Egyptian Timeline Old Kingdom ( ) –Hieroglyphics and religion develop in Egypt –pyramids built Middle Kingdom ( ) –extension of Egyptian control into Nubia New Kingdom ( ) –militaristic - Hebrews enslaved –mummification perfected
Outline 1.Geography 2.Religion –Gods –Pyramids –Mummies 3.Government –The Pharaoh 4.Daily Life 5.Middle Kingdom 6.New Kingdom
Achievements Pyramids There were about 80 along the banks of the Nile River. The largest is the Great Pyramid, built by King Khufu in about 2600 B.C. It stands about 481 feet high and covers 13 acres. The pyramids functioned as huge burial tombs for the Egyptians’ dead pharaohs and queens. Ship-building They used the Nile River like a highway to transport people and goods to foreign lands. The first ships were made out of bundles of papyrus reeds tied together to make a canoe- like vessel. As the ship trade flourished, the hulls of the ships were made of cedar, and oars and sails were added for greater speed. Hieroglyphics These were pictures and symbols that served as one of the first written languages in the world. Calendar Calendars were developed in 4241 B.C. with 365 days in a year. It was based on the flooding of the Nile River. New Years was on June 1, not January 1!
Vocabulary 1)cartouche – a tablet with a border, used as a nameplate 2)hieroglyphics – a sophisticated system of pictures and symbols used in ancient Egypt to communicate information 3)Nile River – river that runs through Egypt 4)Ankh – a symbol for life after death 5)pyramids – burial place for kings 6)Pharaoh – Ruler of Egypt 7)necropolis – the place of the burial tombs for the kings and the wealthy 8)papyrus – type of plant paper was made from
I. Geography River dominates Egyptian world/thought Surrounded by desert with occasional oasis –Permits some trade –Defense from invasion Contributes to feeling of safety –preserves artifacts
“Egypt is the gift of the Nile” -Herodotus
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I. The Nile yearly flooding - no concern for soil depletion –Predictable –Irrigation systems Encourages –Trade –Communication –Political unity
I. The Nile
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Impact on religion –divided life - living and dying. East (sunrise) is land of the living - cities, temples West (sunset) is land of the dead - tombs
II. Religion Omnipresence of religion Polytheistic –interaction with the natural environment shows interrelated gods and goddesses yearly rebirth of Nile and daily rebirth of sun –over 2000 gods Pharaoh as living god Afterlife –Evolution of who has an afterlife Old vs. New Kingdom
II. Osiris God of the Dead - “rebirth” - and the weighing of the heart Evolution of Egyptian mythology –known as a ruler in the Nile delta - –a local god –regional god
II. Horus Horus, god of balance and harmony maintained the natural order: the flow of the Nile and the fertility of the soil
II. Early Pyramids Zozer’s stepped pyramid - similar to Babylonian ziggurats
Why build Pyramids? Belief in the afterlife demanded: 1.Bodies be interred whole 2.Material goods for use in afterlife be present The need to protect the bodies demands good burial tombs 1.First were mastabas 2.Then pyramids 3.Then later… hidden tombs
Mastaba
II. Great Pyramid Tomb for Khufu an almost perfect square (deviation.05%) Orientation is exactly North, South, East West 2,300,000 blocks, 500ft high 20 years to build Average block weighs 2.5 tons –Some weigh 9 tons!
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Pyramids of Menkaure, Khafre and Khufu Queen Pyramids in front
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II. Mummies Not known when it started in Egypt Perfected by time of New Kingdom How to make a mummy: 70 steps –1) Removal of the brain through the nostrils 2) Removal of the intestines through an incision in the side 3) Sterilization of the body and intestines 4) Treating, cleaning, dehydrating the intestines 5) Packing the body with natron (a natural dehydrating agent) and leaving for 40 days 6) Removal of the natron agent 7) Packing the limbs with clay or sand 8) Packing the body with linen (soaked in resin), myrrh and cinnamon 9) Treating the body with ointments and finally wrapping with a fine linen gauze, not less than 1000 square yards
Canopic Jars made of alabaster for storage of heart, stomach, intestines and liver which were also treated
Inner coffin Mummy
Second inner coffin lid Second inner coffin
Shawabti box Gift bearers Model boat Funerary Gifts
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III. The Pharaoh God-King - unlike Mesopotamia –Temporal power owns all the land and people and what people posses law vs. Pharaoh's will irrigation no city walls
III. The Pharaoh God-King - unlike Mesopotamia –Religious direct descendant of the Sun god controls access to the afterlife July-Sept, during floods life is controlled by the Pharaoh –365 day calendar
III. Role played by size in Egyptian Artwork
IV. Daily Life in Egypt Cosmetics, cleanliness (bathe 3 times a day), shaved bodies, wigs main food is beer and bread –Grow many crops: emmer, barley, flax, lentils, onion, beans, and millet common building made of sun-dried mud bricks - up to three stories in height Four social classes - slaves on the bottom Most common job … farming
IV. Farmers in Egypt
IV. Hieroglyphics Language is written without vowels Different pronunciations –MNFR as Memphis –SR as Osiris –TTMS as either Thutmose, Thutmosis, Tatmusa or Atithmese Who learns this writing style?
IV. Hieroglyphics Use in temples Rosetta Stone Napoleon and Egyptology
IV. Egyptian Artwork Egyptian Farmers & animals Stela (carved stone) Notice, all people drawn from the side – even when looking right at you!
V. Middle Kingdom BCE End of civil wars, farming and trade return move capital south to Upper Egypt (Thebes) public improvements –drain swamps, canal to Red Sea belief in afterlife expands to include common people tombs instead of pyramids –better protection for mummies
V. Middle Kingdom BCE
VI. New Kingdom BCE Ahmose I expelled the invading Hyksos and reunited Egypt Known as the Empire period development of “public” and “private” zones at temples
Ahmose I leading Egyptians against the Hyksos
VI. New Kingdom BCE Characterized by a more militaristic and imperialistic nature –incorporated chariot, bronze working, horses –development of a professional army became a slave based economy fueled by war and expansion
VI. Threats to Tradition Amenhotep IV (c B.C.) introduced the worship of Aton, god of the sun disk, as the chief god and pursued his worship with enthusiasm. Changed name to Akhenaten (“It is well with Aton”) He closed the temples of other gods and especially endeavored to lessen the power of Amon-Re and his priesthood at Thebes
VI. Threats to Tradition BCE Nefertiti –Wife of Akhenaton the only pharaoh to even partially reject polytheism –political move against priests of Amon-Re –moved capital to Amarna –worshipped Aton, the sun disk royal inbreeding
VI. Tutankhamen BCE (King Tut) child ruler ruled nine years, died at 18 young death meant burial in the tomb of a lesser person (noble) resulting in preservation
VI. Ramses II ( ) greatest New Kingdom ruler military leader of Egypt expanded into southern Turkey built many monuments to himself last gasp of Egyptian power
VI. Ramses II ( )
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