2. Ancient World (cont.) I.Mesopotamia II.Egypt (3100-500 BC) A.In General B.Unification & Politics Absolutism & Pharaoh Ethics & Women’s Status Pyramids & Religion III.Conc. Key Terms Nile River Papyrus Menes Pharaoh Osirus Isis Horus Ma’at Imhotep Nomarchs

3. Rosetta Stone Discovered in 1799; deciphered 1822 Included writing in hieroglyphics, demotic script, and Greek

4. Egypt’s Influence On Us Today 1.A new, less clumsy writing tablet: Papyrus 2.Toothpaste! a)Ingredients: lead, powdered flint, incense, and honey (ca. 1500 BC)

5. The Gift Of The Nile Most of Egypt is a desert, but the Nile... 1.flooded every year which added nutrients to soil. 2.made the land “livable;” 5-15 miles on either side of the River. 3.created a dependable and efficient transportation system. In contrast to Mesopotamia’s instability, the Nile provided stability and prosperity to Egypt.

6. Egypt was believed to be first unified between 3100-2850 BC by… Menes Unification Brings Prosperity He was also known as Narmer

7. Political Unification & Prosperity From about 3000 BC to 30 BC Egypt = very prosperous Pyramid Building: the Old Kingdom (ca. 2700-2200 BC) –Later, pharaohs hid tombs in caves

8. Royal Absolutism: Pharaoh’s Power 1.Pharaoh was a god on earth; no separation of church and state— no written law Smaller tombs were placed near pharaoh’s tomb 2.Taxes: about 20% of income went to Pharaoh 3.In return, Pharaoh ensured there would be prosperity (flooding of Nile) & no change 4.Regional “governors” called Nomarchs served as pharaoh’s representatives at the local level Yul Brynner as Ramses II (Ten Commandments)

9. Pharaoh & Religion/Mythology Osiris ruled over the kingdom of the dead. Originally a god of fertility, he was murdered by his brother. Osiris was resurrected by his wife Isis who reassembled pieces of his body. Horus Horus was the son of Isis & Osiris. Pharaoh was the incarnation of Horus on earth.

10. Ethics: Pharaoh & Ma’at 1.Belief: universe was characterized by chaos 2.To avoid chaos & maintain status quo, Pharaoh enforced Ma’at (outlined ethical behavior); this had to be kept to ensure prosperity Examples: feeding poor; protection of widows & orphans; treating others with kindness, etc.

11. Family Life & Women’s Roles Divorce was rare Women = unique position for Ancient World: –Matrilineal descent & inheritance –Owned property, engaged in trade, traveled in public –Could occasionally became Pharaoh

12. Djoser’s Step Pyramid (ca. 2800-2700 BC) Designed by the engineer Imhotep who later established a school of architecture

13. Quick Video Clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mce0Hm7h3GY

14. Statistics & the Great Pyramid Built about 2600 BC About 480 feet high and 750 feet long Built with 2.3 million limestone blocks Each block weighed about 2.5 tons Each block was hand-chiseled to fit in place perfectly Built with a labor force of about 100,000 men working for 20 years

15. Three Feluccas Sailing The Nile (These boats are similar to those used years ago)

16. So, why build them?--Religion Every body held a “ka” or double (soul?) that didn’t die when the body died. One’s “ka” survived more completely if the flesh was preserved. Pyramids were tombs for Pharaoh’s “ka” to allow it to be fed, clothed, etc.

17. Hieroglyphics From Book Of The Dead

18. Sphinx & Great Pyramid (Sphinx was carved from a natural bluff ca. 2500 BC)

19. Inside a Tomb Playing a board game Craftsmen making supplies A man grinding grain

20. Video Clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2T3fZDiSsw&feature=related

21. Role/Function Of Laws/Religion RegionReligionLawsMisc. MesopotamiaReligion explains natural events Laws are written & provide ethics but Church/State are one Polytheistic; uncertainty & instability EgyptAfterlife & natural events; Pharaoh is god on earth No need; Pharaoh’s word is law Polytheistic; Ma’at provides ethics; stable & prosperous

22. Ancient World (cont.) I.Mesopotamia II.Egypt (3100-500 BC) A.In General B.Unification & Politics Absolutism & Pharaoh Ethics & Women’s Status Pyramids & Religion III.Conc. Key Terms Nile River Papyrus Menes Pharaoh Osirus Isis Horus Ma’at Imhotep Nomarchs