Egypt: The central role of religion in Egyptian life – did religion help them deal with change? CHW3M Feb. 2018

Main Theme #1 Conservativeness, Stability Prefer tradition over change Like things to remain generally the same However, changes did happen HTC = continuity and change (they are not opposites; they can occur at the same time) Social hierarchy reflects conservativeness – little mobility (ability to move up)

Social Hierarchy Government officials Artisans Social Class Pyramid Review, Oct. 2012, http://www.mysocialstudiesteacher.com/wiki/index.php?title=Social_Class_Pyramid_-_Review (Feb. 12, 2013).

Main Theme #2 Religion is everything Polytheistic (have many gods) like Mesopotamia State religion – ruler deified (seen as a god) Afterlife central – many rituals, spells, superstitions, prayers, amulets to help you get in

Weighing of the Heart during the Ka Recitation Adam Gabbatt, “British Museum to Recreate Egyptian Journey to the Afterlife”, The Guardian, June 17, 2010, http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2010/jun/17/british-museum-egyptian-afterlife-exhibition (Feb. 12, 2013).

Weighing of the Heart Osiris = Judge of the Dead Maat = balancer of the scale If heart weighs true  afterlife If heart too heavy  devourer tears the heart to shreds and there is no afterlife

Ka Recitation HTC = primary source evidence Homage to thee, O great God, Lord of Maati! I have come unto thee, O my Lord, and I have brought myself hither that I may behold thy beauties. I know thee, I know thy name, I know the names of the forty-two Gods who live with thee in the Hall of Maati...I have not committed sins against men. I have not opposed my family and kinfolk. I have not acted fraudently in the Seat of Truth. I have not known men who were of no account. I have not defrauded the humble man of his property. I have not done what the gods abominate. I have not vilified a slave to his master. I have not inflicted pain. I have not caused anyone to go hungry. I have not made any man to weep. I have not committed murder....I have not encroached on the fields (of others). I have not added to the weights of the scales...I have not driven the cattle away from their pastures. I have not snared the geese in the goose-pens of the gods. I have not caught fish with bait made of the bodies of the same kind of fish. I have not stopped water when it should flow...I am pure, I am pure. I am pure... Exploring Ancient World Cultures, Essays on Ancient Egypt, Deborah Howard, “The Egyptian Culture Reflected in Worship”, 1996, http://eawc.evansville.edu/essays/howard.htm (Feb. 12, 2013).

Ka Recitation Format Opening dedicated to gods Negative confession of bad things you have not done in your: Relationship with gods Relationship with humans Relationship with nature Respectful closing

Main Theme #3 Centralized state One ruler, the pharaoh, had control over all of Egypt (Upper and Lower) Unified for most of its history Unlike Mesopotamia Lower Egypt Upper Egypt