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Mesopotamia Egypt (3100-500 BC) In General Unification & Politics Absolutism & Pharaoh Ethics & Women’s Status Pyramids & Religion Conc. Key Terms Nile River Papyrus Menes Pharaoh Osirus Isis Horus Ma’at Imhotep Nomarchs. Ancient World (cont.). Rosetta Stone.
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Mesopotamia Egypt (3100-500 BC) In General Unification & Politics Absolutism & Pharaoh Ethics & Women’s Status Pyramids & Religion Conc. Key Terms Nile River Papyrus Menes Pharaoh Osirus Isis Horus Ma’at Imhotep Nomarchs Ancient World (cont.)
Rosetta Stone Discovered in 1799; deciphered 1822 Included writing in hieroglyphics, demotic script, and Greek
Egypt’s Influence On Us Today Papyrus • A new, less clumsy writing tablet: • Toothpaste! • Ingredients: lead, powdered flint, incense, and honey (ca. 1500 BC)
The Gift Of The Nile Most of Egypt is a desert, but the Nile... • flooded every year which added nutrients to soil. • made the land “livable;” 5-15 miles on either side of the River. • created a dependable and efficient transportation system. In contrast to Mesopotamia’s instability, the Nile provided stability and prosperity to Egypt.
Unification Brings Prosperity Egypt was believed to be first unified between 3100-2850 BC by… Menes He was also known as Narmer
Political Unification & Prosperity From about 3000 BC to 30 BC Egypt = very prosperous Pyramid Building: the Old Kingdom (ca. 2700-2200 BC) Later, pharaohs hid tombs in caves
Royal Absolutism: Pharaoh’s Power Pharaoh was a god on earth; no separation of church and state—no written law Smaller tombs were placed near pharaoh’s tomb Taxes: about 20% of income went to Pharaoh In return, Pharaoh ensured there would be prosperity (flooding of Nile) & no change Regional “governors” called Nomarchs served as pharaoh’s representatives at the local level Yul Brynner as Ramses II (Ten Commandments)
Pharaoh & Religion/Mythology Osiris ruled over the kingdom of the dead. Originally a god of fertility, he was murdered by his brother. • Osiris was resurrected by his wife Isis who reassembled pieces of his body. • Horus was the son of Isis & Osiris. Pharaoh was the incarnation of Horus on earth. Horus
Ethics: Pharaoh & Ma’at Belief: universe was characterized by chaos To avoid chaos & maintain status quo, Pharaoh enforced Ma’at (outlined ethical behavior); this had to be kept to ensure prosperity Examples: feeding poor; protection of widows & orphans; treating others with kindness, etc.
Family Life & Women’s Roles • Divorce was rare • Women = unique position for Ancient World: • Matrilineal descent & inheritance • Owned property, engaged in trade, traveled in public • Could occasionally became Pharaoh
Djoser’s Step Pyramid(ca. 2800-2700 BC) Designed by the engineer Imhotep who later established a school of architecture
Quick Video Clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mce0Hm7h3GY
Statistics & the Great Pyramid Built about 2600 BC About 480 feet high and 750 feet long Built with 2.3 million limestone blocks Each block weighed about 2.5 tons Each block was hand-chiseled to fit in place perfectly Built with a labor force of about 100,000 men working for 20 years
Three Feluccas Sailing The Nile(These boats are similar to those used years ago)
So, why build them?--Religion Every body held a “ka” or double (soul?) that didn’t die when the body died. One’s “ka” survived more completely if the flesh was preserved. Pyramids were tombs for Pharaoh’s “ka” to allow it to be fed, clothed, etc.
Sphinx & Great Pyramid(Sphinx was carved from a natural bluff ca. 2500 BC)
Inside a Tomb Craftsmen making supplies Playing a board game A man grinding grain
Video Clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2T3fZDiSsw&feature=related
Mesopotamia Egypt (3100-500 BC) In General Unification & Politics Absolutism & Pharaoh Ethics & Women’s Status Pyramids & Religion Conc. Key Terms Nile River Papyrus Menes Pharaoh Osirus Isis Horus Ma’at Imhotep Nomarchs Ancient World (cont.)