Egypt, Part 3Egypt, Part 3

Kingdom Along the Nile, Kingdom Along the Nile, OnlineOnline

Archaic Kingdom (3000-2575 Archaic Kingdom (3000-2575 BC)BC)• First known pharaoh: Horus AhaFirst known pharaoh: Horus Aha• Consolidation in which pharaohs assumed role of Consolidation in which pharaohs assumed role of

divine kingsdivine kings• Centralized authority over labor, food storage, and Centralized authority over labor, food storage, and

taxationtaxation• Sponsored spectacular feasts/ritualsSponsored spectacular feasts/rituals• Translated into large-scale, well-designed Translated into large-scale, well-designed

architecture of which the pyramids were examplesarchitecture of which the pyramids were examples• Introduction of hieroglyphic writingIntroduction of hieroglyphic writing• One function: To propagate the pharaonic religion at One function: To propagate the pharaonic religion at

the expense of local cultsthe expense of local cults• Scribes held enormous power, as the few who could Scribes held enormous power, as the few who could

read and writeread and write

Hieroglyphic WritingHieroglyphic Writing

• Definition: Writing system in whichDefinition: Writing system in which• Pictorial symbols are used to Pictorial symbols are used to • Convey particular sound, object, and/or ideaConvey particular sound, object, and/or idea• Original known use: accountingOriginal known use: accounting• Gunter Dreyer found the oldest evidence of Gunter Dreyer found the oldest evidence of

Egyptian writingEgyptian writing• 200 small bone and ivory tags attached to 200 small bone and ivory tags attached to

containers holding linen and oilcontainers holding linen and oil• Attributed to a leader called Scorpion I Attributed to a leader called Scorpion I • Date: 5200 BPDate: 5200 BP• Location: Abydos, 250 miles below CairoLocation: Abydos, 250 miles below Cairo

Hieroglyphic WritingHieroglyphic Writing

• Note that hieroglyphs would stand for a soundNote that hieroglyphs would stand for a sound

• Still relied on pictographic writingStill relied on pictographic writing

Complexity of Hieroglyphic Complexity of Hieroglyphic WritingWriting

• There is some indication that There is some indication that hieroglyphs were more important for hieroglyphs were more important for recording rule and kinshiprecording rule and kinship

• than the were for economic transactionsthan the were for economic transactions• Over time, hieroglyphic writing became Over time, hieroglyphic writing became

more and more complexmore and more complex• Writing was reserved for the scribes, Writing was reserved for the scribes,

ranked third below the pharaoh and ranked third below the pharaoh and priestspriests

Old Kingdom (2575-Old Kingdom (2575-2134)2134)• Further consolidation of empireFurther consolidation of empire• Construction of PyramidsConstruction of Pyramids• Zoser (Djoser): stepped pyramid at SaqqaraZoser (Djoser): stepped pyramid at Saqqara• Khufu (Cheops) of Giza: smooth-sided Khufu (Cheops) of Giza: smooth-sided

pyramid, largest in the worldpyramid, largest in the world• Lesser pyramidsLesser pyramids• Khafre (Chephren)Khafre (Chephren)• Menkaure (Mycerinus)Menkaure (Mycerinus)• Sphinx (likeness of Khafre)Sphinx (likeness of Khafre)• Complex covered 25 miles on the western Complex covered 25 miles on the western

side of the Nileside of the Nile

Pyramids: AnalysisPyramids: Analysis

• Pharaonic institution probably the most Pharaonic institution probably the most successful of cults successful of cults

• Pharaohs were divine, capable of Pharaohs were divine, capable of controlling Nile flood pattern of Nile, rise controlling Nile flood pattern of Nile, rise of sun, and other natural forcesof sun, and other natural forces

• Source of law (no codified law) and top of Source of law (no codified law) and top of a complex bureaucracya complex bureaucracy

• At death, said to dwell in the tomb while At death, said to dwell in the tomb while his double moved on to the other worldhis double moved on to the other world

• Pyramids was the divine house of the Pyramids was the divine house of the rulerruler

