The Nile Valley Chapter 2, Section 1 World History Mrs. Thompson Ancient Egypt The Nile Valley Chapter 2, Section 1 World History Mrs. Thompson

Egypt was ruled by all-powerful rulers called pharaohs. Main Idea Egypt was ruled by all-powerful rulers called pharaohs.

The history of Egypt is divided into 3 periods: Old Kingdom Middle Kingdom New Kingdom Egypt’s Old Kingdom began in 2600 B.C. and lasted until 2300 B.C.

Egypt grew and prospered during the Old Kingdom Egyptians Built Cities Egypt was ruled by kings called pharaohs Expanded Trade “Pharaoh” is a Greek term which means “great house” Set up a Strong Government

The pharaohs’ word was law and had to be obeyed Jobs of appointed officials: make sure crops were planted control trade and collect tax payments of grain from farmers make sure irrigation canals and grain storehouses were built

Egyptians served Pharaoh because: Believed unity of kingdom depended on a strong leader 2. they considered the pharaoh to be the son of the god Re – the sun god and a god on earth

playing music on flutes and cymbals To show the Pharaoh honor and respect in public bowing down to smell the earth or touch their heads to the ground

The pharaoh carried out ritual ceremonies that Egyptians believed helped control their welfare such as: Riding a sacred bull around the capital city of Memphis to ensure fertility of the soil (bull = symbol of fertility) 2. cutting the first ripe grain to ensure a good harvest.

Let’s Review…All about pharaohs Were all-powerful Lived in palaces Carry-out Religious rituals Details about Egyptian pharaohs Considered to be gods on Earth Appointed Government officials

Main Idea Egyptians believed in many gods and goddesses and in life after death for the pharaohs.

Religion was deeply woven into Egyptian culture Egyptians believed many deities or gods and goddesses controlled the forces of nature and human activities

The main Egyptian gods included: 1. Re, the sun god who ruled over the rising and setting of the sun, represented the importance of a sunny climate for good harvests

2. Hapi was ruler of the Nile River who represented 2. Hapi was ruler of the Nile River who represented the importance of water for growing crops.

3. Isis represented the loyal wife and 3. Isis represented the loyal wife and mother who ruled over the dead with her husband Osiris, god of the underworld and afterlife.

THE FAMILY OF THE EGYPTIAN GODS RA SHU TEFNUT NEKHEBET RA GEB NUT HATHOR This is the family tree of the Egyptian Gods. It shows the names of the gods and their children or parents. As you can see, RA was the father of all the gods. OSIRIS ISIS SET NEPHTHYS OSIRIS HORUS ANUBIS

Let’s Review…Egyptians’ beliefs hopeful view of life after death for centuries, believed only elite had afterlife Belief in many gods Egyptian Beliefs Pharaoh needed body for afterlife Magic spells needed to gain life after death

Egyptian Gods & Goddesses: “The Sacred ‘Trinity’” Osiris Isis Horus

Egyptian Creation Myth The Goddess Nut

Life After Death Unlike the Mesopotamians, who imagined a gloomy life after death, the Egyptians thought the afterlife would be a place of peace and plenty

Journey to the Underworld The dead travel on the “Solar Bark.” A boat for the journey is provided for a dead pharaoh in his tomb.

Egyptian Book of the Dead

Egyptian Book of the Dead Book of the Dead was a collection of spells and prayers that Egyptians studied to obtain life after death. Egyptians believed they must lead a good life and know the magic spells to gain the afterlife.

Osiris met the dead in the next world and judged whether to grant them life after death.

The Underworld The soul goes down into the Underworld were it must pass the judges and account for its life. Then it is led by Anubis to be weighed against the feather of Truth (Ma’at) and the decision recorded by Thoth, the god of scribes. If the sins committed during life cause the heart to be heavier than the feather of Truth, the soul is devoured by a great beast. If it is lighter, the soul is taken by Horus to green-faced Osiris, who is accompanied by Isis and Nephthys, and blessed. This scene shows what Egyptians believed happened to the soul after it descended into the Underworld.

The Final Judgement Osiris Anubis Horus

Egyptians believed it was vital for the pharaoh’s spirit to reach the next world where he could continue to care for Egypt. Through the embalming process, Egyptians prepared the pharaoh’s body to accept his spirit in the afterlife

Shabtis: The Pharaoh’s Servants in the Afterlife

mummy: Steps to making a 1. remove the brain remove the lungs, liver, stomach, and intestines and place in canoptic jars 3. wash the body with wine 4. salt the body with natron and store it in the desert sands to dry

5. remove the body from the sands, fill it 5. remove the body from the sands, fill it with spices and perfumes, and stitch it closed. 6. cleanse the body with oils 7. wrap the body with long strips of cotton-linen cloth 8. place inside a wooden coffin and put it into a sarcophagus

Materials Used in Mummification 1. Linen 6. Natron 2. Sawdust 7. Onion 3. Lichen 8. Nile Mud 4. Beeswax 9. Linen Pads 5. Resin 10. Frankinsense

Preparation for the Afterlife

Queen Tiye, wife of Amenhotep II 1210-1200 B. C. Egyptian Mummies Queen Tiye, wife of Amenhotep II 1210-1200 B. C. Seti I 1291-1278 B. C. Ramses II 1279-1212 B. C.

Preparations for the Underworld ANUBIS weighs the dead person’s heart against a feather. Priests protected your KA, or soul-spirit

Egyptian Medicine Egyptian doctors world’s to treat first medical used herbs and drugs to treat many different illnesses became skilled at sewing up cuts and setting broken bones Egyptian doctors specialists to treat particular parts of the body world’s first medical books on papyrus scrolls

Main Idea The Egyptians of the Old Kingdom built huge stone pyramids as tombs for their pharaohs.

Egyptians built mountain-like pyramids, entirely of stone, as tombs for the pharaohs They were the size of several city blocks and were meant to protect the dead bodies of pharaohs from: floods wild animals grave robbers

Pyramids were filled with supplies that the pharaoh might need in the spirit world such as: clothing furniture jewelry food

Who Were the Pyramid Builders? Thousands of people and many years to build the pyramids Most of the builders were farmers Surveyors, engineers, carpenters, and stonecutters also lent skills to pyramid building

How Was a Pyramid Built? Each pyramid sat on a square base with entrance facing north Egyptians used astronomy to determine true north Egyptians developed 365 day/12 month calendar which is basis for modern calendar

Egyptian advances in Math helped them determine angle measurements and amount of stone needed for pyramids

Advances in Mathematics System of written numbers based on 10 Creation of fractions and using them with whole numbers to add, subtract, & divide

Build a Pyramid

The Great Pyramid About 2540 B.C., Egyptians built the largest and grandest of the pyramids known as the Great Pyramid

Great Pyramid Facts Located about 10 miles from Cairo and stands in Giza on the west bank of the Nile River Rises nearly 5oo ft. above desert and covers an area about 9 football fields Contains more than 2 million stone blocks, each about 2.5 tons

Great Pyramid Facts Largest of about 80 pyramids found in Egypt Tallest structure on the world for more than 4,000 years and is equal to size of a 48 story building Largest of about 80 pyramids found in Egypt