FrontPage: Why do you think the Egyptian pyramids were built?

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It's incredible, really. It features a central spire and an encircling picket-fence that's been reinforced by horizontal rails, and is strung together by a series of radially oriented guy wires. The structure measures less than 2 cm across. And here's the real kicker: nobody knows what made it.

FrontPage: Describe 1 significant aspect of Egyptian civilization.

According to a new report, a great deal of the vertical space in the world's supertall skyscrapers consists non-occupiable "vanity height."

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Kingdoms of Ancient Africa

Egyptians, Kush and Axum

The Egyptians - History The earliest civilization in Africa

History People settle next to the Nile

between 10 - 7000BC Upper (south, upriver) and Lower

(north, downriver) Egypt develop

Egyptian civilization begins around 3000BC when Menes unites Upper and Lower Egypt

End of ancient Egypt occurs with Roman conquest after death of Cleopatra in 27BC.

The Egyptians – Daily life The Nile – life centered on the yearly

flooding of this river Cycle of Inundation, Emergence,

and Drought While flood occurred, farmers helped to

construct pharaoh’s building projects After waters recede, farmers plant and

harvest crops **Good flood and harvest = stability

The Egyptians – Government and Society

Ruled by the Pharaoh – owned all the land, issued and collected taxes Was considered a

god, then a representative of god

Society structured according to classes Viziers, governors,

scribes, artisans, farmers/laborers, slaves

The Egyptians - Religion

Polytheistic – worshipped and believed in many gods

Amon Re, the Sun God, was most important Many other gods▪ Osiris, god of the

underworld.

Belief in afterlife - Elaborate burial rituals included pyramids

The Hall of Ma’at

Egyptian belief in how the dead would be judged.

Hieroglyphics

“Sacred writing”; Picture form of writing developed by the Egyptians May have been the first form of

writing (ca. 3200BC) Over 2000 characters;

ignored or omitted vowels Pronunciation was key

Often written on the walls of temples or on papyrus Cartouche – a “name tag”,

believed to protect the name of the pharaoh

Ancient Egypt

Nile River Valley: Land of Plenty

Creation Myths and Life After Death

Hieroglyphics

Pyramids of Egypt

Kingdoms of Ancient Africa

Kush and Axum

The Kingdom of Kush Located south of

Egypt Conquered Egypt in

750 BC for a short time Influenced by Egyptian

writing and religion Built capital at Meroe Achievements

Iron tools and weapons Traded with many parts

of Mediterranean By AD 200, Kush

collapsed

The Kingdom of Kush, Part 1

The Kingdom of Kush, Part 2

The Kingdom of Axum

Located south of Kush (Ethiopia) Emerged around

time of Kush decline King converts to

Christianity First Christian

nation in Africa Become cut off when

Islam travels to North Africa from Mid East

Own written language (Ge’ez)

Stelae (stone slab carved for certain purposes Probably carved around

400AD Markers for underground

burial chambers

The Kingdom of Axum

FrontPage: What is one difference between Kush and Axum?

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“Bent book” bookends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4B88fcwR8M