1. EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION

2. The Nile flooded every year –Predictable floodwaters with spring rains –Left rich, black silt Narrow band of fertile soil Became home of Egyptian civilization Geography and Early Egypt The Nile –Most important physical feature in Egypt –4,000 miles long; flows through the Sahara Desert Without the Nile’s waters, no one could live there.

3. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics

4. ROSETTA’s STONE The Rosetta Stone is a granodiorite stele inscribed with a decree issued at Memphis in 196 BCE on behalf of King Ptolemy V. The decree appears in three scripts: the upper text is Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, the middle portion Demotic script, and the lowest Ancient Greek. Because it presents essentially the same text in all three scripts (with some minor differences among them), it provided the key to the modern understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs

6. Nile afforded protection itself Flowed through cataracts to the south Currents and waterfalls made sailing impossible Not an easy invasion route Cataracts Egypt’s most fertile soil in Nile Delta Silt deposits at mouth of river Black Land of rich arable soil Red Land unlivable but afforded protection Delta Geographical Features

7. Unification Two kingdoms unified around 3200 BC Upper Egypt ruler Narmer conquered north – Founded capital city of Memphis – Adopted both symbols, the snake and the vulture First of 31 dynasties Two Kingdoms First farming villages as early as 5000 BC Northern Kingdom, Lower Egypt – Mild climate; cobra goddess worshipped Southern Kingdom, Upper Egypt – Warmer climate; prayed to a vulture goddess

8. PALETTE OF NARMER 3200 B.C. (Museum of Cairo)

9. Approximate dates Archaic Period (3100-2660 Archaic Period (3100-2660 The Old Kingdom (2660-2200 B.C.) The Old Kingdom (2660-2200 B.C.) First Intermediate Period (2200-2000 B.C.) First Intermediate Period (2200-2000 B.C.) The Middle Kingdom (2000-1800 B.C.) The Middle Kingdom (2000-1800 B.C.) Second Intermediate Period (1800-1500 B.C.) Second Intermediate Period (1800-1500 B.C.) The New Kingdom (1500- 1100 B.C.?) The New Kingdom (1500- 1100 B.C.?)

10. Dynastic Chronology Egyptians divided their history into dynasties Egyptians divided their history into dynasties not always chronologically successive not always chronologically successive the system is confusing, but maintained by Egyptologists the system is confusing, but maintained by Egyptologists

11. TransportationTransportation Mesopotamia: wheeled vehicles and boats Mesopotamia: wheeled vehicles and boats Egypt: boats (The Nile as Highway) Egypt: boats (The Nile as Highway) sailboats still a major means of transportation sailboats still a major means of transportation Old and Middle Kingdom: wheeled vehicles rare Old and Middle Kingdom: wheeled vehicles rare

12. ArchitectureArchitecture lacks timber lacks timber used mud-brick used mud-brick main building: STONE main building: STONE

13. SAQQARA COMPLEX (Pyramid and Palace)

14. SculptureSculpture early and sophisticated development early and sophisticated development human figures and architectural forms human figures and architectural forms led to great expertise in painting and other representational arts led to great expertise in painting and other representational arts

15. Mycerinus and Queen c. 2500 B.C. Ti watching Hippopotamus Hunt (painted stone relief) c. 2400 B.C. falcon headed god wearing double crown.

16. Theocratic Government all Egyptian government was theocratic in form all Egyptian government was theocratic in form all power was concentrated in the Pharaoah all power was concentrated in the Pharaoah the pharaoh was the head of a planned and organized economy the pharaoh was the head of a planned and organized economy modern comparisons ??? modern comparisons ???

17. Many of the institutions for which the Egyptian civilization is known were created during the period which began around 2650 BC. Most famous symbols of Egypt Largest located near Giza Built as tombs for rulers – Hollow chamber for burial – Treasures buried with them – Deadly traps within Design changed to smooth-sided over time The Pyramids Took great planning and skill Ordered when kings took the throne Built from the inside out Not built by slaves – Peasants required to work one month per year – Professional craftspeople like architects, artists Building Pyramids The Old Kingdom

18. Pyramid (Giza)

19. PHARAOHS

20. Egyptian Bureaucracy Pharaoh could not rule Egypt alone Aided by bureaucracy, many of whom were pharaoh’s relatives Most powerful official was the vizier Hundreds of lesser officials kept Egypt running smoothly The Pharaohs The head of the government was the king Became known as pharaoh (“great house”) Had great power because he was believed to be a god Egypt a theocracy, a state ruled by religious figures

21. Egypt expanded empire Fought campaigns in Nubia and Syria A new foe around 1250 BC Hittites invaded from Mesopotamia Ramses’ rule Reign marked with extravagant splendor Built more temples and monuments than other pharaohs Many political and artistic achievements Confrontation with Hittites Ramses the Great led army Accounts of battle vary, but two armies signed truce Ramses married Hittite princess and conflict ended Ramses the Great

22. New Kingdom (1570-1085 B.C.) BOOK OF DEAD

23. Egypt’s Decline Ramses’ successors faced challenges to authority Ramses’ successors faced challenges to authority Major invasions of Egypt Major invasions of Egypt –Sea Peoples devastated empires –Ended Hittite Empire, weakened Egypt’s control of Syria Egypt broke into small states Egypt broke into small states –Many foreign rulers over next 700 years –Libyans, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks –Finally fell to Rome