Egyptian Society

1. 6th Grade UBD - Unit 3 - Egyptian Society Egyptian Society

2. Preview • Egyptian Dynasties- The Kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt united around 3100 BCE. For most of the next 3,000 years, this land was ruled by powerful kings called pharaohs. • Calling Rank- Ancient Egyptians ranked members of society based on their status. • Egyptian Religion- Ancient Egyptians were polytheists who believed in many gods. They also believed that the dead lived on in the afterlife.

3. Reach Into Your Background • Predict what effect power and social class had on the lives of ancient Egyptians?(5 minutes)

4. Partner Activity • Work with a neighbor and compare your answer with theirs. What things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)

5. Key Ideas- Egyptian Dynasties • Historians divide ancient Egypt into three periods: the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom. • During these time periods, pharaohs ruled the empire. They passed their power down from one generation to another through ruling dynasties. • Pharaohs waged wars to expand their empires. They built elaborate temples and tombs that still stand throughout Egypt today.

6. Egyptian Society • Egypt’s first civilizations were small villages. • These villages were scattered along the Nile River. • During those early days, Egypt was not united.

7. Egyptian Society • Over time, the people of Egypt formed two kingdoms. • Egypt was divided into Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. Around 3100 BCE, the two kingdoms became one.

8. Pharaohs Unify Egypt • It is believed that the king of Upper Egypt led his forces into Lower Egypt. • This king was Menes. He seized control of Lower Egypt. • Menes succeeded in bringing together all the people living along the Nile into one nation.

9. Pharaohs Unify Egypt • Menes became Egypt’s first pharaoh, or ruler. • Egyptians believed that Menes, and the pharaohs who followed him, were not just kings. They were gods on Earth.

10. Key Term Menes- Menes was the first king, or pharaoh, of Egypt. He is credited with unifying Lower and Upper Egypt under one rule.

11. Key Term Pharaoh- A ruler of ancient Egypt.

12. Pharaohs Unify Egypt • Pharaohs in ancient Egypt held an incredible amount of power and influence over their subjects. • Their subjects considered them living embodiments of the god Horus.

13. Key Term Horus- TheGod of the sky and of the pharaohs.

14. Pharaohs Unify Egypt • The pharaoh’s power influenced every level of the Egyptian social structure. • Construction and adornment of their tombs and temples became large public-works projects that required countless hours of labor and enormous quantities of resources.

15. Egypt’s Kingdoms • Historians today divide up Egypt’s ancient times to keep track of the changes. • They use Egypt’s many dynasties as a simple way to divide up its long history.

16. Key Term Dynasty- A series of rulers in a particular kingdom or empire, and each ruler in the series is said to be a member of the same family.

17. Egypt’s Kingdoms • Historians group Egypt's history into three main time periods: • The Old Kingdom • The Middle Kingdom • The New Kingdom

18. Egypt’s Kingdoms • The time before the Old Kingdom is known as the Early Dynastic Period. • During this time, Egypt’s culture was beginning to form. • The Egyptians had not yet built large cities.

19. Egypt’s Kingdoms • Between each major era were Intermediate Periods. • These periods were times of change and conflict. • No one central power ruled over all of Egypt.

20. King Khufu – Pyramid Builder • The pharaohs ruled Egypt for 3,000 years. • Egypt’s most recognizable ancient site was built by one of its earlier pharaohs. • The Great Pyramid at Giza was built by King Khufu.

21. King Khufu – Pyramid Builder • To build the pyramids ancient Egyptians had to use their advanced knowledge of geometry and architecture. • The ancient Egyptians combined this knowledge with the use of huge amounts of physical labor.

22. Key Term Pyramid- A large stone structure that is built with a square base and has triangular-shaped sides that meet in a point at the top.

23. Pyramids at Giza Video- Pyramids at Giza

24. Key Ideas- Calling Rank • The ancient Egyptians believed that pharaohs were gods. • A small group of government officials and priests served the pharaohs. • The majority of Egyptians were farmers. • Enslaved people had the lowest status in ancient Egypt.

25. Social Classes Video- Social Classes

27. Social Structure of Ancient Egypt • The pharaoh was the most powerful person in all of Egypt. • However, every person had a role to play in Egyptian society.

28. Social Structure of Ancient Egypt • Ancient Egyptians were born into a social group. • They usually continued in the same jobs as their parents. • Scientists study the sculptures and paintings that were left behind in ancient cities.

29. Why It Matters • Every class in the social structure contributed to Egyptian society. • All classes supported the power of the pharaoh. • The pharaoh made decisions about war, building projects, and who would rule next.

30. Slavery in Ancient Egypt Reading Handout- Slavery in Ancient Egypt

31. Key Ideas- Egyptian Religion • To prepare for the afterlife, pharaohs order their subjects to build elaborate tombs. They filled the tombs with fine objects. • After death, a pharaoh’s body was carefully mummified, or preserved, by priests. Then it was placed in its tomb.

32. Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt • The ancient Egyptians held very strong religious beliefs. • For most of their history, they practiced polytheism, or the worship of many gods.

33. Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt • Anubis: God of the dead. Guided dead souls to the underworld • Isis: Goddess of fertility and motherhood. Wife of Osiris and mother of Horus • Osiris: God of the underworld and resurrection • Horus: God of the sky and of the pharaohs • Seth: God of the desert and violence. Brother of Osiris

34. Life After Death • Ancient Egyptians believed in the presence of their souls. • Their souls were the part of them that would continue to live in the underworld after their bodies had died.

35. Life After Death • Most Egyptians wanted to be buried near their relatives and friends. • They also were buried with prized belongings, like jewelry. • They wanted to have these items with them in the afterlife.

36. Life After Death • Statues, jewelry, and paintings all went into the tomb. • Paintings and carvings on the wall celebrated a pharaoh’s life. • Once a pharaoh died, skilled priests began to preserve the body.

37. Life After Death • Egyptians from all social classes were mummified to prepare for the afterlife. • However, the process was very expensive. The richest and most powerful could afford the most elaborate burials, while poorer, less powerful Egyptians had simple burials.

38. The Afterlife Video- The Afterlife

39. Why It Matters • The ancient Egyptians’ focus on the afterlife is one reason that their culture has been so well preserved. • Builders made secure buildings to house the pharaohs’ bodies after death. Artists and scribes created works to record the past of the pharaohs. • Tomb art, including hieroglyphics, gives historians clues about what happened in ancient Egypt.

40. Key Term Hieroglyphics- Symbols or pictures that stand for objects, ideas, or sounds.

41. Independent Activity • What has been the “muddiest” point so far in this lesson? That is, what topic remains the least clear to you? (4 minutes)

42. Partner Activity • Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)