Pyramids on the Nile

Chapter 2

Land of Egypt

Importance of Geography

Nile floods created plentiful harvests (predictable)

Nile acted as unifying factor (N/S)

Desert was a natural barrier

The River Nile

Egypt’s Historical BackgroundI. Archaic Period

Unification of Upper & Lower Egypt in 3100 BC by King Menes

First dynasty was founded

Hieroglyphics were introduced about 3000 BC

Rosetta StoneHieroglyphicsDemoticAncient Greek

Interpreted by Jean Francois Champollion in mid-19th century (20+ years)

Rosetta

StoneBritish

MuseumLondon

Papyrus

- A paper-like material made from reeds.

Old Kingdom 2770-2200 BCTime of prosperity & splendor

Founded by Zoser - 3rd dynasty

“Age of the Pyramids”

Time when pharaoh’s power became absolute & divine

Role of Pyramids

Represented royal authorityMonumental architecture

Tomb for mummified body of the rulers

The Afterlife and Ka

Ka (soul of the body?) could live on after death but must be provided for with all the things necessary for life…

Khufu’s pyramid aka “Great Pyramid”

Giza: The Great Sphinx*

Giza

Pyramid comparison

PyramidsRooms stocked with supplies

for the next life….Chairs DishesBoats FoodGames ClothingWeapons Chariots

Tut’s Tomb

Howard Carter

Vulture collar from Tut’s tomb

Vulture Collar from the tomb of Tutankhamen

Collapse of the Old KingdomToo much investment in

pyramid building

Series of poor harvests

Nobles usurped power

First Intermediate Period

Time of anarchy & chaosNo central authority/feudal Desert tribes invaded11th Dynasty restored order

in 2050 BCE

Pharaoh ruled as a god(Theocratic government)

Head of religion, government & army…Full responsibility for prosperityCaused rain to fall, sun to riseNile to flood , crops to grow

Main GodsRe - the sun godAmen - the god of ThebesOsiris - judge of the dead

Egyptians hoped for life after death

OsirisJudge of the Dead

Personified the growth of vegetation & life-giving force of the Nile

Weighed hearts of

the dead

Triumph of Good over EvilThe Cult of Osiris * Hyperlink

Paternal qualities of Osirisappealed to emotions

Promised immortality to those who led moral lives

Isis

Love, magic, motherhood, children, medicine and peace were her human realms

Anubis

Jackal head

God of embalming

Mummy at The British Museum

Step 1: Washing the body & anointing with oils

Step 2:Removal of organs

Canopic Jars held organs

-Represented the four sons of Horis

-Vital organs were stored

Brain Probe

The brain was thought to be useless, a producer of mucus. It was liquefied and removed through the nostrils.

Probe from The British Museum

Step 3: drying body with salts

Step 4: Body cavity stuffed with linens and other fibers

Step 5: rewashing after 70 days

Body preserved for eternity

People of all classes planned for their burials

Tombs filled with all that would be needed in afterlife

Mummified Remains of King Tut’s Granny…

Queen Tiy, wife of Amenhotep III

The Middle Kingdom 2050-1652 BC

More socially responsible Swamps drained Canals dug

Pharaoh allied with middle classes

Classical or Golden Age

Middle Kingdom…continued

Expansion into Palestine & Syria…followed by weak rulers

Religion democratizedCult of Osiris gains momentum

Idea of personal salvation

Second Intermediate Period ends the Middle Kingdom, 1640 BC

Takeover by Hyksos, nomads from Western Asia

Secret weapons: the chariot & bronze Adopted by Egyptians

Hyksos driven out after 70 years!

Warlike rulers restored Egypt’s power & built an empire Queen Ahhotep Pharaoh Kamose

The New Kingdom 1560-1075 BC “Third Period of Glory”

Mighty military machine was source of pharaoh’s power

Professional army

Power of nobles reduced

Map of Egypt

New KingdomRuled by the 18th, 19th and 20th Dynasties

Thebes (in the south) was capital

New Kingdom pursued aggressive imperial policies in the Fertile Crescent

New Kingdom VIPs Hatshepsut – first woman ruler Thutmose III - expansionist Amenhotep IV - monotheist Tutankhamun – boy king

Ramses II “The Great” – builder, peace-maker, Moses, 19th dynasty

Hatshepsut

Declared herself pharaoh ~1472 BC

Encouraged trade not war

May have been killed by her step son

Amenotep IVaka

Akhenaten

sandstone bust 1375 BC

Musee du Louvre, Paris

Akhenaten:religious revolution & monotheism

Elevated the status of sun god; Aten Monotheism opposed by

priest/people

Moved capital to Akhenaten in middle Egypt

Nefertitiwife of Akhenaten

Daughter of the vizier

State Museum, Berlin

Akhenaten & Family

Funerary Mask

of Tutankhamen

(Egyptian Museum)

New Kingdom: King Tut’s solid gold inner coffin

King Tutankhamen

Probably the son of Akhenaten Died at age 18Succeeded by Nefertiti’s father,

AyRestored the old gods / capital

Ramses IIruler of Egypt

r.(1290-1224 BC) First Ruler of 19th

Dynasty

Ramses II

with warcaptives

Last great

pharaoh

Egyptian QUEEN: One of Ramses

II’s 200 wives & concubines

Temple of Ramses II

at

Abu Simbel

Died aged 99 150 children

Moses Michelangelo,

1512, Rome

Might have lived during the time of Ramses II

Egyptian EconomyAgriculture mainly…

Wheat, barley, flaxRaised sheep & cattle

Glassware & metalworkingWeaving & PotteryLuxury goods for the wealthy

Plowing (ceramic from tombs)

Egyptian flat bread found in tomb

Egyptian Pottery

Egyptian Glass:cosmetics container For kohl

(eyeliner) Example of a

luxury item The Egyptians were the first to

produce glass

Henna Used for Mehandi

and as hair dye

Razor Shaved

heads were common for males & females

Empire Fades After 1200 BC

People of the Sea caused destruction

Palestine rebelledLibyans invaded

Ruled 950 -750 BC

Piankhi of Kush took control in 751 BC

Unified Nile from Napata to the delta

Established 25th dynastyReigns for 80 years

Overthrown by AssyriansRoyalty flees to Meroe

Greek Rule begins330 BC323 BC to 30BC ruled by

Ptolemy familyEgypt’s authority, wealth &

independence remained intactCleopatra VII was the last

ruler before takeover by Rome

Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra VII

Contributions to Civilization

Architecture & Engineering Art Hieroglyphics

Solar calendar based on 365 days per year introduced in 4200 BC

The End