Egyptian Civilization 1.06 Examine the indicators of civilization, including writing, labor specialization, cities, technology, trade, and political and cultural institutions Trace the development and assess the achievements of early river civilizations, including but not limited to those around the Huang-He, Nile, Indus, and Tigris-Euphrates rivers

The Nile River Begins in the heart of Africa Runs northward for more than 4,000 miles Longest river in the world Empties into the Mediterranean Sea Splits into 2 major branches forming the Nile Delta – Delta = Lower Egypt – Land upstream = Upper Egypt

Nile Floods Flooded yearly Referred to as the “miracle of the Nile” Left a deposit of mud that created rich farming soil Called the area of rich soil “Black Land” – Called the deserts beyond “Red Land”

Benefits of the Nile Allowed farmers to grow a surplus of food Made transportation faster Made communication easier

Natural Barriers These natural barriers kept the Ancient Egyptians relatively safe from invasions – Deserts – Red Sea – Cataracts (rapids) – Mediterranean Sea

Religion Polytheistic Two groups of gods came to have special meaning – Sun gods – Land/water gods

Sun Gods Sun seen as the source of life Sun god took different forms and names based on his role Egyptian rulers took the title “Son of Re” – Re was one of the sun god’s names

River & Land Gods Myth of Osiris and Isis – Osiris – brought civilization to Egypt – Seth – Osiris’s evil brother cut him into pieces and threw him in the Nile – Isis – Osiris’s wife found him and with the help of other gods put his body back together and brought him back to life Story became a symbol of resurrection/rebirth Dead began to be placed in tombs (kings in pyramids) tm tm

King Menes United Egypt around 3100 BC Created the first royal dynasty – Family of rulers whose right to rule is passed on within the family King of Egypt called the “King of Upper & Lower Egypt” Crown was a double crown

Egyptian Timeline The Old Kingdom – 2700 BC – 2200 BC – Age of prosperity & splendor – Pharaohs possessed absolute power – Pyramids & Sphinx built The Middle Kingdom – 2055 BC – 1650 BC – Nubia conquered – Pharaohs more concerned for the people

Egyptian Timeline Middle Kingdom – Ended with invasion of Hyksos Used horse drawn chariots Ruled Egypt for 100 years The New Kingdom – 1550 BC – 1070 BC – Became the most powerful state in Southwest Asia – Hatshepsut became one of most powerful women pharaohs – Other important pharaohs Akhenaten (tried rule under one sun god) Tutanankahmen Ramses II Cleopatra VII

Mummification Goal was to preserve the physical body after death Dried the body to keep it from rotting Performed in workshops run by priests Mainly for wealthy who could afford it

The Mummification Process 1.Removed liver, lungs, stomach & intestines – placed them in special jars 2.Removed brain through the nose 3.Covered the body with salt to absorb water 4.Filled the body with spices 5.Wrapped the body with layer of linen soaked in resin 6.Placed a lifelike mask over the head and shoulders 7.Sealed the mummy in a cask and placed it in the tomb **Entire process took about 70 days

Egyptian Society God King Pharaoh Upper Class – Had their own landed estates and provided much of their own wealth Nobles & Priests Middle Class – Some were involved in international trade must most lived in comfortable city homes Merchants, Artisans, Scribes, & Tax Collectors Lower Class – Farmed the land for the upper class. Paid taxes in the form of crops, lived in small villages and provided forced labor/military service Peasant Farmers

Family Life in Ancient Egypt Married young (12-14) Husband could have more than 1 wife if his first wife was childless Husband was master of the house Wives were in charge of the household and children’s education Women kept their property & inheritance Divorce was okay

Egyptian Writing Hieroglyphics – Emerged around 3000 BC – Used pictures & abstract forms – Used on temple walls & in tombs Hieratic Script – Drawings simplified suing dashes, strokes & curves – Used for the general needs of daily life – Written on papyrus

Art & Science Architecture – Pyramids – Temples – Monuments Art – Followed a particular style – Gave Egyptian art a distinctive look

Art & Science Mathematics – Helped in building projects – Able to calculate area & volume – Used geometry to survey flooded land Astrology – Developed a 365 day calendar Medical – Embalming led to vast knowledge about the body