4. A society characterized by security and changelessness  Protected by natural barriers ◦ Deserts (West and East) ◦ Mediterranean Sea (North) ◦ Cataracts (South) ◦ Red Sea (East)  Regular flooding

5.  Egyptian civilization arose slightly after Mesopotamia  3100 BCE King Menes unites villages of Upper and Lower Egypt (Dynasty)  3 major periods ◦ Old Kingdom (2700 – 2200 BC) ◦ Middle Kingdom (2050 – 1652 BC) ◦ New Kingdom (1567 – 1085 BC)  Religion ◦ Polytheistic ◦ Sun god (Atum, Re) ◦ Osiris (Resurrection )

6.  Pharaoh (Great House) ◦ Divine ◦ Absolute power  Bureaucracy  Vizier ◦ 42 provinces

7.  These are the Giza pyramids, the most famous. ◦ King Khufu  Pyramids were tombs for the kings.  Kings underwent process of mummification  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MQ5dL9cQX0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MQ5dL9cQX0  http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/mummies/home.html http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/mummies/home.html  These were built in 2500 B.C.E.

8.  After 150 interregnum Middle Kingdom is established  Looked upon as a “Golden Age”  Egypt expands to Nubia  Pharaoh transformed into more of a shepherd like figure  Delta drained  Canal dug between Nile and Red Sea

9.  Cultural Diffusion ◦ Chariot ◦ Bronze  Names you may know ◦ Hatshepsut ◦ Amenhotep IV -> Akhenaton ◦ Tutankhamen ◦ Cleopatra VII

10. Pharaoh Nobles and Priests Merchants, artisans, scribes and tax collectors Farmers

11.  Hieroglyphics “priest carvings”  Hieratic script  Ancient Egyptians wrote on papyrus, a substance derived from the plant of the same name