Ancient Egypt
Location\Nile River:
Egypt is located in part of North East Africa and part of the Middle East (fertile crescent). Egypt is home to the longest river in the world, the Nile River. This river floods annually depositing slit and is irrigated. This river produces food surpluses and has many advantageous natural resources.
Important Cities:
-Thebes
-Memphis
-Memphis
Social Hierarchies:
Top- Pharaoh\Royal family\Priest\Nobles
Middle- Merchants\Artisans\Traders\Scribes\Shopkeepers
Low- Farmers\Laborers\Slaves\Herders\Unskilled workers
Middle- Merchants\Artisans\Traders\Scribes\Shopkeepers
Low- Farmers\Laborers\Slaves\Herders\Unskilled workers
Inventions:
-The calendar (356 days, 12 months with 30 days to each month, months are divided into three weeks.)
-Medicine (treatments were often rational and appropriate)
DISCLAIMER- Egypt's ideology made them resistant to change, thus not as likely to spend vast amounts of time, energy, and resources on inventions/innovations.
-Medicine (treatments were often rational and appropriate)
DISCLAIMER- Egypt's ideology made them resistant to change, thus not as likely to spend vast amounts of time, energy, and resources on inventions/innovations.
Government:
The Ancient Egyptian government is very unified, both politically and culturally. Kings (pharaohs) were the rulers and were seen as gods, or part god. Here are the structures, and why it failed, of Egypt's government, in different time periods.
In 3100 BCE, during the early dynasty period, upper and lower Egypt was united and the first Pharaoh was introduced.
The Old Kingdom Government (2650-2184 BCE):
The structure; - Strong central authority and government.
- Pharaohs= the ruler who was believed to be a god and was responsible for maintaing Ma'at.
- There was a chief minister (also called Vizier) who's job was to supervise day-to-day business and was the head of a large bureaucracy.
The downfall; -There were power struggles between pharaohs and the nobility.
-Crop failures
-The cost of the pyramids (yes, the famous pyramids in Egypt was built in this time period) drained the economy.
The Middle Kingdom Government (2040- 1782 BCE):
The structure; -ruled by southern leaders on the upper Nile
-irregular flooding
-corruption and rebellions are common
-period ends with outside invasion
-period also called the Turbulent period
The downfall; -Egypt was invaded by Hyksos, approximately around 1600 BCE.
The New Kingdom Government (1570-1070 BCE):
The structure; -largest extent of Egyptian control\border
-stronger pharaohs
-large empire reaches Euphrates river
-more contact with over civilizations
The downfall; -power declines after Pharaoh Ramses ||
-invaders conquer Nile region
Ma'at was a concept\belief, that was taken very seriously in Ancient Egypt, that was the Pharaoh's job to maintain. Basically, Ma'at is a basic theory for creation and structuring of the universe. Ma'at is the concept of order, justice, and balance. It also, made it unlikely for Egypt to want to expand past its borders. Ma'at unified and stabilized the country.
In 3100 BCE, during the early dynasty period, upper and lower Egypt was united and the first Pharaoh was introduced.
The Old Kingdom Government (2650-2184 BCE):
The structure; - Strong central authority and government.
- Pharaohs= the ruler who was believed to be a god and was responsible for maintaing Ma'at.
- There was a chief minister (also called Vizier) who's job was to supervise day-to-day business and was the head of a large bureaucracy.
The downfall; -There were power struggles between pharaohs and the nobility.
-Crop failures
-The cost of the pyramids (yes, the famous pyramids in Egypt was built in this time period) drained the economy.
The Middle Kingdom Government (2040- 1782 BCE):
The structure; -ruled by southern leaders on the upper Nile
-irregular flooding
-corruption and rebellions are common
-period ends with outside invasion
-period also called the Turbulent period
The downfall; -Egypt was invaded by Hyksos, approximately around 1600 BCE.
The New Kingdom Government (1570-1070 BCE):
The structure; -largest extent of Egyptian control\border
-stronger pharaohs
-large empire reaches Euphrates river
-more contact with over civilizations
The downfall; -power declines after Pharaoh Ramses ||
-invaders conquer Nile region
Ma'at was a concept\belief, that was taken very seriously in Ancient Egypt, that was the Pharaoh's job to maintain. Basically, Ma'at is a basic theory for creation and structuring of the universe. Ma'at is the concept of order, justice, and balance. It also, made it unlikely for Egypt to want to expand past its borders. Ma'at unified and stabilized the country.
Religion:
Religion was a big thing to the Egyptians; it guided every part of their lives. The Egyptian's religious beliefs were very unified and structured. They had polytheistic beliefs, which meant that they worshiped gods\goddess. Some include; Ra/Amon, Horus, Osiris, Anubis, Isis. Some of the gods who were worshiped varied from animals, humans, and celestial bodies. Another big religious belief, was the afterlife. Egyptians believed in the afterlife and saw it as blissful, but only if the person had acted righteous on Earth.
Writing System:
Ancient Egyptians, developed Papyrus so they could write on it. Pictograms was the first form of writing. Pictograms eventually evolved into hieroglyphics. Remember: only scribes could read\write, in this time period.
Egyptians developed a system of written numbers for counting, adding, and subtracting. Also, engineers used an early form of geometry to construct their pyramids and palaces.
Egyptians developed a system of written numbers for counting, adding, and subtracting. Also, engineers used an early form of geometry to construct their pyramids and palaces.
Pyramids:
During the old kingdom age, the pyramids were built at Giza (approx around 2550). The pyramids are 481 feet tall, and the pyramids use 2.3 million stone blocks in total. The pyramids at Giza are one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.
Fun Facts:
Mummification was big. Here is the embalming (mummy) process:
1. Wash body w/ oils and water from the Nile
2. Remove all organs (only the heart remains\other organs are put in Canopic Jars)
3. Pull out brains w/ hook through the nose
4. Body is covered w/ salt called “Natron” (done for forty days)
5. Body is washed again w/ oils and water from the Nile
6. Body is filled w/ dry materials to make it more lifelike
Here is the mummification body wrapping process:
1. First the head & neck are wrapped
2. Toes & fingers are wrapped individually
3. Wrap arms & legs after that (after each layer they put an amulet under for protection)
4. Priests read spells and enchantments to protect the body
5. “Book of the dead” is played in the body’s arms & the arms are tied together
6. Sarcophagus (coffin) has picture of Osiris on it (put in two layers of hard Sarcophaguses and wrapped several times.
The funeral process- there is a weighing of the heart ceremony and opening of the mouth.
1. Wash body w/ oils and water from the Nile
2. Remove all organs (only the heart remains\other organs are put in Canopic Jars)
3. Pull out brains w/ hook through the nose
4. Body is covered w/ salt called “Natron” (done for forty days)
5. Body is washed again w/ oils and water from the Nile
6. Body is filled w/ dry materials to make it more lifelike
Here is the mummification body wrapping process:
1. First the head & neck are wrapped
2. Toes & fingers are wrapped individually
3. Wrap arms & legs after that (after each layer they put an amulet under for protection)
4. Priests read spells and enchantments to protect the body
5. “Book of the dead” is played in the body’s arms & the arms are tied together
6. Sarcophagus (coffin) has picture of Osiris on it (put in two layers of hard Sarcophaguses and wrapped several times.
The funeral process- there is a weighing of the heart ceremony and opening of the mouth.