Egypt “Gift of the Nile”

Ancient Egypt

Chronology* (all dates BCE) c : Early Dynastic c : Early Dynastic –Dynasties 1-2 c : Old Kingdom c : Old Kingdom –Dynasties 3-6 c : First Intermediate Period c : First Intermediate Period –Dynasties 7-10 c : Middle Kingdom c : Middle Kingdom –Dynasties * This basic framework was provided by Manetho, an Egyptian priest and historian of the early 3rd century BCE.

Chronology (cont.) c : Second Intermediate Period c : Second Intermediate Period –Dynasties c : New Kingdom c : New Kingdom –Dynasties c : Post-Imperial Period c : Post-Imperial Period –Dynasties 21-31

“gift of the Nile” “gift of the Nile” –Herodotus –cf. Mesopotamia, India. China, etc. The geographical imperative

Hymn to the Nile Hail to you, O Nile, that issues from the earth and comes to keep Egypt alive! Hail to you, O Nile, that issues from the earth and comes to keep Egypt alive! He that waters the meadows that Re created…. He that waters the meadows that Re created…. He that makes to drink the desert and the place distant from water…. He that makes to drink the desert and the place distant from water….

Natural bounty Right: hunting birds Right: hunting birds

Agricultural plenty

Hymn to the Pharaoh He has come unto us and has united the Two Lands…. He has come unto us and has united the Two Lands…. He has come unto us and has brought the Black Land under his sway; he has apportioned to himself the Red Land…. He has come unto us and has brought the Black Land under his sway; he has apportioned to himself the Red Land…. He has come unto us and has made Egypt to live; he has banished its suffering…. He has come unto us and has made Egypt to live; he has banished its suffering….

Pharaohs (cont.) Akhenaten (c BCE) Hatshepsut (d. c BCE)

Pharaohs (cont.) Battle of Kaddesh Battle of Kaddesh –Hittites Sea Peoples Sea Peoples Ramses III c BCE) Ramses II (c BCE)

Monumental architecture Right: Zoser’s step pyramid (c BCE) Right: Zoser’s step pyramid (c BCE) Below: the great pyramids at Giza Below: the great pyramids at Giza

Architecture (cont.) Anatomy of a pyramid Anatomy of a pyramid

War and weapons

War and weapons (cont.)

The afterlife

Writing Early hieroglyphics