1. Ancient Egypt
The Gift of the Nile

3. How do we know about Ancient Egypt
Jean Champollion
And the Rosetta
Stone

4. Hieroglyphics

5. Ancient Egypt
Upper and Lower Kingdoms unified under Menes ca B. C. E.
Political History apportioned into Old Kingdom; First Intermediate Period; Middle Kingdom; Second Intermediate Period; and New Kingdom.
Pharoah was political and religious head of state—he owned all and was the source of all law.

6. Political Instability
Power of Pharoah in Old Kingdom challenged by Nomarchs, who rebelled in First Intermediate Period ( )
Leading Nomarch became Pharoah and lauched Middle Kingdom ( ) but government was unstable.
Second Intermediate Period resulted from political unrest among the Nomarchs and resulted in foreign invasion by the Hyksos
New Kingdom emerged—a period of great nationalism (foreigners were persecuted—Including the Hebrews

7. New Kingdom 1570-1085 Most Colorful
Thutmose III ( ) spread Egyptian power—marked by obelisks
Empire was especially wealthy—consider what was found in King Tutankhamen’s tomb
Religious conflict and royal incest weakened New Kingdom

8. Thutmose III’s obelisk, here in Heleopolis, now in New York

9. King Tut ( )

10. Egyptian Kingship Pharaoh means “great house”
Capital Cities were really the physical manifestation of a divine king.
Justice – “what Pharaoh loves”
Evil – “what Pharaoh hates”
Pharaoh was bridge between human and divine.
Over time, Pharaoh was more of a martial leader—depicted on chariots—than a god associated with the sun.

11. Egyptian Religion
Pharaoh was considered a god, but many gods were honored
Re, the sun god became dominant over time.
Osiris, god of the nurturing Nile River, and Isis, god of the fertile earth, were popular with the common people.

12. Religious Upheaval
Ahmenhotep IV ( ) sought to remove the Aman-Re priesthood
Instituted worship of Aton, the Sun’s disc
A. IV changed his name to Akhenaton ("it pleases Aton")
He claimed Aton was the one, universal god
Alienated the priesthood

13. Nefertiti

14. Great Pyramid of Giza

15. Pyramids
Great Pyramid with its 52° angles represent the rays of the sun.
Architecture symbolized belief of Pharaoh as a God.
Massive building projects helped weld together disparate peoples along the Nile into Egyptians– “How the pyramids built Egypt.”