Ancient Egypt

1. Ancient Egypt • Essential Questions • Why did Herodotus refer to Egypt as the gift of the Nile? • How did the geography/environment of Ancient Egypt influence the lifestyle & religion of its people? • How did this contrast with the peoples & civilizations of the Ancient Near East? • What was the role of the pharaohs as God-King in the Egyptian Theocracy? How did they control their people? • What is the most important kind of history? • How did the Ancient Egyptians view death? How did this influence their culture and religion?

2. Ancient Egypt (3200-1100 B.C.E.) 3200-3100 B.C.E. Upper & Lower Egypt United by Menes/Narmer 2700-2200 B.C.E. The Old Kingdom - Pyramid Age 2200-2000 B.C.E. Civil Wars 2000-1800 B.C.E. The Middle Kingdom - Valley of the Kings 1800-1600 B.C.E. Hyksos Invasion/Hebrew Migration 1600-1100 B.C.E. The New Kingdom - Empire Age From Ancient to Islamic Egypt 1100 B.C.E. Invaded by the Sea Peoples (who?) 800 B.C.E. conquered by Kushites 670 B.C.E. conquered by Assyrians 550 B.C.E. conquered by Persians 332 B.C.E. conquered by Macedonians 323-31 B.C.E. ruled by the Ptolemys 31 B.C. – 632 A.D. Ruled by Roman/Byzantine Empire. 632 A.D. Various Islamic Rulers Timeline: Ancient Egypt

3. Map: Ancient Egypt

4. Unit 3: Ancient EgyptEssential Question: Why was Egypt the gift of the Nile?I. Geography of Ancient Egypt “Egypt is the gift of the Nile” – Greek Historian Herodotus Nile River = longest in world (4187 miles) from: __ (s) to __(n) 12 mile strip - straddles river east/west = most of Egypt’s population Heartland = 750 miles from 1stcataractto Nile Delta Nile Floods = magic word - _______________ Spring and Summer rains cause the Nile to flood for approximately 1 to 3 months between June & October. Kemet = “black land” - Adapting to Environment - Nile Irrigation - reservoirs & canals Transportation Source = united Egypt. Northward current/Prevailing northerly winds (blowing southward) Natural Barriers for Protection east & west = south =

5. Unit 3: Ancient EgyptEssential Question: How did the geography of Ancient Egypt influence the culture & religion of its people?II. Unification of Ancient Egypt • Menes = unites the two crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt. • (3100 B.C.) Memphis = capital – where Upper & Lower meet • Established 1st dynasty w/strong central government - (31 dynasties over 2,600 yrs.) • Marks the beginning of the longest lasting civilization in history • Differences between Upper & Lower Upper Egypt Southern Egypt Nile Valley Lotus Plant Vulture White Crown Horus = god of Sky Lower Egypt Northern Egypt Nile Delta Papyrus Plant Cobra Red Crown Seth = god of Storm

6. Unit 3: Ancient EgyptEssential Question: What was the role of pharaoh as God-King in the Ancient Egyptian Theocracy? How did they control their people? III. The Old Kingdom (2700-2200 B.C.E.) • Vocabulary • dynasty (3rd - 6th) = series of rulers who belong to same family • pharaoh = god-king • theocracy = the ruler is a divine figure, in charge of gov’t & religion full responsibility for kingdom’s well-being • maat = truth, justice & order • Pharaoh = Egyptian god-king, both human & ___ • Why did he enjoy unlimited power • G – grain = • O – order = • D – divinity = • How did they differ from the rulers of Mesopotamia? • Pharaoh/Egyptian Government’s Responsibilities: • Irrigation Works & Public Buildings = (ex. = ) • Army/Defense = organizing and training an army for defense. • Issuing laws and keeping the peace.

7. Unit 3: Ancient EgyptEssential Question: What was the role of pharaoh as God-King in the Ancient Egyptian Theocracy? How did they control their people? III. The Old Kingdom (2700-2200 B.C.E.) • Pharaoh/Egyptian Government’s Responsibilities: • Trade & Economy • dominated by pharaoh – monopolized commerce & trade • Trading Network – water & ships • Nile = why was it easily navigable? • Red Sea • Mediterranean Sea • Caravan to Mesopotamia & points east • Papyrus – from the Greek papyros = sounds like …? • Taxes – grain or service = human labor

8. Unit 3: Ancient EgyptEssential Question: What was the role of pharaoh as God-King in the Ancient Egyptian Theocracy? How did they control their people? III. The Old Kingdom or Pyramid Age • Social Structure: • Pyramid • stratified, but not rigid • secret to success = __ ____ • pharaoh • royal family • priests • scribes* • merchants • peasants/farmers • slaves

