1. Chapter 2 Section 2 Egyptian Life and Culture

2. Review section 1 What Direction does the Nile river flow? What Direction does the Nile river flow? Why did geographic isolation benefit the Egyptians? Why did geographic isolation benefit the Egyptians? Name the outside invaders that came in and took over Egypt for a while Name the outside invaders that came in and took over Egypt for a while

3. The Achievements of ancient Egypt The Egyptians lived on a dependability of the annual Nile floods and their geographic isolation The Egyptians lived on a dependability of the annual Nile floods and their geographic isolation They are most recognized for their building of the pyramids and the sphinx They are most recognized for their building of the pyramids and the sphinx About 80 pyramids still stand along the west bank of the Nile About 80 pyramids still stand along the west bank of the Nile The best known pyramids are in Giza and the Great pyramid is 13 acres at its base (566,280 sq ft) The best known pyramids are in Giza and the Great pyramid is 13 acres at its base (566,280 sq ft) It was 480 Ft high and contains over 2 million blocks of stone each weighing 5,000 lbs It was 480 Ft high and contains over 2 million blocks of stone each weighing 5,000 lbs Building of the pyramids took great skill. Egyptian architects and engineers were the best in the world Building of the pyramids took great skill. Egyptian architects and engineers were the best in the world

4. The Great Pyramid

6. Other Egyptian Art The pyramids were built using ramps and levers, but the Egyptians were just as good at traditional art The pyramids were built using ramps and levers, but the Egyptians were just as good at traditional art Other forms of art include small statues of pharaohs, animals, and gods Other forms of art include small statues of pharaohs, animals, and gods The painters decorated buildings with pictures of everyday life The painters decorated buildings with pictures of everyday life They showed farmers in their fields, people at banquets, and artisans at work They showed farmers in their fields, people at banquets, and artisans at work Even the hieroglyphic form of writing was an art form Even the hieroglyphic form of writing was an art form

8. Science, math, and medicine Early in their history the Egyptians developed a calendar based on the movements of the moon Early in their history the Egyptians developed a calendar based on the movements of the moon {They later found that the annual floods would happen after a bright star appeared above the horizon} {They later found that the annual floods would happen after a bright star appeared above the horizon} Then there would be 365 days until the next time the star appeared on the horizon Then there would be 365 days until the next time the star appeared on the horizon The Egyptians then based their calendar on this new found cycle The Egyptians then based their calendar on this new found cycle 12 months with 30 days each and the last 5 days were used for holidays and feasting 12 months with 30 days each and the last 5 days were used for holidays and feasting To keep track they kept count using the pharaohs years of reign To keep track they kept count using the pharaohs years of reign

9. Continued In addition to developing the calendar the Egyptians had a number system based on 10 In addition to developing the calendar the Egyptians had a number system based on 10 They used fractions along with whole numbers and used geometry to build the pyramids and restore fields after flooding They used fractions along with whole numbers and used geometry to build the pyramids and restore fields after flooding They made important discoveries in medicine and human anatomy They made important discoveries in medicine and human anatomy They used this knowledge to treat illness and preserve bodies after death They used this knowledge to treat illness and preserve bodies after death The treatments for illness often used “magic spells” but involved herbs and medicine The treatments for illness often used “magic spells” but involved herbs and medicine

11. Education For the ancient Egyptians focused mainly on the elite group known as scribes, or clerks For the ancient Egyptians focused mainly on the elite group known as scribes, or clerks They learned to read and write so that they could work for the government They learned to read and write so that they could work for the government They focused on religious instruction which was the base for Egyptian life They focused on religious instruction which was the base for Egyptian life In fact the schools were usually attached to the temples In fact the schools were usually attached to the temples

12. The Gods In the earliest days of the Egyptian civilization each village has its own local god or gods In the earliest days of the Egyptian civilization each village has its own local god or gods The gods had their own animal symbol that they considered sacred The gods had their own animal symbol that they considered sacred Sacred animals include the cat, bull, crocodile, and the scarab beetle Sacred animals include the cat, bull, crocodile, and the scarab beetle Some of the gods became worshiped by people through out Egypt Some of the gods became worshiped by people through out Egypt The most important of these was Amon or Amon-Re the sun god or the creator The most important of these was Amon or Amon-Re the sun god or the creator

13. Amon-Re and Osiris

15. The Gods continued Osiris was the judge of the after life and was associated with the Nile river Osiris was the judge of the after life and was associated with the Nile river She died and was reborn just like the Nile flooded and receded She died and was reborn just like the Nile flooded and receded Isis was Osiris’s wife and was the goddess of the royal throne Isis was Osiris’s wife and was the goddess of the royal throne

16. The Afterlife {The afterlife was at first believed to only be available to the pharaohs, later it was believed that life after death was for everyone} {The afterlife was at first believed to only be available to the pharaohs, later it was believed that life after death was for everyone} {In the afterlife your heart was weighed and it would tell if you had lied, murdered, or been too proud} {In the afterlife your heart was weighed and it would tell if you had lied, murdered, or been too proud} Your heart was weighed against a sacred feather on a great scale. If it balanced you entered a place of eternal hapiness Your heart was weighed against a sacred feather on a great scale. If it balanced you entered a place of eternal hapiness If the scale did not balance the heart was thown to the eater of the dead If the scale did not balance the heart was thown to the eater of the dead

17. Egyptian Mummy in NY Museum

18. The afterlife continued In the afterlife the body needs to be preserved to make life after death possible In the afterlife the body needs to be preserved to make life after death possible To do this they developed a process known as mummification: the organs of the body are removed, the body is treated with chemicals To do this they developed a process known as mummification: the organs of the body are removed, the body is treated with chemicals Workers placed the body in the tombs stocked with food, tools and weapons Workers placed the body in the tombs stocked with food, tools and weapons The objects were considered important for use in the afterlife The objects were considered important for use in the afterlife Years later the Book of the Dead was placed in the tombs as a guide to the afterlife Years later the Book of the Dead was placed in the tombs as a guide to the afterlife

19. The book of the dead (from the mummy movie)

20. Farming Farming was divided into large estates and was done mostly by the peasants Farming was divided into large estates and was done mostly by the peasants Wheat and Barley were the chief crops, but flax was grown then spun and woven into linen Wheat and Barley were the chief crops, but flax was grown then spun and woven into linen Cotton was also grown and used for cloth Cotton was also grown and used for cloth Part of the crop was kept by the peasant the rest went to the pharaoh as rent and taxes Part of the crop was kept by the peasant the rest went to the pharaoh as rent and taxes Life for the farmer was difficult Life for the farmer was difficult

21. Trade The peasants were able to grow more food than what was needed so they used it to trade The peasants were able to grow more food than what was needed so they used it to trade This developed new opportunities for the growing middle class This developed new opportunities for the growing middle class Merchants rode in caravans (groups of people traveling together) for safety Merchants rode in caravans (groups of people traveling together) for safety They traveled deep into Africa and West into Asia They traveled deep into Africa and West into Asia They were among the first people to build boats to travel by sea trading in the Mediterranean and Red sea and traveled the African coast They were among the first people to build boats to travel by sea trading in the Mediterranean and Red sea and traveled the African coast

23. Review What did the Egyptians base their calendar on? What did the Egyptians base their calendar on? What was the Egyptian Number system based on? What was the Egyptian Number system based on? What happened to you in the afterlife? What happened to you in the afterlife? Were the Nile floods predictable? Were the Nile floods predictable?

24. The End?