Egypt

AIM: What were the accomplishments of the Ancient Egyptians? Review What were the 8 basic characteristics of civilization? Food surplus = specialization + large labour supply = ability to create huge work projects + $$$

Ancient Egypt BCE I.Location 1.North Africa 2.Natural barriers: Mediterranean Sea, Sahara Desert, Red Sea A.Result = less prone to invasion. II.Nile River 1.World’s longest river (4000 miles) 2.“Gift of the Nile”  annual flooding that deposits rich soil. 3.Benefits A.Easy communication. B.Transportation. C.Ample water supply.

Where in the World…?

Look at this map carefully. How large a role did trade play in Egyptian society? How large a role did Egyptians play in the development of other civilizations? Using the maps in the room, complete the blank map (provided).

Transportation Northbound boats drifted Southbound boats used sails Irrigation Dug ditches to access water Worship Predictability gave comfort Belief in kind gods reflects the river

Watch Gift of the Nile Students work through question sheets.

Pyramids

LIMESTONE The pyramids were built from LIMESTONE. The Great Pyramid, built for Pharaoh Khufu, contains over 2 million limestone blocks, each weighing roughly 2 ½ tons! As the pyramids still stand today it is easy to see the ancient Egyptians knowledge in mathematics & geometry.

The diagram below shows the outside of the Great Pyramid. The buildings surrounding the pyramid are called Mastabas, which were tombs that held nobles. The pyramids in front of the Great Pyramid were built for the Pharaoh’s Queens. A temple was built in front of the Great Pyramid to allow daily rituals, and where offerings were left.

The inside of the pyramid contained many different areas. Air Shafts King’s Chamber Other Chambers Grand Gallery Queen’s Chamber Underground Chamber

Great Pyramid of Giza m tall!!

The Great Sphinx

The Great Sphinx is a large human-headed lion that was carved from a mound of natural rock. It is located in Giza where it guards the front of Khafra’s pyramid. Legends have been told for many years about the Great Sphinx. These stories tell about the powers & mysteries of the Sphinx. Some people believe that there are hidden passageways or rooms underneath, but nothing has been found…. yet!

Watch Intro to Egypt Focus on: What innovations were necessary for the pyramids to be built? What technologies did the Egyptians have at an early age?

Menes Information Circa 2925 BCE

The earliest form of writing in Egypt were pictographs, like the one you see below. Each picture stood for an idea. For example a picture of a bird would mean bird. Hieroglyphics

As time passed and writing came into greater use, scribes needed an easier way to write than drawing elaborate pictures. As a result, a newer form of hieroglyphics was formed. Another innovation came likely in the 3 rd millennium BC. Papyrus, a paper-like material, was developed. Now scribes could write on a more compact surface instead of stone or clay.

As the Egyptian civilization declined, any chance of deciphering hieroglyphics was lost… … That is until the Rosetta Stone was discovered in The Rosetta Stone contained a message in 3 different languages: Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphics (in a simpler form) Greek Finally, in 1822 the stone was deciphered!!

King Tut’s Golden Cartouche

Are hieroglyphics still a useful way to express meaning? (consider the following: CUL8R, U, LOL,, etc.) Watch Gift of the Nile Part 2. Create an Egyptian cartouche of your own name using the hieroglyphs on the handout (provided). Use the matching hieroglyphs in place of the letters you would use in English. Once you have the hieroglyphs drawn, colour your cartouche to make it look as nice as the Egyptians would have.

Mummification The third and innermost gold coffin of Tutankhamun (King Tut).

Mummification: Process of embalming & drying corpses to prevent them from decaying. Ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife. They mummified the body so the soul could continue to live in their afterlife.

Anubis was the god who watched over the process of mummifying people when they died. After the embalming procedure, the mummy’s internal organs were placed in these clay Canopic jars.

Obsessed with life after death, Egyptians wrote magical formulas on coffins, papyrus scrolls, and on the walls of tombs to guide the dead safely to the gates of the Egyptian underworld. These mortuary texts are now described collectively as the Book of the Dead. Such scrolls, when overlooked by grave robbers, survived in good condition in the tomb.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Moose Jaw Times Herald Presents… ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ News Flash!! Mysterious Mummy X Leaves Egypt for Testing in Canada

As you know, the ancient Egyptians practiced a polytheistic, animistic religion. Here are some of the key gods of the Egyptian religion. Notice their animalistic qualities. Next to each god you will see their name, and what they are a god of. Egyptian Gods

Ra Ra – the sun god. He was the most important god of the ancient Egyptians. Isis Isis – the protective goddess. She used powerful magic to help people in need. Anubis Anubis – the god of embalming and the dead. Osiris – god of the dead, and ruler of the underworld.

Seth Seth – the god of chaos. Atum Atum – the creator god. Believed to be the first god to exist. Sekhmet Sekhmet – goddess of war. Horus Horus – god of the sky. Protector of the pharaoh.

Assignment: The Ancient Egyptians used their gods to teach lessons to the people. Create a story using some of the Egyptians gods & goddesses we discussed today that teaches a lesson. Read at least two Egyptian short stories.

Old Kingdom ( B.C.E) Religion – pharaoh’s were gods! Pharaoh’s ruled even after death Decorated walls of burial chamber to please him Pyramids! Middle Kingdom ( B.C.E) Capital moved from Memphis to Thebes Trade expanded New religious beliefs New Kingdom ( B.C.E) Wealthier and fancier Empire building Great buildings The Three Kingdoms

Egyptian Social Order

Choose someone in Ancient Egyptian society (pharaoh, slave, etc.). See the information posted around the room. For that person describe hour by hour what their day would consist of. (Ex. For a noble, at 7am  wake up; 8am  have my servants bring me breakfast; etc…)