Transcript No Slide Title

Ancient Egypt:
an Overview
1
Three Kingdoms of Ancient Egypt
OLD
KINGDOM
MIDDLE
KINGDOM
Pharaohs organized
a strong central
state, were absolute
rulers, and were
considered gods.
Large drainage
project created arable
farmland.
Egyptians built
pyramids at Giza.
Power struggles,
crop failures, and
cost of pyramids
contributed to the
collapse of the Old
Kingdom.
Traders had contacts
with Middle East and
Crete.
Corruption and
rebellions were
common.
NEW
KINGDOM
Powerful pharaohs
created a large empire
that reached the
Euphrates River.
Hatshepsut
encouraged trade.
Ramses II expanded
Egyptian rule to Syria.
Egyptian power
declined.
Geography
• Egypt is located in
northeastern Africa
• The Nile River runs the
length of the country
flowing south to north
• The river begins in the
mountains of Africa and
empties into the
Mediterranean Sea
• The climate is hot and dry,
part of the Sahara Desert
http://www.worldcountries.info/Maps/GoogleMap-Egypt.php
http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/geography/explore/ter.html
Bordered on the south, east and west by the Sahara
Desert, and on the north by the sea, ancient Egypt was
protected from outside influences.
Present Day Egypt
Religion
• Belief that many gods
and goddesses ruled the
world and the afterlife
Amon-Re: sun god
Osiris: god of the
underworld and of the
Nile
• The pharaoh was
believed to be a god as
well as a ruler
Falcon Headed Sun God
Religion
• Belief in eternal life after death.
Relied on the Book of the Dead to help them through
the afterworld.
• Practiced mummification, the preservation of the
body for use in the next life.
Canopic Jars made of alabaster for storage
of heart, stomach, intestines and liver. The
only organ that the Ancient Egyptians did
not preserve was the Brain?
Mummy
Inner coffin
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Second inner
coffin
Second inner
coffin lid
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4000 Year Old Mummy of a
Pharaoh
Mummification
Book of the Dead
Collection of spells, hymns, and prayers
intended to secure a safe passage to the
underworld for the deceased
Writing
Making paper from
papyrus
Hieroglyphics
• A formal writing system used by the ancient
Egyptians. Egyptians used cursive hieroglyphs
for religious literature on papyrus and wood.
Pyramids
Present day Pyramids
II. Great Pyramid
• Tomb for Khufu
• an almost perfect square (deviation .05%)
• Orientation is exactly North, South, East
West
• 2,300,000 blocks, 500ft high
• 20 years to build
• Average block weighs 2.5 tons
– Some weigh 9 tons!
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Sophisticated Civilisation
(A) RAISING STONE BLOCKS
One of the hardest jobs was moving
the heavy stone blocks into place. The
builders made huge ramps of earth and
dragged the stones up the ramps with
ropes.
(B) SUPERVISORS
Officials, who were probably priests,
directed the gangs of workmen.
(C) SHAPING THE STONE
Each stone was carefully measured and
shaped to fit into place.
(D) ACCIDENTS
Many workmen were killed or injured,
crushed by the heavy stone blocks.
• Large Scale projects were now feasible
– Planning
– Writing and Mathematics
– New Tools
• Public Works projects
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The Great Sphinx
The Great Sphinx of Giza
Photograph by Henri Bechard, 1887
VI. Ramses II (1279-1213)
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2
Social Classes
PHARAOH
Earthly leader; considered a god
HIGH PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSES
Served gods and goddesses
NOBLES
Fought pharaoh’s wars
MERCHANTS, SCRIBES, AND ARTISANS
Made furniture, jewelry, and fabrics for
pharaohs and nobles, and provided for other needs
PEASANT FARMERS AND SLAVES
Worked in the fields and served the pharaoh
Most Egyptian art
is found
underground or in
the pyramids.
IV. Egyptian Artwork
Stela (carved stone)
Egyptian Farmers & animals
Notice, all people drawn
from the side – even when
looking right at you!
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Egyptian Proportion
The Egyptians did not understand how to draw
a person from the side perspective. When they
drew a person’s side perspective they would
draw the person’s body facing the front and
the feet and head facing the side.
Egyptian
painting and
inside an
Egyptian tomb
Various Art works for Ancient Egypt
Nefertiti
King Tutankhamun “Tut”
•
Took the throne when he
was only 9.
• Died when he was 19
• Most famous pharoh.
• Tomb was discovered in
1922
Meet a King and Queen
of Egypt. They
were discovered in 1910.
King Mycerinus and Wife
.