The Cultures of Egypt

I. Egypt’s Economy An economy is the way a country’s goods and services are produced and distributed. Egypt’s economy was based on agriculture. Major products include:  barley  Emmer, type of wheat Experts in glassmaking, metalwork, and pottery Egyptians bartered, so they had a barter economy. Traded crops for luxury goods or stored surplus in warehouses Pharaohs ordered tax on everything which included goods, products, or even days of work. Almost all Egyptians worked on government building projects during flood season.

Quick Check: Cause and Effect: What caused people to barter in ancient Egypt? Egyptians did not use money.

II. Life After Death Believed they would have a new life after death Preserved the dead with minerals or special spices called resin Wrapped body in long strips of linens The dry air of the Egyptian desert has preserved the mummies. The mummy case contained pictures of gods and secret prayers.

Tombs contained everything for a new life including  Clothing  Food  weapons  Games (ex. Senet ) Amulets or charms protect mummies. Canopic jars preserved the liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines. These would be needed in their new life. Anubis - god of the dead  Chief priest wore a mask of this god

Quick Check: Cause and Effect: Why did Egyptians work so hard to prepare the dead? They believed that they would have a new life after they died.

Data Graphic: Answer the Think About Hieroglyphics question. 100 loaves in each basket

III. Life in Egypt The most important god was, the sun god and source of life The pharaoh was considered the child of Ra, and in turn became a god. Isis – protected people from harm and sickness

A. A Pharaoh’s Tomb Built large temples, palaces, and stone tombs called pyramids Best known pyramids are at Giza, near modern Cairo The Great Pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu is the largest.  Contains more than 2 million stone blocks  Largest in the world  Area = 10 football fields  Took about 20 years to complete  Worked on it 3 to 4 months each year, while the Nile floodwaters covered their fields

B. Egyptian Advances Great engineers and builders Built canals and dams for irrigation - increased the amount of land they could farm Canal for trade between Red Sea and the Nile River Egyptians were leaders in Math.  Used geometry  Developed methods for measuring weights, lengths, and distances  Worked with a base 10 system  Created fractions that they used with whole numbers to add, subtract, and divide

Astronomers identified 5 planets in our solar system without the use of a telescope Developed a 12 month calendar and 365 days Doctors learned about the human body  Check patient’s pulse and hearbeat for signs of illness  Could set broken bones and sew wounds closed  Performed brain surgery Scribes wrote medical papers to train doctors.  Described antibiotics Doctors used moldy bread or honey to cover infections. Dentists filled cavities.

Quick Check: Cause and Effect: How did the Egyptians increase the amount of land they could farm? They built canals and dams for irrigation.