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Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt: Overview and Geographical Importance Egypt began as two separate kingdoms • Upper Egyptian rulers wore a tall, white crown, while Lower Egyptian rulers wore a red crown 3150 BCE Narmer or Menes (King of Upper Egypt) defeated Lower Egypt and created a new capital city at Memphis Unification was symbolized by Narmer adopting the Double Crown, which represented both regions A mural of Narmer or Menes conquering Lower Egypt (c.a. 3100 B.C.) There were three main areas that were populated in Egypt: 1. The Nile Valley • Sole source of water for Egypt • Predictable flooding provided rich fertile soil (also enabled creation of calendar and seasons: Emergence and Inundation) • Both revered and feared (too much flooding or droughts) 2. • • • 3. • • The Nile Delta Area were Nile empties into Mediterranean Sea Largest piece of fertile land Encompassed major centres of Egypt Faiyum Lake Moeris lies at end of branch of Nile is centre of oasis called Faiyum Irrigation from Nile made Faiyum the third most populated land Map Of Egypt • Add the following items to your map using Page 60 in World Civilizations: A Comparative History • Water: Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Nile River, First Cataract, Second Cataract, Upper Nile, Lower Nile • Cities: Gizeh (Giza), Thebes, Luxor, Karnak, Memphis, Alexandria, Saqqara, Cairo, Heliopolis, Faiyum • Regions: Nile Delta, Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, Valley of the Kings, Arabian Desert (Eastern), Libyan Desert (Western) Red Land, Black Land • Civilization began about 3200 BCE around Nile River (last 1200 km closest to Mediterranean Sea) • RIVER flows South-North, WINDS blow North-South • Rich silt soil (kemet) was the black land; the barren desert was the red land (strict dividing line) • Egypt also received resources from six fertile areas called “Wadis”: • • • • • Grapes (Wine) Natron (salt used for embalming and early form of soap!) Olives Barley (beer) Date Palm (wood and dates) • Upper Egypt (south) consisted of many cliffs (limestone and granite) • Lower Egypt separated into the Nile Delta (papyrus) • *** Despite many afrocentrist untruths, “Kemet” did not mean “Land of the Blacks”… referring to race.*** • Fertile soil • Deserts provided protection and shelter from outside influences • Deserts were an important source of minerals and building supplies (copper, tin, gold and natron) • Access to Mediterranean increased and expanded trade and culture • Culture was one of stability and not rapid change • Video DVD: Engineering an Empire Geographic Effects on Egypt’s history Wealth What determined Egypt’s Economic Prosperity? • Agriculture - made up most of Egypt’s wealth – grain, vegetables, fruit, cattle, goats, pigs and fowl • Abundance and management of food supplies (not royal treasury) was the measure of Egypt’s • Wealth = full granaries, plenty of wildlife and fish, and thriving herds were the signs of prosperity. • These were the images used in the tombs of the Pharaohs to illustrate the wealth of their reigns Economy • Simple economy based on food production and minerals from desert • Access to the Mediterranean their routes extended trade as far as Northern Europe, subtropical Africa and the Near East • Trading was done by bartering goods (grain, oil, wheat) • Taxes, salaries and loans were all paid entirely on goods • Extensive trading made Egypt a powerful influence on culture, art, ideas and technology (ie. Western calendar was taken from the Romans who had borrowed it from the Egyptians) • Trade eventually grew and expanded, bringing new ideas and goods into Egyptian society What was the “SOUL” of Ancient Egypt? THE NILE was considered the SOUL as it was the source of life and path to immortality Egyptians lived on Eastern side but buried on Western side River was symbol of passage of one life to next (eternity) Creation story began in swirling waters of the Nile when God Horus gave power to Pharaohs Click here for Creation Story Gods and Goddesses GEB NUT TEFNUT ATUM SHU NUT MA’AT Creation Story ANUBIS Website: Gods and Goddesses HORUS ISIS ATUM Egyptian Deities Re (Ra) The Chief Egyptian God. Was seen as the God of the Sun. Anubis was the patron of embalming. • He was also the keeper of poisons and medicines. • Anubis performed the Opening of the Mouth ceremony which was performed at the funeral to restore the senses of the deceased. • The ceremony was done by touching the mouth of a mummy or statue of the deceased • It was believed to restore the senses in preparation for the afterlife. Osiris Supreme God and judge of the dead. The symbol of resurrection and eternal life. Provider of fertility and prosperity to the living. Isis: As a winged Goddess she may represent the wind. In the Osiris legend there are references to Isis wailing and moaning like the wind. • She restores life to Osiris by flapping her wings and filling his mouth and nose with air. • Isis was a great enchantress, the goddess of magic. • She was the embalmer and guardian of Osiris. She is often rendered on the foot of coffins with long wings spread to protect the deceased. Horus: was the son of Osiris (The God of the Dead) and Isis. It was said that he avenged the death of his father he