Chapter 3 Notes

1. Chapter 3 Notes Nile Civilizations

2. Chapter 3 Notes Egyptian Civilization developed along the Nile , as did other civilizations south of Egypt Egypt was one of the most stable and long-lasting civilizations of the ancient world

3. Chapter 3 Notes • Geography and Early Egypt • The Nile is the most important physical feature in Egypt • The Nile River is the longest in the world 4000+ miles • The Nile flooded every year, were predictable, and left rich silt • The Nile help prevent invasion because it flowed through a series of cataracts (rocky currents) • The Sahara was on the opposite side of the Nile and its unlivable waste land discouraged invaders • Two Kingdoms • Farming villages consolidated into two kingdoms • Lower Egypt – north towards the delta of the Nile • Worshipped a cobra goddess • Upper Egypt – south • Worshipped a vulture goddess

4. Chapter 3 Notes • Unification – the two kingdoms unified in 3100 BCE under the leadership of Menes who was from upper Egypt and may have conquered lower Egypt • Menes combined the cultures of the two kingdoms – their goddesses and symbols • Menes founded Egypt’s first dynasty • Historians organize Egyptian history by dynasties – 31 total

5. Knowledge Checkpoint How do historians organize Egyptian history? How did the Nile floods differ from those in Mesopotamia? How might the Egypt’s natural defenses- The Sahara and the Nile cataracts be viewed as a limitation.

6. Chapter 3 Notes • The Old Kingdom • Beginning of the 3rd dynasty in 2650 BCE marked a period of stability for 500 years during which many institutions were created • The Pyramids • Most famous symbols of ancient Egypt • The largest are located near Giza • Built as tombs for Egypt’s rulers who were buried in chambers deep inside with many earthly treasures • Pyramid design changed greatly over time – originally looked like steps, smooth side came later • Took a long time to plan and build – built from the inside out with limestone • Were built by peasants, not slaves

7. Chapter 3 Notes • The Pharaohs • Egyptian government took shape during the Old Kingdom • King headed the government – became known as pharaoh (great house) • Pharaohs had absolute power, owned all the land, their word was law, acted as judges, lead the army • Pharaoh had great power because people believed they were gods in human form • Responsible for Egyptian prosperity and security, and ensuring the sun would rise, the Nile floods, and crops would grow • Because the pharaoh is believed to be a god, government and religion and intertwined – Theocracy – a state ruled by religious figures

8. Chapter 3 Notes • Egyptian Bureaucracy • Egypt was too large for the pharaoh to rule alone • Bureaucracy established to delegate responsibilities • Government officials were powerful – most powerful was the vizier (VUH-zir) who advised the pharaoh and carried out commands • Hundreds of officials served under the advisor to ensure commands were implemented and made Egypt run smoothly

9. Knowledge Check Point Why were the Pyramids built? How did the first pyramids differ from the ones we are familiar with today? Why- other than the pay- do you think the peasants would have wanted to build the pyramid?

10. Chapter 3 Notes • The Middle Kingdom • Powerful local nobles asserted their power which rivaled the pharaohs power, which caused order and stability to decline • Old Kingdom government collapsed in 2100 BCE leading to economic problems, invasions, civil war, famine, disease, and chaos • Middle Kingdom begins in 2055 BCE with a new dynasty • New dynasty restored stability, order, and prosperity. Encouraged trade and increased defense • Middle Kingdom falls to Hyksos (HIK-sohs) invaders in 1650 BCE • Were people from Asia • They fell to the Hyksos because they had military advantages that the Egyptians did not, such as, horse-drawn chariots, armor, and bows.

11. Knowledge Check Point Who were the Hyksos? Why would the Hyksos have had more advanced military technology than the Egyptians?

12. Chapter 3 Notes • The New Kingdom • Hyksos ruled Egypt for 100 years until nobles from Thebes drove them out of Egypt • The nobles became the new leaders of Egypt which begins the New Kingdom • The Hyksos invasion taught Egyptians that geographic barriers such as the desert and sea could not keep them secure and as a result they built a stronger and first permanent military • Decided to create an empire to make “buffer” zones to invading armies

13. Chapter 3 Notes • The Reign of Hatshepsut – 1500 BCE • One of the few women to rule Egypt • Took power when husband died, acted as regent until son could take throne • Declared herself Pharaoh • Took on more masculine qualities to be associated with male power – dress, title’s: son of the sun god, looks like a man in statues • Encouraged trade – and went on a huge trade expedition bringing back gold, mrryh, perfumes, wild animals, and apes.