• Never meant for any ritual purposeNever meant for any ritual purpose

Pyramids: ConstructionPyramids: Construction

• Function in all locations: to inspire awe among Function in all locations: to inspire awe among populationpopulation

• Constructed during flood seasonConstructed during flood season• Reinforced power by feeding the buildersReinforced power by feeding the builders• Egyptian pyramids were build in one continuous Egyptian pyramids were build in one continuous

process of solid stone blocksprocess of solid stone blocks• Constructed, as in Mesoamerica, in a four-sided Constructed, as in Mesoamerica, in a four-sided

design design • Contained passageways and tombs, including a fake Contained passageways and tombs, including a fake

chamberchamber• Like all pyramids, involvesLike all pyramids, involves• Massive inputs of manpowerMassive inputs of manpower• Sophisticated planning and organizationSophisticated planning and organization

Other PyramidsOther Pyramids

• Most New World pyramids were constructed Most New World pyramids were constructed in stages (as were Near Eastern ziggurats)in stages (as were Near Eastern ziggurats)

• Teotihuacan: Rubble covered with stone Teotihuacan: Rubble covered with stone facadesfacades

• Base was as wide as Khufu’s pyramidBase was as wide as Khufu’s pyramid• Half as highHalf as high• Moche: Adobe bricks, roughly rectangularMoche: Adobe bricks, roughly rectangular• Cahokia: Earthen moundsCahokia: Earthen mounds• Monk’s Mound is largest in North AmericaMonk’s Mound is largest in North America• After Cholula and Pyramid of the SunAfter Cholula and Pyramid of the Sun

First Intermediate Period First Intermediate Period (2134-2040)(2134-2040)

• The Old Kingdom underwent declineThe Old Kingdom underwent decline

• Long drought—probably damaged pharaonic Long drought—probably damaged pharaonic divinity claimsdivinity claims

• High cost of pyramid construction in labor High cost of pyramid construction in labor and resourcesand resources

• Dominance by warring regional kingdomsDominance by warring regional kingdoms

• Provincial powers increasedProvincial powers increased

• Smaller tombs constructed in various Smaller tombs constructed in various localities. localities.

Middle Kingdom (2040-1640 Middle Kingdom (2040-1640 BC)BC)• Thebes of Upper Egypt risesThebes of Upper Egypt rises• PharaohsPharaohs• Made fewer claims to divinityMade fewer claims to divinity• More approachable than past pharaohsMore approachable than past pharaohs• Less despoticLess despotic• Increased efficiencyIncreased efficiency• Expanded irrigation systemsExpanded irrigation systems• Stockpiled granariesStockpiled granaries• Other ChangesOther Changes• Expanded overseas tradeExpanded overseas trade• Secured Egypt’s bordersSecured Egypt’s borders• Effectiveness of leadership still relied on personal Effectiveness of leadership still relied on personal

attributesattributes

Second Intermediate Period Second Intermediate Period (1640-1530 BC)(1640-1530 BC)• Succession disputes eruptedSuccession disputes erupted• Thousands of Asians (Hyksos) invaded Thousands of Asians (Hyksos) invaded

Lower EgyptLower Egypt• Divided again into Upper and Lower EgyptDivided again into Upper and Lower Egypt• Lower Egypt under traditional pharaohsLower Egypt under traditional pharaohs• Upper Egypt under HyksosUpper Egypt under Hyksos• Hyksos introduced new technologyHyksos introduced new technology• BronzeBronze• Horse-drawn chariotsHorse-drawn chariots• New weaponsNew weapons

New Kingdom (1530-1075 New Kingdom (1530-1075 BC) BC) • Ahmose the Liberator created militaristic Ahmose the Liberator created militaristic

statestate

• Imperial power lay between the Asians to Imperial power lay between the Asians to the north and Africans to the souththe north and Africans to the south

• Thebes again capitalThebes again capital

• Amun again worshipped as sun godAmun again worshipped as sun god

• Temple built at Karnak, west bank of NileTemple built at Karnak, west bank of Nile