was considered to be the model of a dutiful son The Ka It was believed that each person had a Ka, or Soul. The practice of mummification began because it was believed that the soul could exist in the afterlife only so long as the body was preserved But why are all ancient religions similar? Major Time Periods of Egypt The Old Kingdom When the pharaohs built the pyramids The Middle Kingdom When training and military explorers were sent out to expand Egypt’s boundaries The New Kingdom Ending with Queen Cleopatra losing her land to Augustus Caesar and Rome Egyptian Timeline •1504 BCE – Reign of Tuthmosis III (the Napoleon of ancient Egypt) -- video •1470 BCE – Reign of Hatshepsut (one of four female Kings) •1350 BCE – Reign of Akhenaten (Wanted to change religious beliefs to monotheism) •1334 BCE – Reign of Tutankhamun (Religious revolution is reversed) •1297 BCE - Reign of Ramses II. He had over 200 wives and concubines, approximately 90 sons and 60 daughters and reigned over 67 years! His reign saw massive building projects in Egypt. •525 BCE – Persians conquer Egypt •332 BCE – Alexander the Great defeats the Persians and considered saviour of Egypt •50 BCE – Cleopatra VII is crowned Queen of Egypt •30 BCE – Egypt becomes part of Roman Empire after death of Cleopatra VII and Mark Anthony A Biblical Overview of Egypt • Joseph, son of Jacob and Rachel, was the favourite child. His father made him a coat of many colours. His brothers were jealous of him. They were going to kill him, but sold him as a slave. He found favour with the Pharaoh Potiphar. He interpreted dreams for the Pharaoh. Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy grain where they ran into Joseph. They did not recognize him. He tested them and revealed his identity. He forgave them for sending him away. He said it was God who sent him to Egypt to save people’s lives. • When a new Pharaoh ruled Egypt, he was worried that the Israelites would rise up against him. He decided that every baby boy should be thrown into the Nile River. One woman was determined to save her son. She kept the baby boy hidden for three months, then she put him in a basket she had made and let him float down the river. The Pharaoh’s daughter found the baby boy and called him Moses, which means “pulled out or the water”. • Moses was commanded by God to ask the Pharaoh to release the people of Egypt. He obeyed God’s command and asked Pharaoh to let his people go. God knew that Pharaoh would deny the command and he did. God sent ten plagues to Egypt to curse the land. Highlights of Ancient Egyptian History •UNIFICATION OF EGYPT: King Menes unites Upper and Lower Egypt and wears double crown in 3100 BCE. Following Menes came 31 dynasties over 3000 years. •AGE OF PYRAMIDS: Era of the Old Kingdom (2690 BCE), Pharaohs were absolute rulers and viewed as a god holding absolute secular and religious power. Stone monuments were embodiment of Pharaoh's power and a medium of immortality. Pyramids evolved from mastabas, then Step Pyramids •Video: Engineering an Empire •IMHOTEP: not a ruler but revered and his life was recorded (architect, medicine, right hand to Pharaoh Djoser (2686-2613 BCE) – built first “true” pyramid •Video: Engineering an Empire •KHUFU (Cheops): Builds the best known pyramids, the “Great Pyramid” outside of modern day Cairo at Giza (c. 2600 BCE) •NATIONAL GOD “AMON-RE”: Middle Kingdom: Under Theban Kings (south), the Theban god “Amon” merged with sun god “Re” which became Egyptian national god “Amon-Re” (c. 20th century BCE) Geography •EXODUS: under the leadership of Moses, Hebrew slaves under Ramses II leave Egypt in mass migration called Exodus (end of 13th century BCE, or middle 15th century BCE*). Moses receives the 10 Commandments at Mount Sinai but never find the “Promised Land” How did Pharaohs rule? P O L I T I C S •Often they were absolute rulers of the land •By Middle Kingdom they were believed to be the earthly embodiment of the god Horus who was the son of AmonRe; they therefore had the divine right to rule •The throne passed on to eldest son of Principal Queen who was usual the eldest daughter of the previous king therefore the king’s sister •Pharaohs owned all the land, and used a hierarchy of government officials to help him rule •Second to the Pharaohs were the scribes who would record the doings of the Pharaoh Egypt had a hierarchical social structure Pharaoh Priests Nobles Merchant Class Peasants and Slaves Social Roles Role of Women • Well treated and had considerable legal rights compared to other civilizations • Same legal rights as men (land, property, divorce) • Left women to be economically independent • Primary role was in domestic life • Common title for a married women in ancient Egypt was “nebet per” meaning “the lady of the house” • Bear and raise children Role of Men • Head of the family • Men could have numerous wives but economically men had only 1 wife • Labourers, craftsmen • Jobs were hereditary…passed down Jobs • Labour required for construction projects and was mostly filled by poor, serfs • Stability of Egypt thrived as skilled trades were passed from father to son • Children always learned the trade from parents; seldom could choose occupation Daily Life of Workers The poor worked long hours for goods that they could exchange in the marketplace for the