1. Ancient Egypt © 2000 Wadsworth / Thomson Learning

2. Standard Divisions of Egyptian Political History:  Early Dynastic Period (1-2)=3100-2700 BC  Old Kingdom (3-6)=2700-2200 BC –Great Pyramid built by Khufu, circa 2540 BC  1 st Intermediate Period (7-10)=2200-2050 BC  Middle Kingdom (11-12)=2050-1652 BC  2 nd Intermediate Period (13-17)=1652-1567 BC –Hyksos domination  New Kingdom (18-20)=1567-1085 BC –Imperial expansion into Palestine  Post Empire (21-31)=1085-30 BC –Cleopatra=last ruler

3. Egyptian Society  King considered divine (son of Re), but power actually limited –Pharaoh (“palace”) came to be king’s title –Principle of Ma’at: spiritual necessity of truth, justice, right order & harmony –Vizier = chief steward who ran bureaucracy –22 provinces (nomes) in Upper Egypt & 20 in Lower Egypt, ruled by governors  3 classes: –Nobles & priests –Merchants & artisans –serfs

4. Egyptian Worker’s House

5. Family Life  Monogamy was general rule, unless wife was childless (except for Pharaoh)  Women had equal legal rights, but denied education  At least 1 female Pharaoh: Hatshepsut Hatshepsut’s Temple

6. Egyptian Religion  Myth of Osiris’ death & resurrection was basis for belief in afterlife  Heart weighed against feather of ma’at  Mummification preserved body so spirit (ka) could continue life  Pyramids = royal tombs Anubis Opening the Mouth

7. Great Pyramid of Giza

8. Hieroglyphics

9. New Kingdom  Amenhotep III (1412- 1375 BC) – empire reaches its height  Amenhotep IV/Akhenaten (1364-1347 BC) tried to introduce monotheism  Tutankhamen (1347-1338 BC) restored traditional religion  Ramses II (1279-1213 BC) reconquered Palestine