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Explore the intricate relationship between the geography and culture of Ancient Egypt. The Nile River, flowing 4,100 miles south to north, provided fertile silt crucial for agriculture, yet its yearly floods posed challenges. This civilization thrived in the desert, creating a theocratic society ruled by pharaohs, viewed as God-Kings. The era of pyramid building, led by pharaohs like Hatshepsut and Ramses II, left a legacy of monumental architecture. Discover the shifts in power through the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms and how advancements like hieroglyphics and calendars shaped their society.
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Geography • Nile River – 4,100 miles flowing S to N • Yearly floods (July /October ) • Predictable • Silt – fertile black mud • Desert all around • How does this help the Egyptians? • How does it hurt them? • Cataracts = rapids • How would these make life more difficult? • Nile split into Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt
Three “Phases” • Old Kingdom – 2600-2180 BCE • Capital at Memphis • United Upper and Lower Egypt • Ruled as pharaohs • God-Kings • Religious head too • Called the sun to rise, Nile to flood, and crops to rise • Government called a theocracy • Rule based on religious authority • State and Religion
Religion • Polytheistic – believed in over 2,000 gods • Pharaohs had ka, an eternal life force, that helped rule Egypt after their death • Needed tombs, pyramids, to maintain control • Afterlife! Would be judged on their deeds • What does this sound like? • How much does your heart weigh??
Entry to Eternal Life Devourer of Souls - Ammit
See Ya Later • Pyramids! • Royal tombs • Great Pyramid of Giza • Limestone blocks weighing 2.5 tons • Some weighed 15 tons • 2 million blocks stacked to 481 feet • Covered 13 acres • How would they move the blocks? • Who built these massive structures? • What is a down side to these tombs?
Three “Phases” • Middle Kingdom – 2040-1640 BCE • Built canal from Nile to Red Sea • Improved trade and transportation • Are there any negative effects? • Defeated by the Hysoks who ruled Egypt
Egyptian Writing Systems • Hieroglyphics • Flexible writing system • “sacred carvings” • Picture stands for an idea • Wrote on papyrus • Reeds from the Nile • The ability to read Hieroglyphics was lost until what “stone” was found?
Let’s Keep Time! • Calendar • Keep track of flooding • Calculated 365 day years • 12 months of 30 days • 5 days for holidays • Only off our solar year by 6 hours
Social Classes Could move up and down based on success and marriage
Three “Phases” • New Kingdom – 1570-1075 BCE • Greatest Egyptian empire • Conquered territory with bronze weapons and chariots (what was this the equivalent of?) • Hatshepsut – Female pharaoh promoted trade, not just war • Increased wealth and prosperity • Built massive temples and pyramids • Any downside to all this building?
