Download LIFE IN ANCIENT EGYPT

Teacher's Notes
LIFE IN
ANCIENT
EGYPT
SUMMARY
This video is a general introduction to the history and
culture of Ancient Egypt. The emphasis is on the
day-to-day life of the people. The video shows such
activities as the making of flax into linen, winemaking, the production of mud bricks and papyrus, as
well as the use of ancient farm implements and
methods employed by craftspeople.
The video is divided into the following segments:
Geography
Explores the crucial role of the Nile and its Delta in
the origin and growth of Ancient Egyptian civilisation.
How techniques of irrigation ultimately created a
centralised government.
Time Line
A diagrammatic history of the major periods of
Ancient Egypt (this is shown in greater detail in these
notes).
Duration: 28 min
Years: 6-10
How Do We Know About Ancient Egypt?
The evidence of what life was like in Ancient Egypt
through archaeological discoveries and burial
customs. The significance of Champollian and the
cracking of the hieroglyphic code, and the discovery
of Tutankhamen's tomb.
Mummification
The religious importance of conserving the body for
the after-life and how this was achieved.
Pyramids and Tombs
The various stages that led up to the building of the
pyramids. Their general design, both interior and
exterior.
The After-life of the Egyptians
Complex religious beliefs. Standing trial before Osiris
and eternal after-life.
The Pharaoh as God and Ruler
The structure of Ancient Egyptian society;
conservative and hierarchical.
Marriage, Family and Children
The importance of the family, the role of women,
romantic love and marriage customs.
Personal Appearance
Style of clothing and the making of linen. The
importance of cleanliness, make-up, wigs and
jewellery.
The Home
The making of mud bricks and the construction of a
basic dwelling. Design and architecture for the more
affluent.
Decorations and Furnishings
Basic items of furniture to be found in the home.
Food
The grinding of grain into flour and making bread.
What they ate and drank. Crushing grapes and
making wine.
Social Life and Entertainment
Banquets with dancing girls and musicians. Board
games, athletics and family hunting expeditions.
The Peasants and Agriculture
The yearly agricultural cycle. A close look at the
tools and methods used in the cultivation of soil,
sowing of grain, irrigation and the shaduf, and
harvesting. The scribe tallies.
Crafts
Paintings, sculpture and pottery are the major crafts
dealt with.
Scribes
The essential role of the scribe as official recorder of
all transactions. The production of 'paper' from
papyrus reeds.
Transport
The Nile as highway.
Religious Life
Official state religion and the role of the priest. A brief
look at Egyptian gods.
Conclusion
Many aspects of Egyptian life remain unchanged to
this day.
CREDITS
Producer
Linda Blagg
Written by:
Linda Blagg
Consultant/Teachers notes
Jenny Lawless, Teacher/Historian
(Ancient History)
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
WORK SHEET
Name:________________________________________
Geography
1. The valley of the Nile was called the____________
______________ Land.
2. The Nile was so important because:
(a)_______________________________________
(b)_______________________________________
Time Line
3. Old Kingdom dated from_____________________
Middle Kingdom dated from___________________
New Kingdom dated from_____________________
4. We know about Ancient Egypt from____________
_________________________________________
5. Ancient Egyptian writing is called:
cuneiform
hieroglyphics
sanskrit
6. The greatest discovery of all was the tomb of
_________________________________________
7. Preserving the dead is called_________________
8. Pharaohs were buried in_____________________
and______________________________________
The Pharaoh
9. Another word for pharaoh could be_____________
10.Label the Social Pyramid:
(a)______________________________
(b)_____________________________
(c)____________________________
Social Life and Entertainment
20.Forms of entertainment included_______________
_________________ _______________________
________________ and ______________________
(d)___________________________
Agriculture
Marriage/Family
11.Divorce was allowed/not allowed by law.
12.Most people were_____________on their heads.
13.Flax was used to make______________________
21.The agricultural year began in_________________
22.Farm tools included the______________________
and ______________________________________
23.Crops included_____________________________
_____________________ and ________________
The Home
14.Homes were made of _______________________
manufactured from _________________________
and______________________________________
15.Roofs were made of_______________________
Decorations and Furnishings
16.People sat on______________________________
Crafts
24.Three craftsmen included_____________________
______________________ and ________________
25.Pots were made from _______________________
and shaped on a ____________________________
26.Scribes were important as they could__________
__________________________________________
They wrote on ______________________________
Religion
___________________ and _____________________
19.The wealthy ate____________________________
Transport
27.The main kind of transport was by_____________
and clothes were stored in____________________
17.Food was cooked in_________________________
18.Main foods included_________________________
____________________ ______________________
28.Gods were often represented as_______________
