1. History of Ancient Egypt

2. Hieroglyphics Ancient Egyptian writing
Contained more than 2,000 symbols
Written in columns or rows
Reading direction was determined by the direction the animals in the symbols faced

3. Religion Over 700 gods and goddess Two main categories
Household gods
Local, state, or national gods
Common people worshiped mainly local or household gods
People also worshiped gods of their occupation
Name
God of:
Amun
Air, war, fertility
Bes
Marriage, dancing
Hathor
Love, birth, death, music, pleasure
Horus
Sky & falcon god
Khnum
Cataract region
Osiris
Underworld, inundation, vegetation
Ptah
Creation, craftsmen
Ra (Re)
Sun, Supreme Judge
Thoth
Scribes, wisdom

4. Click picture to view video.
Movie on Pyramids
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5. Great Pyramid at Giza Largest pyramid ever built
Stone blocks weighed an average of 2.5 tons
Contains approx. 2,300,000 stones
Built for king Khufu around 2500 B.C.

6. Theories of Pyramid Construction
Many theories exist
Ramps built on inclined planes that were increased in length and width as the pyramid grew
Step pyramid built first
Pyramids in the 12th and 13th dynasties were built differently

7. Pharaohs Name Known for/as Death Akhenaten “The Heretic Pharaoh”
Ruled 18 years, mummy never found
Amenhotep III
Period of peace and abundance
Ruled 39 years, tomb located in Valley of Kings, mummy believed to be in royal cache
Cleopatra
Boosted economy, last pharaoh to rule Egypt
Killed herself by allowing snake to bite her
Hatshepsut
Only female to erect the most monuments during rule
Ruled for 15 years, tomb and mummy never found

8. Pharaohs Continued Name Known for/as Death Khufu
Great Pyramid of Egypt
Ruled approximately 23 years, mummy never found
King Tut
Young pharaoh, given throne around age 8
Ruled 10 years, tomb located in Valley of Kings, tomb was almost intact when discovered
Ramses II
Expansion and building of many structures
Ruled 67 years, tomb located in Valley of Kings, mummy has been found
Snefru
Superior military management, advanced economy
Ruled estimated 24 years, pyramid at Madium failed, Bent Pyramid in Dahshur

9. Mummification Body was link to spiritual existence in afterlife
Old Kingdom, process reserved for pharaohs and top advisors
Middle and New Kingdom, extended to general population
Dry, hot climate caused natural mummification for poor
Process lasted over 2 months
3 main people involved:
Scribe
Cutter
Embalmer

10. Priests Role was to care for needs of gods and goddesses
New priests chosen by Pharaoh
Pharaoh had power to transfer and promote priests
Requirements while priests were on duty:
Wear only linens or clothing made from plants
Shave heads and bodies daily
Take cold baths several times daily
Practice sexual abstinence

11. Temples Cultus Temples Mortuary Temples
Dedicated to worship of specific god
2 types of ceremonies to gods:
Daily ceremony giving offering and providing for needs of gods
Special festivals, only time ordinary people allowed to participate
Built to honor deceased pharaoh and worship them as a god
Temple of Ramses II at Thebes is an example

12. Women Regarded as equal to men according to law Allowed to:
Own property
Borrow money
Sign contracts
Initiate divorce
Unable to become pharaoh except due to very special circumstances
Head of household were primarily men

13. Education Boys Girls Learned from father
Supplemented by training in given field
Apprenticeship to master in trade (usually father for scribes)
Taught by mother
No other formal schooling

14. Social Pyramid

15. Timeline
Intermediate Period
2184 B.C.
3rd Intermediate Period
1070 B.C.
2nd Intermediate Period
1782 B.C.
Graco-Roman Period
33 B.C.
The Early Dynasty
B.C.
New Kingdom
1570 B.C.
Old Kingdom
2700 B.C.
Middle Kingdom
2040 B.C.
Late Period
525 B.C.

16. Websites Used

17. History of Ancient Egypt