9. III. The Old Kingdom or Pyramid AgePharaohs, Builders of the Pyramids • Pharaohs: The Builders of the Pyramids – Lasting Contribution • Pyramids Purpose = final resting place • tombs & monuments to Pharaohs. • construction begins at the start of each Pharaohs reign • Primarily built b/w 3rd & 6th dynasties of the Old Kingdom period • Remarkable Engineering Achievement • The Great Pyramid at Giza = not surpassed as world’s tallest structure until after the Eiffel Tower (1889) • Great Pyramid = 20 yrs. 40 stories, 4 sides 2 ½ football fields, four corners • No wheel – How where they built w/ no wheel? = ___________________ • mostly copper tools • Who built them – slaves? = ___________________________ • Why Egypt? • Gift of the Nile = food, transportation, flood? • Supply of stone quarries = granite & limestone • Pharaohs = leadership, economic strength, government organization

10. F.Egyptian Writing: Hieroglyphics • Hieroglyphics (3000 B.C.E.) = Greek for “sacred carving”. • Originally carved on slate or ivory → _____________ • Scribes = • schooled from age 5 to 17 • practiced from sunrise to sunset memorizing and copying some 600 different characters. • Scribes were respected people in the community • Lay foundation for recorded history • Rosetta Stone = cracking the code

11. F.Egyptian Writing: 4.Rosetta Stone • “Rosetta Stone” • 1799 C.E., Napoleonic conquests = French troops in Egypt discovered a tablet • 3 different forms of writing (Greek, Hieratic and Hieroglyphics) • The Message • commemoration of the ascension to the throne of Pharaoh Ptolemy V in 196 B.C.E. • Ptolemy I was a General under Alexander the Great when the Macedonians conquered Egypt. After the death and break up of Alexander’s empire, he became Pharaoh of Egypt. Since the ruling family spoke Greek all three languages were included on the tablet. • Jean Francios Champollion = credited w/deciphering hieroglyphs (1822) • Egyptian Science & Medicine = • Solar Calendar = 4, 30 day months with 5 holy days = 365 total • Antiquities most renowned physicians = Book of Healing • Geometry = impact of geography – explain: __________________

12. IV. From the Old to Middle Kingdom • Old Kingdom’s Downfall = 1st Intermediate Period • During two periods in the history of Ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh did not control the entire country. • From 2200-2000 B.C.E. Pharaoh’s authority challenged = • Famine • Raids • From 1800-1600 B.C.E., Lower Egypt was ruled by the Hyksos • Hyksos = Greek for: “Princes from a foreign land.” • Introduced Egyptians to Bronze, Chariots, Bows, Spinning & Weaving. • It was during this period that the Hebrews came to live in Egypt. • Middle Kingdom = sandwiched between the periods of disunity • Thebes = new capital • Canal = dug from Nile to the Red Sea • Valley of the Kings = became the final resting place of Pharaohs

13. V. New Kingdom (1570-1090): Height of Egyptian Power/Empire • New Kingdom Pharaohs - Achievements • defeated Hyksos • enslaved Hebrews • reunited country • conquered lands outside of traditional Egypt • The Egyptian Empire = Nubia (south) to Euphrates River (northeast) • Forced Countries to pay tribute in money, food and/or slaves • The following Pharaohs are studied for their notable impact on Egypt during the New Kingdom/Empire Age. • Hatshepsut • Thutmose III • Amenhotep IV / Akhenaton • Tutankhamen • Ramses II

14. Obituaries: Research, Analysis, Interpretation, and Presentation • History = What actually happens? • History = What we are told happens? • History = What we come to believe happens? • What is the most important kind of history?

15. B. Rulers of the New Kingdom: 1. Hatshepsut • Hatshepsut [ruled c.(circa) 1500 to 1480 B.C.E.] • sister/wife of Thutmose II • Story: As daughter of Thutmose I she believed that she had a greater claim to the throne than Thutmose III (son of Thutmose II & a lesser wife) • Egypt’s 1st Female Pharaoh • peaceful & prosperous reign • Mysterious Death • Question: Was this a symbol of Thutmose III wraith of being kept from the throne or were Egyptians uncomfortable with the breaking of tradition and having a female reign as Pharaoh? • Her burial temple - never finished and her burial was never found. • Many of her temples - defaced or had her name covered over.

16. B. Rulers of the New Kingdom: 2. Thutmose III • Thutmose III (ushered in a Golden Age in Egypt 1450 B.C.E.) • Military training while waiting to assume throne = earned loyalty of army. • Emerged as one of Ancient Egypt’s Greatest Warrior Kings • skills • loyal support • large treasury amassed during Hatshepsut peaceful reign • Expanded Egyptian empire to Syria & the Euphrates river = never lost a battle • Unique Method for Keeping Conquered States in Line = __________________ • Karnak & Obelisks* • Cleopatra's Needle = Central Park & London • Rome – St. Peter’s Square • Washington Monument * Therefore, he has had a lasting presence in some of the most powerful nations of the last two thousand years.

