1. Lesson # 3 Day 2 Characteristics of Ancient Egypt

2. Aim: How do the characteristics of religion, government, job specialization, and social hierarchy contribute to Egypt being a complex society? Do Now: Describe the social hierarchy of modern America as you see it now.

3. Mini-lesson Religion
- Ancient Egyptian religion was polytheistic. Pharaoh Amenhotep in the New Kingdom tried to switch the religion to monotheism but it didn’t last. - Because the Nile floods were usually predictable, Egyptians believed the gods were happy, and therefore that the afterlife would be paradise.
Pharaoh Amenhotep

4. Mini-lesson Religion
Egyptians believed that in the afterlife, your soul will reenter your body, leading to your resurrection. This is why they practiced mummification.
As much of the brain… is extracted through the nostrils with an iron hook... the the entire contents of the abdomen removed. The cavity is then filled with aromatic substances [herbs]... The incision is sewn up, and then the body is placed in natron [a type of salt], covered entirely for 70 days... the body is washed and then wrapped from the head to the feet in linen which has been cut into strips and smeared on the underside with gum [similar to glue].
-Herodotus, Greek Historian 450 BCE
The heart and other organs viewed as vital for the afterlife were preserved in canopic jars.

5. Mini-lesson Government
- Ancient Egypt originally was two separate kingdoms; Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt BCE Pharaoh Menes united both into one kingdom, and created the first Egyptian dynasty (family of rulers). - Pharaohs had absolute power. They claimed divine right; their power came from the gods.

6. Mini-lesson Specialized Jobs
Egyptians built their pyramids, statues and monuments out of stone. *A strong workforce and planning was necessary.
Stele of Amenemhat, c BCE
Stele are inscribed stone slabs.
Obelisks are standing stone pillars.
Obelisk of Hatshepsut, 1457 BCE

7. Mini-lesson Specialized Jobs
- Egyptians were writing hieroglyphics by 3300 BCE! - Egyptians created a type of paper from the papyrus plant.
In 1799 Napoleon’s army found the Rosetta Stone. As part of it was written in ancient Greek, it led to the decoding of hieroglyphics!

8. Mini-lesson Specialized Jobs
Ramps may have been lubricated with water to reduce friction. Another theory is that pulleys were used.

9. Mini-lesson Social Hierarchy
Egyptian Scribe
- Ancient Egypt created one of the world’s first bureaucracies! (A group of officials who help run a government)
- Egyptian women could buy and sell property, divorce, and work in most professions.
Nefertiti was Pharaoh of Egypt in the New Kingdom.

10. Work Period Activity
Read and annotate “Characteristics of Ancient Egypt.
Use the information from the power point and the reading selection to complete the chart on the characteristics of Ancient Egypt.
Groups may scaffold information
Group share and class discussion

11. Closing Exit Slip question:
- How do the characteristics of religion, government, job specialization, and social hierarchy contribute to Egypt being a complex society?
Homework: # 3 on Unit Outline