products they needed. Agriculture was a major trade and many workers were farmers. Boys learned a trade from their fathers, and girls were taught to care for the home and family by their mothers. Women and girls wore straight, sheath-like dresses of rough, unbleached linen. Men and boys wore short cloth kilts. Their homes were usually one-story made out of sun-dried brick. There would be a basement and four rooms. They had little furniture. Stairs led to the flat rooftop so that the family could enjoy the cool night air after the sun went down. Daily life of the Wealthy Men were busy all day as merchants, trading along the Nile River. Others supervised the daily workings of gigantic farms. Many of the wealthiest and most powerful men in Egypt were priests, all of whom were men (all boys were taught to read and write). Women could own land, run businesses, testify in court, and bring charges against men. Women oversaw the running of the households and gave the servants instructions for daily menus and child care. Children were allowed much playtime. Girls practiced singing and dancing. Boys wrestled and played army. Women and girls wore straight dresses of beautiful lined and a lot of jewellery. At parties, they wore cones of incense on their heads that melted slowly giving off a pleasant smell. Men and boys wore linen kilts Both men and women wore eye make-up made from black ashes. Their homes were brick and wood containing many rooms, as well as walled garden and a shrine for a favourite god. Education • Contributed to stability and continuity of Egypt • All children, regardless of social class, received some education • Followed a moral and ethical guide “Instructions in Wisdom” • Goal for education was to ensure youth exhibited self control and good manners • At 14, young boys followed fathers in jobs, and girls learned from mothers in the household • Children of priests were schooled more formally • Literacy was stressed for government jobs • Education respected for creating a well rounded individual What were the legal traditions? • Law was governed by religious principle of “Ma’at” • GODDESS MA’AT represented truth, righteousness and justice= balance and order • Laws were applied equally to all classes specifically protected the family (children and wives) • Punishments could be quite severe • Acted as a deterrent or disgrace the guilty: • (Examples: Minor crimes had 100 lashed; rapists were castrated; corrupt officials had their hands amputated; crimes that resulted in a death sentence could have choice = devoured by a crocodile, suicide, burning alive) Achievements • Pyramids There were about 80 along the banks of the Nile River. The largest is the Great Pyramid, built by King Khufu in about 2600 B.C. It stands about 481 feet high and covers 13 acres. The pyramids functioned as huge burial tombs for the Egyptians’ dead pharaohs and queens. • Ship-building They used the Nile River like a highway to transport people and goods to foreign lands. The first ships were made out of bundles of papyrus reeds tied together to make a canoe-like vessel. As the ship trade flourished, the hulls of the ships were made of cedar, and oars and sails were added for greater speed. • Calendar Calendars were developed in 4241 B.C. with 365 days in a year. It was based on the flooding of the Nile River. New Years was on June 1, not January 1! Hieroglyphics • Recall… History of Writing: 1) Pictograms (sun= sun) 2) Ideograms (sun = sun, daylight, warmth, light) 3) Phonograms: symbols that suggest a particular sound; related ideas and also sound (Sun = sun, son, Sunday) • Each hieroglyph found in pyramids and tombs often symbolized more than one consonant. • Not only that, but actual Egyptian hieroglyphs were a combination of sound-signs, pictograms, and ideograms. • Activity Time! Rosetta Stone What is the Rosetta Stone? • The Rosetta Stone is a stone with writing on it in two languages (Egyptian and Greek), using three scripts (hieroglyphic, demotic and Greek). • Hieroglyphs = religious documents; demotic = common script of Egypt; Greek = language of the rulers of Egypt at that time • It was carved in 196 BCE. Why is it in three different scripts? • The Rosetta Stone was written in all three scripts so that the priests, government officials and rulers of Egypt could read what it said. When was the Rosetta Stone found? • In 1799 by French soldiers who were rebuilding a fort in small village in the Delta called Rosetta (Rashid) What does the Rosetta Stone say? • The Rosetta Stone is a text written by a group of priests in Egypt to honour the Egyptian pharaoh. It lists all of the things that the pharaoh had done that were good for the priests and the people of Egypt. • Video: Understanding Hieroglyphics Painting and Sculpture • Egyptians reached a highly advanced level of sculpture. Beautiful figures sculpted from wood, ivory, bronze, gold, and turquoise have been found in tombs. • One of the most famous sculptures in the world is the head of Queen Nefertiti. • Another famous work of art is the Great Sphinx, a huge statue of a man’s head on a lion’s body, which guards the pyramids near Giza. • Originally had a long braided beard and a nose and was painted in bright colours (the face and body were painted red, the beard was blue, and much of the headdress was yellow). Life