14. Chapter 3 Notes • Monotheism in Egypt • Akhenaten took power in 1350 BCE • He only worshiped one god, Aten the sun god, and banned the worship of any god but Aten • Following Akhenaten, Tutankhamon (Tut) restored worship back to traditional gods • Ramses the Great • During most of the New Kingdom Egypt continued to expand its empire • During the rule of Ramses the Egyptians and Hittites fought over territory – Ramses married a Hittite princess to form a truce • Built more temples and monuments than any other pharaoh

15. Chapter 3 Notes • Egypt’s Decline • The reign of Ramses marked the end of Egypt’s greatness • Invasions by foreign powers weakened the empire • Egypt broke into smaller states as priests and noble attempted to seize power leading to more invasions • Egypt was ruled by foreign invaders for 700 years, taking power back once from the Persians, only to lose it to them again • The Persians did not hold Egypt for long, as it would fall to Greece under Alexander the Great • Greeks ruled Egypt for over 300 years before it fell to the greatest power of the ancient world- Rome

16. Knowledge Check Point Who brought an end to Egypt’s history as an independent kingdom? Why was Ramses II called Ramses the Great?

17. Assignment Turn to Focus on Themes on page 71. Read Belief Systems and answer the 3 questions, we will discuss the answers shortly. Answer Section 1 Assessment questions (1-5, all parts) and turn into moodle You now able to answer questions 1-16 on the Chapter 3 question sheet up on moodle

18. Chapter 3 Notes • Egyptian Culture • Egyptian religion – polytheistic – worshipped many gods • Some gods were traditional from the Old Kingdom, other were additions – Egyptian beliefs constantly evolving

19. Chapter 3 Notes • Chief Gods and Goddesses • Egyptians worshipped hundreds of gods, but some were more central • God of the Sun – Re, later renamed Amon, Amon-Re • Protector of the Dead – Anubis • Osiris, Isis, Horus – Osiris replaced Anubis, Isis – goddess of nature and renewal, Horus – god of the sky, believed to be the pharaohs of Egypt • Goddess of love – Hathor • God of wisdom – Thoth • Egyptians worshiped local gods as well as the central ones • Priests performed rituals to appease the god’s needs • Common people had no part in religious rituals

20. Chapter 3 Notes • Mummification and burial • The afterlife was central to Egyptian beliefs • Because of this belief elaborate rituals were created for death and burial • Teachings on the afterlife • When the physical body dies a force called the “ka” escapes, which journeys to the land of the dead • Ka- was believed to be the person personality • Ka, needed food and drink to survive • Believed the ka might vanish if the body decomposed, which lead them to create a method to prevent it

21. Chapter 3 Notes • Mummification • Process used to prevent a body from decomposing • Originally only kings and the royal family could be mummified, but later opened up to anyone who could afford it • Complex process • Remove organs except the heart • Organs placed in jars to be buried with the mummy • Body packed with materials to keep its shape • Used salt to dry out the body before wrapped with linen strips • Artists painted the features of the dead on the linen or masks so the ka could recognize it • Burial • Mummification only first step • Buried with all possession believed necessary for afterlife • Tombs were painted with scenes from person’s life or stories about the gods

22. Knowledge Check Point Why did the Egyptians bury food and possessions with the dead? What took place during mummification? Where on the Egyptian social scale do you think the people who prepared mummies would have been?