17. B. Rulers of the New Kingdom: • Amenhotep IV (1379-1360 BC) • Tried to change religion to monotheism – why? • weaken the growing power of the priests of Amun in Thebes • built a new capital city, “Tell el-Amarna” • Monotheistic god = Aton - represented by a sun disk with many outstretched nurturing hands as rays of the sun. • Amenhotep changed name to Akhenaton = “All is well with Aton”. • Akhenaton’s changes did not continue to effect Egypt after his death • Succeeded by Tutankhamen (his young son-in-law) • Returned capital to Thebes • All monuments of Aton were destroyed • Tutankhamen is best known and only remembered for the tremendous historical insight that the artifacts contained in his undisturbed tomb gave to the archeological community in 1922. As for the curse of King Tut’s tomb, some believe that is was a bacteria which grew on the food left as an offering for the Pharaoh which was breathed and passed on by members of the dig killing 22 persons.

18. B. Rulers of the New Kingdom: 5. Ramses II • Ramses II (1304-1237 B.C.E.) - considered the last great Pharaoh • Lived to the age of 99, ruled for 67 years and father 150 children • One the greatest builders of the New Kingdom • Karnak at Luxor • Abu Simbel • Egyptian Empire v. Hittites (from ?) • 20 years of war • Ramses signed a truce with the Hittites sealed the truce by taking a Hittite princess to be his bride. • 1200 B.C.E. (shortly after the death of Ramses II) • Egypt invaded by the “Peoples of the Sea”. • Who? _________ & Who else did they weaken? __________ • Timeline: Ushers in a series of foreign rulers to Egypt

19. EQ: How did the ancient Egyptians view death? How did this influence their culture/religion?VI. Egyptian Religious Mythos =Greek for _____, _______, or ________. • Characteristics of Egyptian Religious Mythos • Polytheism = Many different gods represented various natural forces (2,000 deities) • Colorful = inspired both Pharaohs and the Egyptian people to complete great feats such as: • Giza = • Valley of the Kings = • Temples = Karnak at Luxor, Abu Simbel & Dendera • Advances in Science = Mummification • Works of Art = funeral masks, mummiform coffins, and tomb paintings. • Writing System = pictograms →hieroglyphics = sacred carving • Reasons for a Colorful Mythos = positive relationship w/gods = stability – natural protection, predicting floods • Osiris – fertility god of Nile = resurrection story

20. Valley of the Kings – Middle Kingdom

21. EQ: How did the ancient Egyptians view death? How did this influence their culture/religion?VI. Egyptian Religious Mythos:Death & Final Judgment • Death • if one was judged to have lived a “just” life ( ____________) ↓ • then they would live forever in the afterlife with Osiris enjoying all of the things that they enjoyed during life. • Final Judgment = Upon death Egyptians began a journey of many trials in order to get to the world of Osiris. • Final Judgment = Hall of Truth (witnessed by Osiris and 42 gods) • Journeying Soul brought before the Scale of Justice. • Egyptian's heart was weighed against the feather of Maat • Maat = represented truth, justice, purity, and goodness • Lighter = the soul would join Osiris in the afterlife • Heavier = the soul was eaten by Sobek

22. EQ: How did the ancient Egyptians view death? How did this influence their culture/religion?VI. Egyptian Religious Mythos: D. Mummification • 2 Parts = the body (“ba”) & the ghost (“ka”) • “ba” and “ka” must be reunited • Mummification = preserve body so “ka” would recognize “ba” • Indestructible Tombs (especially the pyramid) • Continuation of Earthly Life • Case Study: King Tutankhamen The Ka was given every advantage to recognize the body. After his body was mummified, Tut was buried wearing a funeral mask made of gold which depicted his likeness. He was then entombed in three mummiform coffins carved in his likeness, the innermost coffin was made of gold.

23. EQ: How did the ancient Egyptians view death? How did this influence their culture/religion?VI. Egyptian Religious Mythos: E. Mummification Process • 70 Days = most elaborate type of mummification • Brain = removed through the nose by a metal hook and discarded • Internal Organs = removed through an incision made in the left side of the body. The organs were then embalmed separately and placed into canopic jars. • Body: • Painted = w/ natron - a salt based substance • Stuffed = body cavity stuffed w/natron soaked rags - draws out remaining fluid (40 days) • Re-stuffed = with myrrh, cassia and other perfumes. Nostrils plugged with beeswax and gold rings were placed on each finger and toe • Wrapped = fine linen cloth (20x) - fine jewels were sometimes placed between the layers of wrapping. • Book of the Dead = scrolls & papyrus instructions on …