Ancient Civilizations: Egypt

Geography & Environment

The Geography On which continent is Egypt located? Africa; in the northeastern region Longest river in the world 4100 miles long

The Geography On which river did the ancient Egyptians settle? Nile River WHY??

The Geography The Nile provided a small strip of fertile land in the middle of a desert Annual flood; The “Gift of the Nile”

Gifts of the Nile Papyrus Mud Silt Travel Water Calendar Food Hunting in the marshes (Birds, Reptiles, Crocodiles, and Hippos) Fish (catfish and perch) · Accurate (Nile flooded around July 15-19th) · 365 days divided into 12 months of 30 days each · 5 extra days fell at the end of the year · Trade · War · Transportation of stones for pyramids Drinking · Bathe/Swim · Entertainment (Swimming, boating, and fishing) · Water crops -Boats · Sandals · Paper · Baskets · Made soil good for growing crops · Make bricks for building Gifts of the Nile

Religion & Government

Egyptian Religion Polytheism: The worship of many gods Worshipped 2000+ gods and goddesses Cartoon depiction of Re and Isis

Egyptian Religion Primary Egyptian Gods: Re – the Sun god Osiris – the god of the Dead Isis – the goddess of women Anubis – god of the underworld

Who is this? Osiris

Egyptian Government Villages of Egypt ruled by 2 kingdoms; King Narmer unites them around 3000BC Government is a theocracy – gov’t based on religious authority

Egyptian Government Egyptians believed that their kings, called pharaohs, WERE gods Pharaohs were VERY POWERFUL! Ruled religion, government & military

What is Ka? Egyptians believed that the Pharaohs possessed an eternal life force, also known as ka

What is Ka? Ka allowed pharaohs to rule for all of eternity; therefore, their tombs were even more important than their palaces on earth

Pyramids Pyramids: Tombs for the Pharaohs Built out of limestone, granite & stone Great Pyramid of Giza Stone blocks weighed anywhere from 2.5 tons to 15 tons More than 2 million blocks, 481 feet high

The Great Pyramid at Giza One of the 7 Wonders of the World 20 years to construct – probably concluded in 2560 BC Built during Egypt’s 4th Dynasty – for King Khufu Blocks used to build the pyramid weigh up to 80 tons 2,400,000 stones used; 455 feet tall

The only surviving wonder of the ancient world, Egypt's pyramid of Cheops takes up 13 acres of land, and overlooks the neighboring pyramids belonging to this pharaoh's son and grandson. Experts speculate it took one hundred thousand laborers roughly 20 years to build the pyramid of Cheops alone

Northern Entrance

The Sphinx Also located in Giza Bottom Picture – The Sphinx in 1867 before its restoration (notice body is buried; also man stands beneath ear) 65 feet tall; 200 ton blocks Different explanations for missing nose

Culture

Weighing of the Heart Strong belief in the afterlife Believed that the final judgment occurred at death Does your heart weigh more than a feather?

Weighing of the Heart If the soul “passed” test for purity, it would live forever in the beautiful other world

Mummification Reserved for royals & elites What is mummification? A technique that involved embalming & drying the corpse to prevent it from decaying

Mummification “First, they draw out the brains through the nostrils with an iron hook…Then with a sharp stone they make an incision in the side, and take out all the bowels…Then, having filled the belly with pure myrrh, cassia, and other perfumes, they sew it up again; and when they have done this they steep it in natron (mineral salt), leaving it under for 70 days…At the end of 70 days, they wash the corpse, and wrap the whole body in bandages of waxen cloth.” - Herodotus

Mummification Coffins were filled with items that could be used in the afterlife such as clothing, food, cosmetics & jewelry

Book of the Dead Book of hymns, prayers & magic spells that were intended to guide the soul in the afterlife Placed in the coffin

Mummification

Society

Merchants and Artisans Royal Family Upper Class: Priests, Army, Gov’t Middle Class: Merchants and Artisans Lower Class: Peasant Farmers and Laborers Slaves (in later periods)

Great to be an Egyptian? A social hierarchy did exist in Egypt; however, one was not locked into his or her social class Possible to change status via marriage, personal success, etc. Women had many of the same rights as men

Knowledge

Egyptian Writing Hieroglyphic writing system Pictures represent ideas as well as sounds Paper-like sheets made from papyrus reeds used for writing Image of ancient pictographs

Egyptian Writing Hieroglyphics decoded after discovery of Rosetta Stone Image of ancient pictographs

Egyptian Science & Technology Invent calendar of 365 days & 12 months Develop system of written numbers & a form of geometry Skilled engineers & architects construct palaces, pyramids Egyptian medicine famous in ancient world Image of ancient pictographs