1. EGYPT
PG 71

2. MAIN THEMES NILE RIVER- Flooded once a year fertilizing the soil.
RELIGION (polytheistic)
-explained natural events through gods.
-believed in afterlife; prepared bodies (mummies), money,etc..
-Pharaohs built pyramids and tombs.

3. RULERS Rulers called pharaohs. Ruled with absolute power
Menes- united upper & lower Egypt.
3 Kingdoms: Old, Middle, & New
New Kingdom:
-Hatshepsut: took power from stepson, Thutmose III
-Had great peace & economic success.

4. Thutmose III
-destroyed Hatshepsut’s statues.
-A conqueror, but had mercy for conquered.
Conquered by Alexander the Great (Macedonian)
Cleopatra…last Macedonian Ruler.
Then….conquered by Rome.

5. CULTURE Social classes- pharaoh at top, peasants at bottom.
Hieroglyphics- 1st Egyptian writing…Demotic- 2nd writing.
Papyrus- Paper from reed plants.
Rosetta Stone- 3 languages: hieroglyphic, demotic, & Greek.

6. Nubia Center of trade Napata, Meroe, and Kerma major cities.
Between Egypt and other African civilizations.
Napata, Meroe, and Kerma major cities.

7. INDIA

8. MAIN THEMES Monsoons provide water for the fertile soil ARYANS
-people from central Asia moved to India..formed Hindu Religion
-Caste System- social classes that you are stuck with.

9. HINDU Has no one founder Both monotheistic & polytheistic.
-1 god, but many faces.
Believe in non-violence (ahimsa), karma, dharma,
Reincarnation- coming back in another body

10. BUDDHISM Started by Buddha.
Goal to give up selfish pleasures to end human suffering.
Followed the Middle Way/Eightfold path.
Followed many Hindu practices.
Search for Nirvana (lasting peace)
Buddhism spread to China.

11. MAURYA EMPIRE
Started by Chandragupta Maurya (conquered much of India, spreading the empire)
Grandson Asoka- was good but harsh ruler…converted to Buddhism after his men massacred a community.
After that he treated his subjects like children, and a compassionate ruler.

12. Gupta Empire 500 years after the Mauryan Empire collapsed.
Started to reunite the small kingdoms of India, but was never the size of Mauryan Empire.
During the time of the Gupta Empire, Indians enjoyed a Golden Age in the arts, sciences and religion.