Egypt’s Early Rulers c. 2600 BC began the Old Kingdom, lasting for about 400 years. Trade increased, a unified government and building of cities First Egyptian rulers were kings, later called pharaohs. Pharaoh means great house

Political and Religious Leader Theocracy is when the political leader and the religious leader are the same. Pharaoh appointed government officials, bureaucrats, to oversee his commands. Taxes were collected to pay for building projects Egyptians believed the pharaoh was the son of Re, Egyptian sun god. They had to make laws, fight battles, and carry out religious ceremonies. They were blamed if crops did not grow or disease spread.

Religion and Egyptian Life The Gods of Egypt Emphasis on the Afterlife Burial Practices Religion played a major role in Egyptian daily life. Egyptians were polytheistic. At first each city-state had their own god but eventually it became more organized. Temples were built to honor the gods. Gods appearance resembled both human and animal forms Famous Egyptian gods include: Re, Osiris, Isis, and Horus- go falcons!! Egyptians believed in the afterlife. They believed every person had a life form called “ka”. When a person died the spirit or “ka” left the body but lived at the burial site. When people died they were buried with things they thought they would need in the afterlife, like furniture, art, jewelry, clothes and food. Thoughts about the afterlife shaped burial practices. In order to keep the “ka” happy the body had to be well preserved. They embalmed the bodies and made them into mummies. This took weeks to do but was suppose to keep you happy in the afterlife. Only Egyptian elite, rich people had nice tombs or pyramids.

Book of the Dead The Book of the Dead contained prayers and magic spells to prepare for the afterlife. Osiris would greet you at the gate to the afterlife. If you knew the spell and lived a good life, you got in.

The Pyramids Burial sites played an important part in the Egyptian afterlife. Egyptians built amazing tombs to honor their rulers. Most pyramids and temples were built (with taxes collected from people) during the old kingdom, about 2000 years before Christ was born. Some are still standing today, The most famous are the Pyramids at Giza built for Khufu. The Egyptians were considered among the best engineers of the ancient world. They wanted to keep their pharaohs happy in the afterlife because they believed the pharaoh controlled everyone else’s afterlife.