River Civilizations of Egypt

Pyramids of the Nile

Cultural Hearth: Nile River Valley

Lower Egypt – Lower Egypt – land upstream Upper Egypt – Upper Egypt – land to the south

The Gifts of the Nile

1. Water - food 2. Transportation 3. Protection 4. Sense of security & confidence

Egypt’s History Old Kingdom B.C. Old Kingdom B.C. Age of prosperity and splendor Age of prosperity and splendor Middle Kingdom B.C. Middle Kingdom B.C. “golden age of stability” “golden age of stability” New Kingdom B.C. New Kingdom B.C. Egypt became and empire Egypt became and empire

1. Cities Established in the Nile River Valley at the tip of the delta – the point at which the Nile divides Established in the Nile River Valley at the tip of the delta – the point at which the Nile divides Cairo Cairo Giza Giza Saqqara Saqqara

2. Government Theocracy – “God-Kings” Theocracy – “God-Kings” Dynasty Dynasty

Pharaohs

Famous Pharaohs Hatshepsut – first woman pharaoh Hatshepsut – first woman pharaoh Akhenaton – worshiped only one god – Aton (god of the sun disk) Akhenaton – worshiped only one god – Aton (god of the sun disk) Tutankhamen – “King Tut” – restored the worship of multiple gods Tutankhamen – “King Tut” – restored the worship of multiple gods

King Tut Only Pharaoh found with his treasure

Ramses II Ruled 60 years Ruled 60 years Put Egypt back on the offensive Put Egypt back on the offensive Wars and building projects weaken Egypt Wars and building projects weaken Egypt New Kingdom collapses 1085 BC New Kingdom collapses 1085 BC

Ramses II

Cleopatra VII Tried to reestablish Egypt’s independence Tried to reestablish Egypt’s independence Involvement with Rome led to suicide & defeat Involvement with Rome led to suicide & defeat Egypt became part of Rome’s empire Egypt became part of Rome’s empire

3. Religion Polytheistic Polytheistic Gods associated with heavenly bodies & natural forces – sun gods & land gods (p. 46, 47) Gods associated with heavenly bodies & natural forces – sun gods & land gods (p. 46, 47) No word for religion – inseparable from their world No word for religion – inseparable from their world

Mummification Anubis, god of mummification

Pyramids as tombs

4. Social Structure Upper class pharaoh, nobles, priests Middle class – merchants, artisans, scribes, tax collectors Lower class – peasants who farmed the land & military service

5. Writing Emerged around 3000 BC Emerged around 3000 BC Hieroglyphics – “priest carvings” or “sacred writings” Hieroglyphics – “priest carvings” or “sacred writings” Hieratic script Hieratic script papyrus papyrus

Greek The Rosetta Stone Hieroglyphics

6. Art & Science Pyramids, temples, monuments Pyramids, temples, monuments Math and engineering Math and engineering Accurate calendar Accurate calendar Effective medicine Effective medicine

Abu Simbel