Egypt Presentation by Matthew Blevins

Politics Tied to religious beliefs Tied to religious beliefs Pharaohs were the rulers of Egypt Pharaohs were the rulers of Egypt Pharaoh’s “will” was law Pharaoh’s “will” was law Penalties for disloyalty and defiance, were severe Penalties for disloyalty and defiance, were severe Signs from the gods were valued above the word of a pharaoh Signs from the gods were valued above the word of a pharaoh Pharaohs were responsible for collecting the local taxes, maintaining law and order, raising troops and organizing workers Pharaohs were responsible for collecting the local taxes, maintaining law and order, raising troops and organizing workers All government officials, ranging from personal staff to imperial officials, were subject to the approval of the pharaoh All government officials, ranging from personal staff to imperial officials, were subject to the approval of the pharaoh

Politics Continued The highest-ranking official was the vizier, who served as the pharaoh's deputy in all the affairs of state The highest-ranking official was the vizier, who served as the pharaoh's deputy in all the affairs of state This office was usually was held by a prince of royal blood This office was usually was held by a prince of royal blood Office was in charge of almost all administrative affairs from collecting taxes to overseeing judges, scribes and treasury officials Office was in charge of almost all administrative affairs from collecting taxes to overseeing judges, scribes and treasury officials During the Eighteenth Dynasty, the office became very complicated and two viziers were appointed, one for Upper Egypt and one for Lower Egypt During the Eighteenth Dynasty, the office became very complicated and two viziers were appointed, one for Upper Egypt and one for Lower Egypt By this time, the vizier could be a commoner who applied for the position By this time, the vizier could be a commoner who applied for the position Ancient Egypt was divided into 42 provinces, called nomes Ancient Egypt was divided into 42 provinces, called nomes Each of these local areas was governed by an official called a nomarch, appointed by the pharaoh Each of these local areas was governed by an official called a nomarch, appointed by the pharaoh

Economics Trade started to happen in the fourth century B.C Trade started to happen in the fourth century B.C The Egyptians traded with countries around the Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea, and the Red Sea The Egyptians traded with countries around the Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea, and the Red Sea Items brought from other countries were goods like silver, iron, cedar logs, horses, ivory, copper, cattle, leopard skins, and spices Items brought from other countries were goods like silver, iron, cedar logs, horses, ivory, copper, cattle, leopard skins, and spices The main products brought from Egypt were gold and other minerals, wheat, barley, and papyrus sheets The main products brought from Egypt were gold and other minerals, wheat, barley, and papyrus sheets Egyptians did not have coin money, just trade of objects of value Egyptians did not have coin money, just trade of objects of value Although there were no fixed prices, Egyptians were good at figuring out how much an item would cost Although there were no fixed prices, Egyptians were good at figuring out how much an item would cost

Religious Religion guided every aspect of Egyptian life Religion guided every aspect of Egyptian life Egyptian religion was based on polytheism Egyptian religion was based on polytheism The Egyptians had as many as 2000 gods and goddesses The Egyptians had as many as 2000 gods and goddesses The Egyptians saw the actions of the gods behind all the elements and forces of nature The Egyptians saw the actions of the gods behind all the elements and forces of nature The depictions of the gods in art were not meant as literal representations of how the gods might appear if they were visible The depictions of the gods in art were not meant as literal representations of how the gods might appear if they were visible Egyptians viewed kingship itself as a force of nature Egyptians viewed kingship itself as a force of nature

Religion Continued This is a list of the main Egyptian gods: This is a list of the main Egyptian gods: -Thoth -Seth -Osiris -Ra -Khnum -Horus -Isis -Bastet -Anubis

Social Egypt’s socialism were focused on slavery Egypt’s socialism were focused on slavery Hem, generally translated as “slave” Hem, generally translated as “slave” Slaves were either prisoners of war or traded by slave merchants Slaves were either prisoners of war or traded by slave merchants Period of enslavement in Egypt was often limited Period of enslavement in Egypt was often limited Debt slaves or prisoners of war were at times set free after serving for a certain period Debt slaves or prisoners of war were at times set free after serving for a certain period

Intellectual The ancient Egyptians believed that writing was invented by Thoth, the god of wisdom The ancient Egyptians believed that writing was invented by Thoth, the god of wisdom The earliest known examples of writing in Egypt have been dated to 3,400 BC The earliest known examples of writing in Egypt have been dated to 3,400 BC The latest dated inscription in hieroglyphs was made on the gate post of a temple at Philae in 396 AD The latest dated inscription in hieroglyphs was made on the gate post of a temple at Philae in 396 AD The hieroglyphic script was used mainly for ceremonial inscriptions on the walls of temples and tombs The hieroglyphic script was used mainly for ceremonial inscriptions on the walls of temples and tombs In some inscriptions the glyphs are very detailed and in full color, in others they are simple outlines In some inscriptions the glyphs are very detailed and in full color, in others they are simple outlines Possibly pre-dates Sumerian Cuneiform writing - if this is true, the Ancient Egyptian script is the oldest known writing system Possibly pre-dates Sumerian Cuneiform writing - if this is true, the Ancient Egyptian script is the oldest known writing system

Intellectual Continued After the Emperor Theodsius I ordered the closure of all pagan temples throughout the Roman empire in the late 4th century AD, knowledge of the hieroglyphic script was lost until the early 19th century, when a French man named Jean-Francois Champollion managed to decipher the script.

Artistic Ancient Egyptian art refers to painting, sculpture, crafts and architecture developed by the civilization in the lower Nile Valley from 5000 BC to 300 AD Ancient Egyptian art refers to painting, sculpture, crafts and architecture developed by the civilization in the lower Nile Valley from 5000 BC to 300 AD Ancient Egyptian art as expression in painting and sculpture was both highly stylized, detailed and symbolic Ancient Egyptian art as expression in painting and sculpture was both highly stylized, detailed and symbolic Much of the surviving art comes from tombs and monuments, some of the most symbolic structures Much of the surviving art comes from tombs and monuments, some of the most symbolic structures Note: I received over 34 million more results for “ancient Egyptian art” than I did for present day Egyptian art.

Near? Location: the northeast corner of the continent of Africa Size: approximately 997,740 sq. km Capital: Cairo Official language (today): Arabic Official language (ancient): combination of Semitic and Hamitic Major river: The Nile, longest river in the world, divides Egypt in half Deserts: Libyan, Nubian, and Eastern. They were barriers of protection, shielding the people against invasion by surrounding civilizations Topography: The highest lands are in the south and the land slopes gently toward the Mediterranean Sea. There are some mountains located on the southern Sinai peninsula. Some of these reach over 2600 meters (8530 feet high). The land at the Mediterranean is at sea level. Climate: very dry; there is almost no rainfall on a regular basis. The people depend on the annual summer floods of the Nile River for water. The floods begin in June and end in October. Without the Nile, there would likely be no Egypt.