Chapter 3 Section 3: Egypt ’ s Culture

Wow! Lasted more than 3,000 years!

Social Classes Pharaoh Nobles / officials: governors, generals, tax collectors, priests, etc. Peasants Slaves Pharaoh Nobles / officials: governors, generals, tax collectors, priests, etc. Peasants Slaves

Egyptian Women Upper and middle class women had rights Government officials and priests Own land Propose marriage Divorce Kill their husbands and get “ off the hook ” Upper and middle class women had rights Government officials and priests Own land Propose marriage Divorce Kill their husbands and get “ off the hook ”

Noble Class Most were born into wealthy class Could rise based on service to pharaoh (army) Had to be literate Girls went to school Most were born into wealthy class Could rise based on service to pharaoh (army) Had to be literate Girls went to school

Peasants Little know about peasants Worked hard; few comforts Little know about peasants Worked hard; few comforts

Slaves New Kingdom – conquests Houses slaves – hoped to gain freedom Others not so lucky New Kingdom – conquests Houses slaves – hoped to gain freedom Others not so lucky

Religion

Maat The idea of justice, right, truth, and order Should try to live rightly and justly Example: treatment of slaves The idea of justice, right, truth, and order Should try to live rightly and justly Example: treatment of slaves

Judgment Osiris - god of dead Weighed heart against feather of truth Heart heavier – Devourer of Souls (fierce beast) Feather heavier – soul would live forever Osiris - god of dead Weighed heart against feather of truth Heart heavier – Devourer of Souls (fierce beast) Feather heavier – soul would live forever

Priests Powerful (maybe more than pharaoh) Magical charms and chants to protect living and dead Book of the Dead – book of prayers put in coffin Powerful (maybe more than pharaoh) Magical charms and chants to protect living and dead Book of the Dead – book of prayers put in coffin

Amonhotep / Akhenaton 1375 B.C. – 1362 B.C. Worshipped sun (Aton) Believed Aton was only true god 1375 B.C. – 1362 B.C. Worshipped sun (Aton) Believed Aton was only true god

A Monotheistic Egypt Closed temples Moved offerings from taxes to Aton ’ s treasury Changed his name Moved the capital from Thebes to city he named Akhetaton ( “ The Place of Aton ’ s Power ” Closed temples Moved offerings from taxes to Aton ’ s treasury Changed his name Moved the capital from Thebes to city he named Akhetaton ( “ The Place of Aton ’ s Power ”

Priest ’ s Reaction: FURIOUS!

Tutankhamon 8-9 years old Priest back in control Moved capital back to Thebes Destroyed images of Aton 8-9 years old Priest back in control Moved capital back to Thebes Destroyed images of Aton

Contributions

Writing Pictographs Hieroglyphics – form of writing in ancient Egypt Pictographs Hieroglyphics – form of writing in ancient Egypt

Rosetta Stone 1799 – French soldiers found near Rosetta Written in 2 forms of Egyptian hieroglyphics and Greek 1822 – Jean Francois Champollion broke code 1799 – French soldiers found near Rosetta Written in 2 forms of Egyptian hieroglyphics and Greek 1822 – Jean Francois Champollion broke code

What was the importance of Rosetta Stone?

Papyrus Reed that grew in marshy delta paper Reed that grew in marshy delta paper

Numbers Needed to assess property and collect taxes

Geometry Invented mathematical system for determining area Assigning plots had to be redone every year Invented mathematical system for determining area Assigning plots had to be redone every year Why? Flooding of Nile

Calendar Kept track of time between floods 12 months of 30 days + 5days (holidays and feasts) Kept track of time between floods 12 months of 30 days + 5days (holidays and feasts)

Medicine Heart rate Broken bones Wounds Fevers Heart rate Broken bones Wounds Fevers