1 Ancient Egypt Chapter 3, Lesson 4 Egyptian Culture Discovery School Video – Ancient Egypt Hieroglyphs Activity TN SPI 6.4.4, 6.5.3

2 Egyptian Government Egyptians established a monarch form of government led by a king called a pharaoh. The position of pharaoh was usually inherited by the eldest son, although some pharaohs were women. The pharaoh was the absolute ruler. He (or she) was not obliged to obey any laws, but he allowed other people to act for him and help him rule regions of Egypt.

3 Egyptian Government Scribes played an important role in Egyptian government. Not only did they advise the Pharaoh but they also recorded laws made by the pharaoh. The scribes were well educated and held great power. The vizier was a very powerful scribe and advisor to the pharaoh.

4 Pharaoh King – most powerful Viziers and The High Priest Political advisor Religious ceremony Royal Overseers A)Military B)Courts C) Farming District Governors 42 total Scribes Recorded events and kept track of tombs Governing Egypt

5 Queen Hatshepsut Queen Hatshepsut was the first wife and Queen of Thutmose II (half-brother) and on his death proclaimed herself Pharaoh, denying the king's son, her nephew, his inheritance. (tradition of marrying a royal woman) To support her cause she claimed the god Amon-Ra spoke, saying "Thou art the King, taking possession of the land." Because the king’s son was young, she served as his regent until he was old enough to rule. She dressed as a king, even wearing a false beard and the Egyptian people seem to have accepted this unprecedented behavior.

6 Queen Hatshepsut She remained in power for twenty years ( BC) and during this time the Egyptian economy flourished, she expanded trading relations and built magnificent temples as well as restoring many others. Eventually her nephew grew into a man and took his rightful place as pharaoh.

7 Queen Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el Bahri

8 Egyptian Economy The Egyptians had a barter economy. This meant they traded goods with one another. The Nile was the center of trade. There has never been evidence of stamped or coined money being used in Egypt. Taxes were collected from farmers in the form of grain or services offered to the pharaoh.

9 Pharaoh Upper Class Priests – Nobles Members of Pharaoh’s Court Middle Class Merchants – Skilled Workers Lower Class Largest Class Peasants and Farm Laborers Slaves *Usually Captured in Wars Small Class Rights included the freedom to own personal items, Inherit land from their masters, and could be set free Egyptian Social Classes

10 Peasant Class Even though peasants could own land, most worked the land of wealthier people. During the flood season, peasants worked on roads, temples, and other buildings. Harvest was a busy time. Men, women, and older children worked the fields from sunrise to sunset. Once harvest was over, they offered food and drink to the gods in thanks for their help.

11 Egyptian Writings Although scribes recorded much of what happened in Ancient Egypt, large murals within temples and tombs tell the story of Egypt.

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19 Hieroglyphs Hieroglyphs – picture symbols that stand for ideas or things The Egyptians used hieroglyphs to track the kingdoms wealth. As the empire grew, it became necessary to create more pictures for more complicated ideas. Egyptians used papyrus – an early form of paper made from reeds that grew in the Nile Delta rather than clay tablets. Hieroglyphic writing is like a picture puzzle.

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22 Rosetta Stone The meaning of Egyptian Hieroglyphic writing was lost until the discovery of an ancient stone near the city of Rosetta near the Nile Delta in The Rosetta Stone had three sections of scripts including hieroglyphs, Egyptian script, and Greek letters. In the 1820s, Jean Francois Champollian was able to decipher the script unlocking the meanings of Egyptian hieroglyphs.