Ancient Egypt

NILE HIEROGLYPHICS PHAROAHS MUMMIES

Egyptian Civilization Egyptian civilization arose after Mesopotamia. The empire centered around the Nile River DELTA for agriculture + irrigation Two Kingdoms: “Upper Kingdom” to the south, “Lower Kingdom” to the North

In 3100 BCE MENES, king of Upper Egypt, united the two regions and used the Nile to link the two regions and as a trade route

Main Time Periods- The Old Kingdom (2700-2200 BCE) Pharaohs organized a strong centralized state Egyptians believed the Pharaoh had a divine right to rule because he was a god Power passed from one dynasty to another, or ruling family to another This period is characterized by the Pyramids that were used as tombs for the Pharaoh

Middle Kingdom (2050- 1800 BCE) Over time Pharaoh’s lost power to the nobles and the political stability in Egypt disappeared Famine and disease led to displeasure with the Pharaoh A new dynasty rose to power and established the Middle Kingdom with a focus on trade with people around the Middle East The Middle Kingdom fell to the Hyksos until the next Egyptian dynasty was able to drive them out and set up the New Kingdom

The New Kingdom 1500-1070 BCE Pharaoh decided the best way to protect Egypt from further invasion was to build a powerful military and seek out “buffer” lands between the Empire and their invaders Queen Hatshepsut (ruled between 1503-1482 BCE) she encouraged trade with many eastern Mediterranean lands along the Red Sea. She was also the first female to rule in her own name Ramses II was the most powerful ruler (1290-1224 BCE). He increased the empire size, build temples and monuments boasting of his conquests Egypt began to decline after his death

Egypt: Social Rich lived easy lives closest to the pharaoh, women had rights! Poor spent life farming and selling trinkets as merchants/artisans Slaves forced to build up the empire’s architecture Writing system known as hieroglyphics: images for words

Hieroglyphics

Which Egyptian Kingdom holds the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea? Plickers Which Egyptian Kingdom holds the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea? Lower Kingdom New Kingdom Old Kingdom Upper Kingdom

Which Kingdom built the pyramids as tombs? Plickers Which Kingdom built the pyramids as tombs? Lower Kingdom New Kingdom Old Kingdom Upper Kingdom

What was the writing style of the Egyptians? Plickers What was the writing style of the Egyptians? Pictograms Hieroglyphics Alphabet Cuneiform

Society Art and Literature Medicine and Science Physicians became skilled at observing symptoms, diagnoses, finding cures, surgery and medicines Priests and Astronomers studied the heavens, charting movements of planets and stars- developed a calendar Geometry was used to survey the land and build pyramids and temples and irrigation systems Paintings, statues, poems, literature, temples, pyramids, and tombs give us a lot of information of daily life, trade, farming, religious ceremonies and battles

Egypt: Political Egyptians were led by Pharaohs – seen as Gods on Earth They controlled all of Egyptian society, economics, politics, and foreign-affairs Some women were able to claim pharaoh status!

Mummification Egyptians who could afford to do so would have themselves mummified. They believed in a better afterlife if their body was preserved. Poorer class were simply buried on the outskirts of cities

Egyptian Economy Economy was Traditional: based on farming and trade. Egyptians traded up and down the Nile, with Mesopotamians and sometimes with Indus Valley (in Pakistan)