Chapter 5, Lesson 2 Essential Question: What makes culture unique? Life in Ancient Egypt Chapter 5, Lesson 2 Essential Question: What makes culture unique?

Activity

Religion in Egypt Egyptians worshipped gods and goddesses. The chief god was Amon, the god of Thebes. He was later merged with the god of the sun, Ra, to become Amon-Ra. Osiris, the god of the dead, and Isis, his sister/wife and goddess of nature, were also important.

The Afterlife Life after death even better than the present life. Book of the Death—prayers and magic spells to prepare for the afterlife Earliest Egyptians believed only the pharaoh could enjoy the afterlife, but later on Egyptians came to believe that the afterlife was possible for all people.

Mummification Believed that the pharaoh’s soul resided in his body, that is why it was preserved. • Dead bodies embalmed so people would have their bodies in afterlife. Embalm—to preserve a body after death http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/mummies/

Activity: Religion in Ancient Egypt Read “Religion in Ancient Egypt” pg. 110 to 112 What did the ancient Egyptians think the afterlife would be like?  Who was allowed to reach the afterlife?  (They thought it was even better than the present life.) (At first, Egyptians believed that only the pharaohs could achieve the afterlife, but later, all Egyptians believed they could.)

Activity Two: The Afterlife Ancient Egyptians' belief in the afterlife influenced all areas of their lives. Make a connection between Egyptians' belief in the afterlife and the area you were assigned. (5-6 sentences) If you were a scientist or a doctor, how might your belief in the afterlife affect your work?  If you were an Egyptian priest, how might your belief in the afterlife affect your work?  If you were an ordinary worker, how might your belief in the afterlife affect you?  (You might learn about the human body from the embalming process as you prepared bodies for the afterlife.) (You would prepare dead bodies for the afterlife by mummifying them, and you would feel a great responsibility to do your work well.) (You might live a good life so that you could achieve eternal life in the afterlife.)  

Pyramids • First rulers were buried in underground tombs, topped with bricks • Later replaced bricks with small pyramid • King Djoser built larger pyramid over his tomb around 2630 B.C. Step pyramid—sides rise in series of big step - oldest- known large stone structure in world

• 80 years later, pharaoh Khufu wanted to show world his greatness—ordered construction of largest pyramid ever, with 760-foot sides • Farmers worked during Nile's flood season, others worked all year • Took an estimated 20,000 people almost 20 years to build - city of Giza was built for workers

The Pyramid of Meydum The Bent Pyramid The Great Pyramids of Giza

IV. Social Order Pharaohs Upper Class Priests Middle Class/ Scribes Farmers Unskilled Workers Supreme Ruler, considered divine by the people; lived in palace; buried in pyramids Priest, nobles and army commanders. Lived in elegant homes; wore fashionable clothes; had servants Scribes (people who write on books), merchants; traders; business owners, and artisans who made clothes, jewelry, metal goods. Lived in small homes; and wore simple dress. Worked on land owned by the wealthy; lived in houses of mud bricks; limited diet; herders who tended sheep or goats. Could improve their lives if wanted to. Manual laborer; lived in crowed cities and mud brick houses; could improve their lives.

Priests Priests had to be pure and clean. .Besides serving the gods, priests did many other jobs, such as teaching, or even helping with the harvest. Priests had to be pure and clean. They shaved their heads and bodies and washed four times a day. This statue of a priest has a bald head, a fake beard and he is in the praying position

Noble on a hunting trip with his family Nobles Noblemen held high office in Ancient Egypt and helped the Pharaoh to rule the country (bureaucrats) The Pharaoh would often reward loyal nobles with gifts of land. Nobles were rich and could enjoy themselves hunting and having banquets. Noble on a hunting trip with his family

Scribes What is a Scribe? Scribes were the few Egyptians who knew how to read and write. A scribe's job was highly regarded in Ancient Egypt. Although being a scribe was rewarding, the training could take as long as twelve years. Scribes were very wise This statue of a Scribe was found in his tomb A peasant making papyrus

Craftsmen (Artisans) Egyptian craftsmen were highly skilled. They learned their trade from their fathers and, in turn, taught their sons. They used simple techniques and tools to make all sorts of useful things. The Pharaoh, government or temples often employed them. Craftsmen carving statues and ornaments Carpenters using a bow drill Metal workers making precious objects

Peasants The most important business in Egypt was farming. Most of the people who worked in the fields and barns were peasants. During the flood season when no farming could be done the peasants did building work on temples and palaces. Peasants herding cattle for the Pharaoh Peasants preparing food for a banquet

Activity Choose a member of Egyptian society, such as a pharaoh, farmer, priest, or merchant. Write a two paragraph diary entry that describes a day in that person's life. Write from the point of view of the person they have chosen, using "I," and to include details from the chapter about the person's social class. Make sure to include the advantages and disadvantages of your social group.

Egyptian Home Life

Egyptians at Work

Egyptians at Work