Ancient Egypt

1. 6th Grade Ancient Egypt

2. The early Egyptian pharaohs were a combination of • god, • priest, • and king. • The pharaoh decided what was right or wrong. • The pharaohs collected taxes from the peasant farmers. • The title of king was passed down from father to son. The Pharaoh

3. Hierarchy of Egyptian Society

4. This pharaoh was also known as Ramses the Great. Ramses II reigned for 67 years (longer than the average age of Egyptians in Ancient Egypt). He was the first king we know of to have signed a peace treaty, signing one with the Hittites. He built more temples and monuments than any other pharaoh and constructed the rock monument Abu Simbel in Nubia. (top right) PharAoh Ramses II

5. She was known as a builder pharaoh because of the many building projects begun or completed during her reign. Hatshepsut was the first woman to be named king of both Upper and Lower Egypt. She reestablished trade routes and reigned in relative peace for 22 years. Hatshepsut

6. Slave labor was used to build temples and pyramids in Ancient Egypt. Building a pyramid took many years because of the lack of technology during this time period Slavery

7. Farming was very important to the ancient Egyptian society, and a large number of Egyptians were involved with farming. By understanding the seasonal flooding of the Nile, the ancient Egyptians were able to increase their agricultural yield and produce more grain than they could use. This extra grain was either exported or stored for future use. Agriculture

8. Egyptian trade extended up and down the Nile, including trading with Kush at the southern end of the river. They also traded with people along the eastern Mediterranean Sea, in regions such as Crete and Greece. At a time when travel was difficult, trade between Egypt and its neighbors helped Egypt prosper and grow. Trade

9. Buildings were usually made with mud brick and stone because wood was hard to find in Egypt. Large blocks were cut to fit together without the use of mortar. Ancient Egyptian engineers used mathematics and technology to design their grand structures. Architecture

10. Many religious monuments were built that still exist today. The pyramids and the Sphinx are the two most well-known examples of Egyptian architecture. People still consider the pyramids to be one of the world's best architectural achievements. The mathematical calculations used for building pyramids were incredibly precise. Architecture

11. Egyptian paintings were highly symbolic. Clear and simple lines and shapes and flat areas of color created a sense of order and balance in the art. Pharaohs would be drawn the largest figure, and greater gods would be drawn larger than lesser gods. Egyptians used gold, ivory, and other precious metals to make small works of art like jewelry and scepters Art

12. The Egyptians created a type of paper called papyrus. It was made from a reed of the same name. Egypt's dry climate has helped protect some of the ancient Egyptian writings so well that they can still be read today. The ancient Egyptians invented written pictographs known as hieroglyphics. These pictographs were used to record information about religion and government. The individual symbols are called hieroglyphs. Writing

13. The Egyptians created the first working and usable calendar. It was based on the phases of the moon, and it predicted the seasons and cycles of the Nile River. The calendar had 365 days and was similar to our present-day calendar The Great Pyramids at Dahshur and Giza were built during the Old Kingdom period. These pyramids were considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and they are the only wonder still standing today. The Egyptians built the world's largest library and the largest lighthouse in the city of Alexandria. Other Contributions

14. Death and the afterlife was an important part of Egyptian culture. There were elaborate rituals for preparing the body and soul for a peaceful life after death. The Ancient Egyptians believed the process of mummification helped that person enter the afterlife more smoothly. The Ancient Egyptian culture worshiped many gods, mostly related to natural occurrences like rain, water, crops, and death. This is called polytheism. Religion

15. Ancient Egyptians used creation myths to explain their place in the world. • Different gods and goddesses were introduced as a result. Religion continued…. • The Great Enneadwas a family of nine gods who the Egyptians worshiped. • Among the gods were Atum, Isis, Geb, and Shu. • Later gods included Re, Thoth, and Nun.

16. Animals were an important part of Egyptians' god mythology. Some gods were represented by animals such as the falcon, alligator, or beetle. Other gods had half human characteristics and half animal characteristics. Religion CON’T….

17. The Egyptian pharaoh was also considered a god. • He was said to control the flooding of the Nile River each year. • Because the Nile's flooding was reliable and always came at about the same time, Egyptians believed that the pharaoh really was controlling it. • Ancient Egyptians considered Osiris to be the god of the harvest and of eternal life. • Legend says that he gave his people laws to follow and taught them about farming. Religion continued….

18. He and his wife Isis were thought to be the rulers over the dead. • Horus is the son of Osiris and Isis according to legend. • He is often identified by having a falcon's head instead of a human head. • He has several godly titles: • the god of the living, • the sun god, • and the sky god. Religion Con’t….