1. Egypt

2. Pharaohs Rule as Gods
The role of the king in Egypt was quite different from that of Mesopotamia
In Mesopotamia, Kings were representatives of the Gods
In Egypt, the Kings WERE Gods
These “God-kings” were called pharaohs
The type of government in Egypt is called a theocracy

3. Theocracy:
A form of government in which religious and political authority derive from the same source

4. Pharaoh's Responsibilities
Center of Egyptian religion
Center of Egyptian government
Had full responsibility for the kingdom’s well being
Promoted truth and justice

5. Pyramids
Egyptians believed that their kings ruled even after their death
Because of this, their tombs were very important
Their resting place was called a pyramid

6. Construction of Pyramids
Remarkable for this time since these people had little technology
Made completely of granite, limestone, and quartz
Each block of stone weighed 2 ½ tons
2 million blocks were stacked to heights of 481 feet !

7. Culture Egyptians were polytheistic 3 most important Gods were
Re - the sun god
Osiris – god of the dead
Isis – represented the values of mothers and wives
Egyptians had over 2000 different Gods/Goddesses

8. Religion
Unlike the Mesopotamians, the Egyptians believed in an afterlife
They believed that they would be judged for their deeds
Upon death, their hearts would be weighed. The heart could be no heavier than a feather. If it tipped the scale, that meant it was heavy with sin…
The royal and elite would mummify their bodies.