FIRST AGE OF EMPIRES: EGYPT AND PERSIAWorld History October 7 and October 8

STINGER

•1. Describe three things you already know about ancient Egypt. •2. Explain two reasons that you might have prior knowledge about the Egyptian empire. •3. Identify one way in which the common knowledge about ancient Egypt has influenced life today.

THINGS PEOPLE KNOW (OR THINK THEY KNOW)

• Ceremonial burials • Mummies • Pyramids • Pharaohs • Enslavement of the Jews• King Tutankhamun • Queen Nefertiti• Joseph the Dream interpreter• Cleopatra and her interaction with the Romans • Ramses • Moses and the exodus of the Jews• Polytheistic Religion • Makeup

WHY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THESE THINGS

• These things still exist and have stood the test of time • Pyramids• Statues • Monumental architecture • Hieroglyphics • Mass burial sites • Remains of leaders and other of importance • Biblical record

• They are represented in pop culture • Movies (Prince of Egypt, the Ten Commandments, Cleopatra, The Mummy, Scorpion King,

etc.) • Music (Walk like an Egyptian?) • Architecture -• Broadway (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)

FOR FUN

• 1. That is seriously Donny Osmond, of the famous family band “The Osmonds” and the “Donny and Marie Show” as Joseph. (Okay, if you don’t know who he is, ask your grandparents! He and his sister still perform on the Las Vegas strip!)

• 2. Check out the makeup and costuming on the Egyptians and compare it to what you have seen in picture of hieroglyphs. These things are legitimately part of the cultural zeitgeist as far as our expectations of how ancient Egyptians will be depicted.

• 3. Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer, likes to mix modern and ancient, so watch the blending of modern symbols, references, and music with those of the past.

• 4. The story is based on biblical descriptions

• 5. This is ALW’s representation of Joseph’s service to the Pharaoh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSuRq7TFjlU

FOR EVEN MORE FUN

•Andrew Lloyd Webber’s description of how the Jews came to live in Egypt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj7nFfgtOek

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC, STRUCTURE

1. What does the graphic to the left tell you about the political structure of the Egyptian empire?

2. How does that political structure relate to our discussions of political changes caused by the advent of farming?

3. What are the benefits of the Egyptian political structure?

4. What are the drawbacks of the Egyptian political structure?

5. What does the graphic to the left tell you about the economic structure of ancient Egypt?

6. What types of goods were produced by ancient Egyptians?

7. What types of services were produced by ancient Egyptians?

8. What seems to separate more valuable workers from less valuable workers according to the graphic?

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE

1. How does religion affect the social structure of ancient Egypt?

2. Who is on the same level as priests in Ancient Egypt?

3. Why might priests hold this special position?

4. What might the Pharaoh expect people on the level beneath him to provide him?

5. What does Pharoah provide to the level beneath him? (I need you to remember this for when we get to the Middle Ages in Europe)

6. How does specialized knowledge affect a person’s social stature?

7. What types of people might be included in the Unskilled Worker category?

8. Why might people who have specialized knowledge be forced into the unskilled category despite their knowledge?

INTELLECTUAL AND GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES

1. What types of knowledge seem to be most valued by the ancient Egyptians?

2. Why might this type of knowledge be valuable?

3. On which level would you place soldiers, weapons makers, tool makers, mechanics, etc.?

4. Which people are most directly involved in working with the land?

5. Which people are most affected by environmental factors? Why?

MAP ANALYSIS 1. What vocabulary do you need to know

to understand the map? 2. What is the purpose of the map? 3. What information does the map

provide? 4. Identify at least two patterns in the

map. 5. Explain why those patterns might exist. 6. How did Egypt’s position in the ancient

world affect its ability to protect itself from invasion?

7. With which other empires would you expect Egypt to have conflict?

VISUAL ANALYSIS1. What seems

to be going on in the picture?

2. What are some features of the picture you find surprising or interesting?

3. What technologies do you see in the picture?

4. How did these technological advances affect warfare between Egyptians and other empires?

ASSYRIANS TAKE OVER EGYPT1. How does this map compare to the previous

maps of the empires? 2. What does the picture in the upper left hand

corner of the Assyrian military tell you about Assyrian culture?

3. What does the picture on the lower right tell you about Assyrian military strategy?

4. Using the map, make a hypothesis as to why the Assyrian empire was shorter lived than the Egyptian empire?

5. How does the map on the left relate to current geopolitical issues? 6. Is the area indicated on the map home to current militarized conflict? Why?

EXIT TICKET AND HOMEWORK

• Exit Ticket: How do current events in the former Assyrian Empire reflect a continuation of political, economic, religious, social, intellectual, and geographic struggles? How are the current struggles unique or different from those of the Assyrian period?

• Homework: Read Page 87-98