Egypt Skyler Ray Josiah Pope

The Nile River  (civilization begins around 7,000 years ago)  Longest river in the world  Floods annually (July) 1.good for irrigation 2.receding flood waters leaves behind mineral deposits for fertile soil.

Benefits of the Nile 1. irrigation for farming 2. hunting and fishing of wildlife 3.route for trade and transportation 4.papyrus-a reed (plant) used for paper

Cultural Aspects of Egypt's  Religion-polytheistic 1.belief in many gods 2.gods control the forces of nature (life, death, etc.) 3.many gods are associated with animals like dogs and cats (Ex: the Sphynx)

Famous Gods 1. Amon- Re (Ra)- the sun god a. sun rises in the east (birth) b. sun sets in the west (death) ; this is why all pyramid tombs are located on the west bank of the Nile River 2.Osiris- god of the Nile River (he later became god of the underworld after he was killed and brought back to life by his wife Isis) a. his death and rebirth are symbolized by the annual rise and fall of the Nile river.

Death  Very elaborate; people were carefully mummified and buried in tombs.  People were buried with the treasures and personal belongings to carry with them in the afterlife.

Writing  Egyptians used hieroglyphics (picture writing)  Pictures represented words or actions  Rosetta Stone a. founded by the French; used as a breakthrough to translate hieroglyphics and demotic b. demotic- hieroglyphics for poor people c. stone contained three languages: hieroglyphics, demotic, and Greek  since we already knew Greek, we were able to use that language to decipher the meaning of the other 2 languages.

Egypt Culture (cont.)  Social Class (hierarchy system) – look at the pyramid on board. 1. At the top – pharaohs – rule by divine right (god-king) 2. 1 st class – priests (preform rituals and sacrifices to gods); nobles (governors and administrators); military 3. 2 nd class – merchants, artisans, doctors 4. 3 rd class – free peasants (they were farmers) 5. At the bottom – slaves (forced as manual labor)

Women  1. Had higher social status than most societies.  2. more children = higher status  3. They could trade or get a divorce

Education  1. Priests were educators.  2. Wealthy boys learned reading, writing, math, and religion.  3. Regular boys had basic education and learned a trade.  4. Girls were home schooled.

Scientific Accomplishments  1. Excellent surveyors – used math to grid farmland and build pyramids.  day calendar – basically the same one we have  3. Pyramids – used as tombs and for astrological purposes  4. Surgery – through mummification, they knew the ins and outs of the human body.

Egyptian Kingdoms  Old Kingdom (2700 – 2200 B.C.) A. all kingdoms ruled by pharaohs 1. vizier – administrative leaders-led the gov’t. 2. scribes – carried out the orders of the vizier. B. Also called the “ Pyramid Age” 1. old kingdom is when famous pyramids of Giza were built 2. each block weighed 2 1/2 tons; over 2 millon blocks used.

Collapse of the Old Kingdom  1. costly projects (pyramids) bankrupted the kingdom  2. series of droughts  3.power struggle (no solid leadership)

Middle Kingdom  2050 – 1800 B.C. A. The weakest of the three Kingdoms B. Pharaohs regain strength, but they were occupied by a group from the north called the Hyksos. C. Hyksos ruled until New Kingdom D. Benefits from the cultural diffusion 1. chariots, bows, and bronze weapons

New Kingdom  1550 – 1100 B.C. A. most successful of the three – extended all the way to the Euphrates River in the Middle East. B. Famous rulers 1. Queen Hatshepsut a. took over after husband died b. first female ruler in history

Famous rulers (cont.)  Amenhotep ll – changed name to Akhenaton A. changed religion from polytheism to monotheism. B. new name Akhenaton is in reference to the sun god which is now the only god (very controversial)  King Tutankhamen A. Amenhotep’s nephew B. Restored polytheism to Egypt  Ramses ll (the great) A. famous as strong military leader B. Known as the most accomplished pharaoh (lived over 90) C. empire declined after his death  Cleopatra A. the last of the Pharaohs well after the end of the Old Kingdom (31 B.C.)