventually temple schools Eventually temple schools provided more general educationprovided more general education

• Usually schools attended only by Usually schools attended only by the wealthythe wealthy

• Girls did not attend schoolGirls did not attend school– Taught domestic skills at homeTaught domestic skills at home

• Students took notes on scraps of Students took notes on scraps of pottery - pottery - Papyrus was expensive & Papyrus was expensive & only used by advanced studentsonly used by advanced students

• Strict disciplineStrict discipline

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?

Papyrus PaperPapyrus Paper

Papyrus PlantPapyrus Plant

Hieratic Scroll Piece

Hieratic Scroll Piece

Champollion & the Rosetta Stone

Champollion & the Rosetta Stone

1822- French scholar Jean Chapollion cracked the code of hieroglyphics because he could read Greek

Hieroglyphic

“Cartouche”

Hieroglyphic

“Cartouche”

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

symbols 24 “letters” + 700 phonetic

symbols

Egyptian Gods & Goddesses:

“The Sacred ‘Trinity’”

Egyptian Gods & Goddesses:

“The Sacred ‘Trinity’”

Osiris Isis Horus Osiris Isis Horus

The Circle of LifeThe Circle of LifeOsirisOsiris

– God of the underworld God of the underworld – Judges the deadJudges the dead– Rise & fall of the Nile believed to Rise & fall of the Nile believed to

be the death & rebirth of Osirisbe the death & rebirth of OsirisSetSet

– God of chaos (desert) who killed God of chaos (desert) who killed Osiris Osiris

– Believed to cause failed harvestBelieved to cause failed harvestIsisIsis

– Wife of OsirisWife of Osiris– Brought Osiris back to lifeBrought Osiris back to life

– Nile floods and brings reneweNile floods and brings renewed d lifelife

Religion and GovernmentReligion and Government• About 2,000 gods in About 2,000 gods in

the Egyptian pantheonthe Egyptian pantheon• All powerful kings were All powerful kings were

believed to be human believed to be human incarnations of godsincarnations of gods

• Only the king could Only the king could express the ultimate express the ultimate truth and justice, or truth and justice, or ma’atma’at

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.

Preparation for the Afterlife

Preparation for the Afterlife

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

Shabtis: The Pharaoh’s Servants

in the Afterlife

Shabtis: The Pharaoh’s Servants

in the Afterlife

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

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.

Ankhenaton: First Monotheist?

Ankhenaton: First Monotheist?

1353-1335 B. C. E.

1353-1335 B. C. E.

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

QueenNefertiti

(Wife of Ankhenaton)

QueenNefertiti

(Wife of Ankhenaton)

Abu Simbel:Monument to Ramses II

Abu Simbel:Monument to Ramses II

1279-1213 B. C. E.

1279-1213 B. C. E.

Who Are These Strange People?

Who Are These Strange People?

Routes of the “Sea Peoples”

Routes of the “Sea Peoples”

The end of the Bronze Age!The end of the Bronze Age!

Comparison of Mesopotamia Comparison of Mesopotamia and Egyptand Egypt

Mesopotamia Egypt

Agriculture +“Land between the rivers” (Tigris and Euphrates forms Fertile Crescent

+Artificial irrigation

+”Gift of the Nile”

+Artificial irrigation

Specialization +Pottery, textiles, woodworking, leather, brick making, stonecutting, masonry

+Pottery, textiles, woodworking, leather production, stonecutting, masonry

Cities -Numerous, densely populated city-states (Ur and Babylon)

-Fewer cities with high centralization (Memphis and Thebes)

Social Hierarchy -Noble class

-Patriarchal

+Slaves

-Absolute authority of the pharaoh made a noble class unnecessary (had bureaucrats instead)

-Patriarchal, but the presence of Queen Hatsheput may indicate greater opportunities for women

+Slaves

Comparison of Mesopotamia Comparison of Mesopotamia and Egypt (cont.)and Egypt (cont.)

Mesopotamia Egypt

Religion and Education -Polytheism

-afterlife was bad

-Polytheism, but brief period of monotheism under Akhentan

-Afterlife and judgment - could be good or bad (mummification)

New Technologies -Superior in metallurgy -Papyrus, shipbuilding, pyramids

Economic exchange -Trade by land and water -Trade principally by water along the Nile

-Trade more important because Egypt lacked natural resources beside the Nile

Art and Writing -Cuneiform -Hieroglyphs (more pictorial than cuneiform)