Cultural Identity Facets Which Make Up Culture

Facets of Culture Religion Food Behaviors –Mannerisms Apparel – Clothing – Jewelry Government

Facets of Culture (cont.) Shared History Land usage Language Arts –Music –Poetry –Stories/ myths –Visual Arts

Facets of Culture (cont.) Values Geography Technology Contacts and trade Economy

First Civilizations – Ancient Egypt Formed in northeastern Africa along Nile river by 3000 B.C.E. Similar to Sumeria, formed along a river. Benefited from Mesopotamian (Sumerian and later “Fertile Crescent” civilizations’ technology and influence... BUT, created a very different culture!!!

Geography and Climate Focused along the Nile River and deserts immediately around it. Nile has a steady flow and predictable flood surges. The river was seen as a source of never- failing bounty Predictability of river made for an optimistic culture Isolated by deserts. Limited invaders.

Technology Not particularly advanced technologically No pulleys, no real roads. Stones for pyramids were rolled over logs and onto barges. Did not take Sumerian writing, but instead formed hyroglyphs, which were more pictorial than cuneiform Writing monopolize by priests.

Technology cont. 12 month calendar and 10 day week. Week was only unit not based on natural cycles Knowledge of time and cycles suggests Egyptians were highly concerned with predicting Nile’s flood Important advanced in medicine, later used by Greeks

Food Agriculture was in place by 5000 B.C.E.

Religion Pillar of Egyptian Culture Fascinated with orderly death, massive funeral memorials, and preservation through mummification Belief that through politics/ religion, death as well as life could be controlled. Promoted worship of many gods Believed a happy changeless well-being could be achieved

Government Formed regional kingdoms Unlike Sumer, Egypt moved (fairly directly) from pre-civilization to large government units. Egypt had a strong Pharoah (king), and had fewer problems with political unity than in Mesopotamia This unification was partly due to the unifying influence of the Nile River

Government Cont. Governments were MUCH more authoritarian, with no councils or participatory institutions. The first Pharoah, Narmer (3100 B.C.E.) conquered other small kingdoms, to unite a 600 mile long northern kingdom. Original northern kingdom lasted 3000 years!!!

Government Cont. Pharaoh seen as descended from the gods and eventually was seen as an actual god. Pharaoh was thought to have power to ensure the prosperity and control the rituals that ensured regular flow of the Nile and fertility of the land.

Government cont. Extensive bureaucracy recruited from land nobles and trained in writing and law. Supervised irrigation and great publice works.

Economics Most Egyptians were peasant framers, closely regulated and heavily taxed.

Arts Often devoted to demonstrating the power of the Pharaoh. Often came in the form of large public works that were a hallmark of Egyptian culture. Pyramids were built to house Pharaoh’s families and themselves after death. Commanded crews of up to 100,000 men to haul and lift stones.

Art cont. Largest pyramid took 20 years to complete, contained 2 million blocks of stone, each weighting 5.5 tons Despite writing, did not develop same epic novels and literary tradition as Sumeria

Values Increased stratification of social rank

Contacts and trade