The Last Word: No Homework It's incredible, really. It features a central spire and an encircling picket-fence that's been reinforced by horizontal rails, and is strung together by a series of radially oriented guy wires. The structure measures less than 2 cm across. And here's the real kicker: nobody knows what made it.

According to a new report, a great deal of the vertical space in the world's supertall skyscrapers consists non-occupiable "vanity height." The Last Word: No Homework; Test Thurs/Fri

Egyptians, Kush and Axum

 The earliest civilization in Africa History  People settle next to the Nile between BC  Upper (south, upriver) and Lower (north, downriver) Egypt develop  Egyptian civilization begins around 3000BC when Menes unites Upper and Lower Egypt  End of ancient Egypt occurs with Roman conquest after death of Cleopatra in 27BC.

 The Nile – life centered on the yearly flooding of this river  Cycle of Inundation, Emergence, and Drought  While flood occurred, farmers helped to construct pharaoh’s building projects  After waters recede, farmers plant and harvest crops  **Good flood and harvest = stability

 Ruled by the Pharaoh – owned all the land, issued and collected taxes  Was considered a god, then a representative of god  Society structured according to classes  Viziers, governors, scribes, artisans, farmers/laborers, slaves

 Polytheistic – worshipped and believed in many gods  Amon Re, the Sun God, was most important  Many other gods ▪ Osiris, god of the underworld.  Belief in afterlife - Elaborate burial rituals included pyramids

Egyptian belief in how the dead would be judged.

 “Sacred writing”; Picture form of writing developed by the Egyptians  May have been the first form of writing (ca. 3200BC)  Over 2000 characters; ignored or omitted vowels  Pronunciation was key  Often written on the walls of temples or on papyrus  Cartouche – a “name tag”, believed to protect the name of the pharaoh

Kush and Axum

 Located south of Egypt  Conquered Egypt in 750 BC for a short time  Influenced by Egyptian writing and religion  Built capital at Meroe  Achievements  Iron tools and weapons  Traded with many parts of Mediterranean  By AD 200, Kush collapsed

 Located south of Kush (Ethiopia)  Emerged around time of Kush decline  King converts to Christianity  First Christian nation in Africa  Become cut off when Islam travels to North Africa from Mid East  Own written language (Ge’ez)

 Stelae (stone slab carved for certain purposes  Probably carved around 400AD  Markers for underground burial chambers

The Last Word: No Homework “Bent book” bookends