EGYPTMrs. Dell

Egypt is the intersection of Africa & Asia , but protected by the desert and a marshy seacoast

Egypt was very isolated and had little to do with other civilizations (culture/tech. not influenced)

Kingdoms of Egypt and Nubia were both in the flood zone of the Nile River

Nile River is the world’s longest river that ends at the Mediterranean Sea

Asia

Africa

“Gift of the Nile”90% of the country is desert, mnts, &

rocksPeople live along the river Delta for

agricultural purposes and drinking waterTravel and communication centered

around the riverMost cities located away from the M. SeaNile flows South to NorthNo ports in EgyptTerritory from the delta to the first

cataract. Below: Nubia/Kush/Sudan

Natural ResourcesFertile soil around riverPapyrus reeds used for making sails,

ropes, and paper

Clay and building stone

Egypt V. Mesopotamia

Egypt had clay like Mesopotamia, BUT, Egypt also had copper, turquoise, and gold within reach

Forced labor was used to exploit the natural resources making Egypt extremely self-sufficient

Scenes from Ancient Egyptian Daily Life

KINGS (Pharaoh)

God-King - unlike Mesopotamia◦Religious

direct descendant of the Sun god (Re) controls access to the afterlife• The rulers were mostly male, but there were a

few females (Nefertiti)• King’s job was to maintain ma’at- the order of

the universe• King was source of law and justice

Ramses II1279-1212 B.

C. E.

Ramses II1279-1212 B.

C. E.

Tutankhamen

1336-1327 B. C. E.

Tutankhamen

1336-1327 B. C. E.

Thutmose III

1504-1450 B. C. E.

Thutmose III

1504-1450 B. C. E.

Famous Egyptian Pharaohs

Kings cont….

People built pyramids for the Kings during flood season when agriculture couldn’t be done

Labor for pyramids was considered a religious service…guaranteed prosperity

Egyptian History DividedOld Kingdom (2700-2150 BCE)

◦Hieroglyphics and religion develop in Egypt

◦pyramids builtMiddle Kingdom (2040-1786 BCE)

◦extension of Egyptian control into Nubia

New Kingdom (1570-1075 BCE)◦militaristic - Hebrews enslaved◦mummification perfected

Government

There were about 30 dynasties in Egyptian history

Capitals were placed in the area of original power (Memphis, Thebes)

Complex bureaucracy (track resources)Kings levied taxes up to 50%- used to

support the palace, military, bureaucracy, maintain temples, and build monuments for King

No middle class existed

Life in EgyptLarge percentage of people lived in

farming villages- NOT urban areas (unlike Mesopotamia)

Most urban sites are buried beneath modern cities (lack of cultivable land)

Hieroglyphics

•Writing system used•Picture symbols used to depict words, syllables, or sounds

•Used on monuments •Usually written on papyrus•Recordkeeping, literary composition, poetry, tales, religious hymns

Rosetta Stone

•Stone found with writing in two languages: Egyptian and Greek

•Written in three scripts: hieroglyphics, demotic, and Greek

•The Rosetta Stone was carved in 196 B.C

•It is called the Rosetta Stone because it was discovered in a town called Rosetta (Rashid).

•Written to honor an Egyptian pharaohs good deeds

People No major migration into Egypt Less pronounced social divisions than Mes.

Slavery existed on a limited scale (criminals, debtors, prisoners of war)

Slaves were treated humanely

Women of Egypt

Tomb paintings are used to interpret life of women

Elite women were portrayed with dignity and of lighter skin (stayed out of sun)

Women in Egypt v. Mesopotamia

Women could own propertyWomen inherited from their parentsCould will their property to whomever

they choseMarriages were typically monogamous but

women could divorce their husbandsRegardless of rights…women were still

subordinate to the men

ReligionMostly polytheistic- few monotheistic

Kings (Amenhotep IV)Kings built temples and made lavish gifts

to the godsBelief in afterlife- only for the richAfterlife was just like this one so they took

everything and everyone needed with them

Obsession with afterlife led to mummification

Mummies

Perfected by time of New KingdomHow to make a mummy: 70 steps

◦ 1) Removal of the brain through the nostrils 2) Removal of the intestines through an incision in the side 3) Sterilization of the body and intestines 4) Treating, cleaning, dehydrating the intestines 5) Packing the body with natron (a natural dehydrating agent) and leaving for 40 days 6) Removal of the natron agent 7) Packing the limbs with clay or sand 8) Packing the body with linen (soaked in resin), myrrh and cinnamon 9) Treating the body with ointments and finally wrapping with a fine linen gauze, not less than 1000 square yards .

Canopic Jars made of alabaster for storage of heart, stomach, intestines and liver which were also treated

Mummy

Inner coffin

Second inner coffin

Second inner coffin lid

Preparation for the Afterlife

Egyptian Mummies

Seti I1291-1278 B.

C. E.

Seti I1291-1278 B.

C. E.

Queen Tiye, wife of Amenhotep II

1210-1200 B. C. E.

Ramses II1279-1212 B.

C. E.

Ramses II1279-1212 B.

C. E.

The Final Judgment

Anubis Horus Osiris Anubis Horus Osiris