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN TIME LINE
BC
3200
3100
3000
2900
2800
2700
2600
2500
2400
2300
2200
Period
EARLY
DYNASTIC
PERIOD
OLD
KINGDOM
FIRST
2100
2000
1900
1800
Dynasty
Politics/Trade
Dynasty I
3100 - 2890
1. Upper and Lower Egypt united by Menes
2. Captial at Memphis
3. Trade with the Near East
1. Development of hieroglyphic writing
2. Copper tools and weapons used
3. Royal tombs near Memphis and Abydos
Dynasty II
2890 - 2686
4. Large irrigation and drainage projects
5. Probably some political strife between Upper and Lower
Egypt
4. First known writing on surgery
5. Increased use of stone for building
6. Intricate metal, ivory and wood-work
1. Powerful and strong pharaohs like Djoser, Khufu, Khafre
and Menkaure
2. Campaigns against Nubians and Libyans
3. Gold and incense from Africa, copper from Sinai
4. Weakening of pharaoh's absolute power
1. Large-scale building and sculpture in stone eg., Step Pyramid
2. Bent Pyramid, Great Pyramid at Giza and
Sphinx built
1. Many kings with short reigns - political chaos
1. Social turmoil - pyramids and tombs ransacked
Dynasty 3
c2686 - 2613
Dynasty 4
2613 - 2494
Dynasty 5
2494 - 2345
Dynasty 6
c2345 - 2181
1500
1400
1300
1200
1100
1000
3. Rise in importance of Sun-god, Re
4. Famous 'PyramidTexts' written
Dynasties
INTERMEDIATE
KINGDOM
7 - 11
c2181 - 2040
MIDDLE
KINGDOM
Dynasty 12
c1991 - 1786
1. Re-unification under Theban pharaoh Mentuhotep II
2. Thebes the capital
3. Expansion south to the third Nile Cataract
1. Artistic 'Renaissance' and cultural splendour
2. Development of portraits, literature, temples,
sculpture
Dynasties
13 - 17
c1786 - 1567
1. Seizure of power by Hyksos kings from the Near East
1. Decline of art standards
2. Decline of traditional culture
1700
1600
Culture/Society
SECOND
INTERMEDIATE
KINGDOM
NEW
KINGDOM
Dynasty 18
c1567 - 1320
Dynasty 19
1320 - 1200
Dynasty 20
1200 - 1085
1. Theban pharaoh Ahmose expels the foreign "Hyksos"
2. The period of strong and influential pharaohs, such as
Thutmose I, Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Akhenaten,
Ramses II
3. The Egyptian 'Empire' reaches its peak
4. Extensive foreign trade
1.
2.
3.
4.
Thriving Literature
Increased wealth due to trade and military campaigns
Hatshepsut as a female pharaoh
God Amen at his greatest height - replaced
temporarily by Akhenaten
5. Great building projects
Teachers' Answers - Work Sheet
1. Black Land
2. Nile a source of wealth; source of water; irrigation;
silt; transport.
3. Old Kingdom dates - 3,200 Middle Kingdom dates - 2,000 - 1,700 BC
New Kingdom dates - 1,500 - 1,000 BC
4. Burial customs
5. Hieroglyphics
6. Tutankhamen
7. Mummification
8. Mastabas and pyramids
9. King
10.Social Pyramid Pharaoh
Nobles
Officials
Scribes
Peasants
11. Allowed
12. Wigs
13. Linen
14. Mudbricks - straw and mud
15. Palm leaves
16. Stools; chests
17. Earthenware ovens
18. Bread, vegetables, fish, wild fowl, beer, wine
19. meat
20.
Banquets; musicians; dancing; performing
animals; acrobats; games
October
Hoe and plough
Wheat, barley and flax
Carpenters, sculptors, painters, potters, etc
Mud or clay; wheel
Read and write - papyrus
Boat
Animals
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
Suggestions for Follow-up Activities
1. Research Tasks - either in groups or as individual
projects: Mummification; Afterlife; Burial Customs;
Clothing;
Food; Housing; How were Pyramids
built? Individual Kings
and Queens; Crafts and
Industries; Women's Lives; Children; Diseases and
Medicine; Education.
2. Biographyof a Famous Egyptologist
OR The Diary of an Archaeologist
3. Creative Writing: 'Indiana Jones and the Lost
Tomb'! What do you discover?
4. Empathy: As an Egyptian Nobleman or noblewoman,
describe a typical day (using as many historical facts
as possible in your re-creation).
5. Model-making - construct 3 dimensional models of
tombs, pyramids, houses, shaduf, a village.
6. 'Museum' Display - models of buildings; artifacts;
photographic or drawing display.
7. Mock Tomb - using 'wall paintings', decorate your
room as if it was a tomb. Students research the
themes presented on
tomb walls and re-create one
- or, create a 'frieze' about the room showing aspects
of Egyptian life.
Bibliography
Generally for Teacher Reference or Senior use. Those
marked (j) can be used by Juniors.
1. Allan, T. & Henry, V: "Pharaohs and Pyramids". Time
- Traveller Books. Rigby, 1977. London.
(j)
2. Bains, J. & Malek, J: "Atlas of Ancient Egypt".
Phaidon, 1989.
(j)
3. Casson, L: "Ancient Egypt". Great Ages of Man.
Time-Life Books, 1969.
4. Hennessy, D. (ed): "Studies in the Near East".
Nelson, 1991.
5. Malek, J. & Forman, W: "The Egyptians. In the
Shadow of the Pyramids". Golden Press, 1986.
6. Museum Puzzle-Picture Book of "Life in Ancient
Egypt". Heritage Books & Longman, 1983. (Excellent
for developing Junior activities.)
(j)
7. Unstead, R.J. (ed): "See Inside - an Egyptian Town".
Kingfisher Books, 1986.
8. Who am I? Students to provide historic 'clues' as to
their identity or as an object: 'What am I'?
9. Role Play- to research an historical character and to
role play in a variety of settings - eg., Ramses II
explains his military campaigns to the court;
Amen in the Afterlife;
Akhenaten faces the god
debate between Hatshepsut and
Thutmos III (this
activity is especially useful for seniors).
Copyright
and Orders:
10. Slide Quiz -good revision exercise. What is this
object? What does it tell us about Egypt?
11. Burial and Funeral Ritesre-enactment - and, if you're
game, find something dead to mummify!
12. Hieroglyphics- provide the alphabet and write
names.
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