Transcript Slide 1

Ancient Egypt
A Map of Ancient Egypt
I.
Stability
A. Nile river - dependable, predictable
1. Upper Egypt - narrow valley - 600
miles to First Cataract (Aswan)
2. Lower Egypt - Delta plain –
Memphis
3. Referred to as the “Bringer of all
Good”.
B. Strong Government = Unification
C. Long Term Civilization: 31
dynasties (ruling families) covering
2000 years
Menes:
Unifier of Upper & Lower
Egypt
c. 3050 B. C. E.
?
1. Old, Middle and New Kingdoms periods of greatest unity and prosperity
a. Old Kingdom (2700-2200 BC, before
which were the "Early Dynasties")
• The Pyramid Age
• Crop failures, taxes, oppression
Pharaohs lost power
• Tomb raiding
Giza Pyramid Complex
b. Middle Kingdom (2050-1652
BC)
• Thebes new capital
• Pharaohs power revived
• Welfare of lower classes
• Provincial Governors
• First Bureaucracy:
administrators and officials
with regular procedures.
• Joseph
• Semite invasion
c. New Kingdom (1567-1085 BC)
• Threw out Semites
• Series of Pharaohs:
Amenhotep, King Tut
d. Between them came the
"intermediate periods" and then
the "post-empire" period
• Hyksos invaded during this
time. Ruled for 100 years.
• Extraordinary long-term
continuity of civilization
II.
Explanation
A. “Where do I fit in????” social classes
1. god-king - power symbolized by
pyramids (Old Kingdom)
2. nobility: vizier, chief judge,
superintendent of public works
3. priests
4. merchants
5. artisans
6. farmers (who also served in the army)
Egyptian Social Hierarchy
B.
Family relationships: marriage, children.
1. monogamy (for women)
2. importance of family unit
3. relationship of family to production of wealth
4. adultery punishable, (women with noses cut
off)
5. some divorces available
C. Importance of "being in one's place"
D. Less emphasis on individual than order and
harmony of the group
E.
Religion
1. Importance of nature
a. need for rain, floods, water, sun for
agriculture
b. sat skeletons at the table at celebrations:
the passing of time, life
2. Polytheistic
3. RE : Chief God of the Sun
4. Pharaoh Worship (at times)
5. legal codes
a. anything "unnatural" was therefore wrong
b. Social order and values
Hieroglyphics
III.
Invention
A. Art and Architecture: Stability of styles
1. links between Nature and Humanity (ala
Spinx, animal Gods, etc.)
B. Mummification
C. Great pyramids
D. 365 Day Calendar and Leap Year
E. Organized labor
F. Hieroglyphics as an early system of writing
G. Sails
Egyptian Mummies
Seti I
1291-1278 B. C. E.
Queen Tiye,
wife of
Amenhotep II
Ramses II
1279-1212 B. C. E.
IV. What could make the civilization last
so long?
A. Stable government
B. Profitable economy
C. The Nile
D. Warring tradition: strength in the
face of other invaders