• Valley of Kings arose at that siteValley of Kings arose at that site

Pharaohs After AhmosePharaohs After Ahmose

• New Kingdom after AhmoseNew Kingdom after Ahmose

• Akhenaten: the “heretic” who Akhenaten: the “heretic” who worshipped the sun disk Aten’worshipped the sun disk Aten’

• Aten was the sole god: precedent Aten was the sole god: precedent of monotheismof monotheism

• Tutankhamun: “boy king” who Tutankhamun: “boy king” who lasted 10 years—tomb of “King lasted 10 years—tomb of “King Tut”; advisors restored old orderTut”; advisors restored old order

• Ramses II engaged in military Ramses II engaged in military expansion; lost in Syria to Hittitesexpansion; lost in Syria to Hittites

Late Period (1070 BC-30 BC)Late Period (1070 BC-30 BC)

• A period of political weaknessA period of political weakness

• Attacks from Nubians to south Attacks from Nubians to south (controlled Egypt during 8(controlled Egypt during 8thth Century BC Century BC

• Invasions by Assyrians and PersiansInvasions by Assyrians and Persians

• Alexander the Great takes over Egypt in Alexander the Great takes over Egypt in 332 BC—rule by Ptolemy I and his 332 BC—rule by Ptolemy I and his successorssuccessors

• Roman conquest in 30 BCRoman conquest in 30 BC

Egypt and Mesopotamia: Egypt and Mesopotamia: Subsistence BaseSubsistence Base• Subsistence baseSubsistence base• Both based on irrigationBoth based on irrigation• Both relied on staples such as wheat Both relied on staples such as wheat

and barleyand barley• Egypt had steadier water supply than Egypt had steadier water supply than

Mesopotamia\Mesopotamia\• Tigris and Euphrates were subjected Tigris and Euphrates were subjected

to droughtto drought

Egypt and Mesopotamia: Egypt and Mesopotamia: Government and LawGovernment and Law

• Mesopotamia:Mesopotamia:

• Priest kings represented the gods; they were Priest kings represented the gods; they were not divine beings themselvesnot divine beings themselves

• Codified Law, solidified by Hammurabi’s timeCodified Law, solidified by Hammurabi’s time

• EgyptEgypt

• Divine PharaohsDivine Pharaohs

• Law derived from PharaohsLaw derived from Pharaohs

• Precedent was based on their personal Precedent was based on their personal decisiondecision

Egypt and Mesopotamia: Egypt and Mesopotamia: WritingWriting

• Mesopotamia: Ideographic cuneiformMesopotamia: Ideographic cuneiform

• These consisted of wedgesThese consisted of wedges

• The symbols were not phoneticThe symbols were not phonetic

• Egypt: Pictographic hieroglyphicsEgypt: Pictographic hieroglyphics

• Some of the pictographs represented Some of the pictographs represented consonants and vowels of spoken consonants and vowels of spoken languagelanguage

Egypt and Mesopotamia: Egypt and Mesopotamia: Architectural Architectural MegastructuresMegastructures

• Near East: Multifunctional zigguratsNear East: Multifunctional ziggurats• Ritual but also administrative centersRitual but also administrative centers• Egypt: Funerary pyramidsEgypt: Funerary pyramids• Sole purpose: to house the pharaohSole purpose: to house the pharaoh

ConclusionConclusion

• Egypt was one of the most stable kingdoms in the Egypt was one of the most stable kingdoms in the worldworld

• There were few wars in its historyThere were few wars in its history• The regularity of the Nile in water supply and The regularity of the Nile in water supply and

seasonal flood was the ecological factorseasonal flood was the ecological factor• The society was equally stable, being isolated and The society was equally stable, being isolated and

yet well endowed with water, fertile soil, and yet well endowed with water, fertile soil, and resources such as workable stone and precious resources such as workable stone and precious metals.metals.

• Mesopotamia, provides a stark contrast with Mesopotamia, provides a stark contrast with EgyptEgypt