Section: 2 Egyptian Civilization Chapter 2 Section: 2 Egyptian Civilization

Objectives Compare Egyptian religion to present day religions. Analyze the structure of the Egyptian class system Identify the impact of the afterlife on the early Egyptians.

Egyptian Religion Egyptians believed in the afterlife. They also believed in many gods and goddesses. Amon-Re, the sun god, was the chief god. Only pharaohs could conduct ceremonies with the sun god. Most Egyptians identified more with Osiris and Isis. Osiris was the god of the underworld and Nile. Egyptians believed that he was responsible for the yearly flood.

Egyptian Religion Isis appealed to women because she was believed to help women learn how to spin flax, weave cloth, and care for children. Akhenaton, or Aton, was the pharaoh who tried to eliminate belief in any god other than Aton. The Egyptian people did not feel the same way.

The Afterlife Egyptians believed that each soul had to pass a test in order to win eternal life. They followed the Book of the Dead which contained spells, charms, and formulas that they would need in the afterlife. Egyptians perfected the art of mummification, or the preservation of the dead. They would extract the brain through the nose, remove most internal organs, fill the cavity with spices, dry the body out, and finally wrap the body in linen.

Egyptian Society The Pharaoh was at the top of the Egyptian class system. The high priests and priestesses were under the pharaohs. The Nobles were next. They fought the pharaoh's wars. The merchants scribes and artisans were after the nobles. They provided the services for the rich. Most Egyptians were farmers. They were the bottom of the class system.

Egyptian Society As the trade market grew so did the merchant class. Women could inherit property, enter business deals, buy and sell goods, go to court and obtain a divorce.

Egyptian Learning Temple scribes kept record of ceremonies, taxes, and gifts. Hieroglyphics was a form of picture writing that was used to keep important records. Ideograms were pictures that symbolized meanings. Scribes developed demotic, a simper form of writing for everyday use. They also developed a paper-like material known as papyrus.

Egyptian Learning The ancient Egyptians accumulated a vast store of knowledge in fields such as medicine, astronomy, and math. Doctors were able to diagnose illnesses and find cures. The Egyptians created a 12 month calendar with 30 days in each moth and 5 extra days at the end of the year. The Egyptians also excelled in art and architecture.