and Death • Life and death was measured in accordance to Ma’at: the goddess and symbol of equilibrium of the universe and the king had to rule according to her principles Death viewed as a new beginning • Afterlife common to all, regardless of social status (preparation varied as well as goods stored in tombs) MA’AT -symbol of the equilibrium • 2 Common Principles: 1) body preservation in a lifelike form 2) the deceased must have items necessary for life in the afterworld of the universe • Personal belongings were usually placed in the tomb to make the Ka more at home and to assist the dead in their journey into the afterlife. • Text was read from the 'Book of the Dead' which was a collection of spells, charms, passwords, numbers and magical formulas for the use of the deceased in the afterlife. This scene depicts what occurs after a person has died, according to the ancient Egyptians. • panel of 14 judges • Ka (soul /spiritual duplicate), ba (personality) ankh (form mummy took in afterlife / the key of life) • Weighing of the heart vs Ma’at • Judgment of scale • record of the outcome • Mummification focused on Egyptian belief of the importance of preserving the body • Afterlife would be spent enjoying best of life experiences • Body covered with natron and dried for up to 70 days • Body wrapped in linen coated with resins and oils • Middle Kingdom became customary to place a mask over the face Mummification • Removal of organs (lungs, stomach, intestines, liver) in Canopic Jars were closed with stoppers fashioned in the shape of four heads -- human, baboon, falcon, and jackal representing the four protective spirits called the Four Sons of Horus. • brain was sucked out of the cranial cavity and thrown away because the Egyptian's thought it was useless. Pyramids were built during the Old Kingdom and designed to be tombs for the Pharaoh Originally there were step pyramids, then the pyramids evolved into the ones we see at Giza The Pyramids were designed to protect the mummies of the Pharaohs, but they ultimately failed. They were robbed and pillaged. Video: How were they REALLY built? King Tut • Tutankhamen, or King Tut, for short was called “The Boy King”. • He became pharaoh when he was nine years old in 1350 B.C. • A typical day for him began in the audience chamber of his palace, where he sat on a throne of gold, silver, and jewels, and wore a heavy gold headpiece shaped like a flame. • Ambassadors from foreign countries came to bow before him and bring him riches. • Egyptians came to him to settle their disputes. • He led his people in a three-hour a day worship ceremony. • He had a formal dinner in the evening, then visited with his sister-wife, Ankheshamen, who was two years younger than he. • King Tut died when he was only nineteen years old. • No one really knows how he died… whether it be from an accident, illness, or his enemies. His burial chamber was found by Britain's Howard Carter in 1922. The treasures of King Tut’s tomb can be seen today in Cairo, Egypt. • VIDEO CLIP The Greek Period • Ptolemy I began the 32nd dynasty in Egypt, the last, 332 BCE. • Ptolemy was Greek, but he adopted Egyptian customs and the Egyptian theory of kingship. • Like the Egyptians, the Ptolemaic kings married their sisters, who were all named Cleopatra ("kleos"="famous", "patris"="parents"). • All the Ptolemaic kings, likewise, were named Ptolemy. • The word "Egypt" is a Greek word (the Egyptian word is "Kmt" or Kemet). • Under the Ptolemies, the Egyptians paid the highest taxes, and all business was now conducted in Greek Significance • The Ptolemies were highly tolerant and even interested in foreign religions; the most enduring cultural product they produced was a Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures • Ptolemies were interested in the Hebrew religion because of the large number of Jews living in Egypt at the time. • Because of this translation, the Hebrew Scriptures became one of the most important documents in the history of Western culture; had they ignored the book, it would probably have faded into the dust of history within a few hundred years. The Romans and Decline • The last Pharaoh of Egypt was Cleopatra VII; she was the only Ptolemy in 300 years to learn Egyptian • After first ruling with one brother and then the other, Cleopatra VII (51 BCE – 30 BCE) established her own power by forming an alliance with two Roman leaders, first with Julius Caesar and second with Mark Antony • 31 BCE – Caesar’s nephew Octavian defeats Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium on the Ionian Sea; Octavian (Augustus Caesar) marched into Egypt, and Mark Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide • Egypt becomes a province of Rome, and the Romans introduce their laws, culture and many new products • No foreign power was more hated than the Romans. • Anti-Roman sentiment soon crystallized around a new religion, Christianity, introduced in the middle of the first century AD. • Egyptian Christians called "Copts," saw this religion as a tool to use in anti-Roman propaganda and agitation. • Romans severely persecuted these early Egyptian Christians • Rome’s control over Egypt gradually weakens after the split into eastern (Byzantium) and western empires (395 CE), and in ca. 642 CE Muslims from Arabia conquered Egypt