23. Chapter 3 Notes • Daily Life • Social structure – highly stratified • 1. Pharaoh, royal family, government officials, priests, scribes • 2. Artisans, merchants, craftpeoples • 3. 90% of population comprised of peasant farmers • 4. Slaves • Possible to move up the social ladder, but rare • Home and Family Life • Family life varied from class to class • Pharaohs usually married their sisters and had many wives • Other men only had one wife • Patriarchal society • Wealth = nicer/larger homes

24. Chapter 3 Notes • Women and Children • Primary duty of women to take care of children • Women had more rights than most ancient civilizations • Inherit/own property, divorce husbands, be priestess • Often worked outside the home • Few children received education, those who did were boys learned trades • Appearance and Customs • Appearance very important • Both men and women shaved heads and wore wigs, wore make-up and perfume • Linen and wool clothes – men loincloths, women dresses • Played sports in free time – wrestling, dancing, hunting, board games

25. Knowledge Check Point How could getting an education change a boy’s life? How did the institution of marriage differ from one class to another in Egyptian culture Why do you think Egyptian wigs and makeup also served as sun protection

26. Chapter 3 Notes • Art, Writing, and Science • Egyptians are best remembered for achievements in art, literature, and science • Egyptian Art • Very distinctive – unique characteristics • Paintings are detailed & colorful, subjects range widely – stories of gods, daily life, appear on walls of temples and tombs • Position of the bodies in paintings • Statues are huge to show power – The Sphinx

27. Chapter 3 Notes • Egyptian Writing • Recorded events of society in great detail • System of writing based on hieroglyphics – picture symbols represent objects, sounds, ideas – very time consuming – used formally • Two other writing systems to write faster: hieratic- for religious texts, demotic- for literary texts • Used papyrus to write on- very durable • Only Sumerian cuneiform is older than Egyptian hieroglyphics • Writing was an art form in addition to language • Rosetta stone – aided in translating Egyptian writings • Egyptian Math and Science • Used for practical applications and to improve life • Math and engineering aided in the construction of the pyramids • Medicine advances – human anatomy, hygiene, medicines, surgery

28. Knowledge Check Point What was Papyrus? Why do you think the Egyptians developed so many systems of writing? What would we have understood about Egyptian writing without the Rosetta Stone?

29. Chapter 3 Notes • The Nubian Kingdoms • One of ancient Africa’s most advanced civilizations, the Kush developed along the Nile south of Egypt in a region called Nubia • The region of Nubia • South of Egypt in modern day Sudan • Depended on the Nile for life like the Egyptians • Unlike Egypt, terrain not suitable for farming • A wealth of resources • No farmland, but great mineral wealth • Gold, granite, precious stones traded • Location of Nubia on major trade route

30. Chapter 3 Notes • Nubia’s People • Most of our knowledge of the Nubian people comes from Egyptian writiing • Skilled traders, archers, and potters • Early History • Formed kingdom same time as Egypt’s Old Kingdom • Trade = great wealth • Rivals with Egypt – war during Middle Kingdom, which Egypt won • Nubian’s adopted Egyptian culture

31. Knowledge Check Point How did Nubia’s geography affect it’s history? What conclusions could be drawn from the fact that most of our knowledge of ancient Nubia come from Egyptian writings?

32. Chapter 3 Notes • The Growth of Kush • The Beginnings of Kushite Power • Kush was a Nubian state that gained power when Egyptian civilization lost stability during the Middle Kingdom • Kush allied with Hyksos, who invaded Egypt and ended the Middle Kingdom – Kush wealth increased • When Egypt drove out the Hyksos they conquered Kush • The Kushites in Egypt • Egypt ruled Kush for 400 years, but as the New Kingdom weakened Kush power grew • Kush seceded from Egypt - formed a new kingdom • Kush power began after Ramese The Greats death • Pianki (PYANG-kee) led Kush to conquer Egypt – later conquered by Assyrians

33. Chapter 3 Notes • Kushite Culture • Kushite pharaohs saw themselves as guardians of Egyptian traditions • Adopted hieroglyphic writing system • Retained Nubian dress

34. Knowledge Check Point Who was Piankhi What brought about the end of the Kushite control of Egypt? Why do you think that Kushite rulers chose to be buried in pyramids rather than in temples?

35. Chapter 3 Notes • Later Kush • Few records of Kush following Assyrian conquering of Egypt • 200 BCE moved capital city south from Napata to Meroe • Move changed Kush culture substantially • The City of Meroe • Not as dry as Nubia • Timber trade – ebony • Iron deposits – increased trade, expand kingdom • Iron Industry • Had resources to many minerals such as; cooper, gold, and percious stones… but most important was iron • They built an iron industry • They traded their iron and used the returning wealth to build and expand the kingdom

36. Chapter 3 Notes • Later Kushite Culture • Abandoned much of Egyptian culture – hieroglyphics • Women may have enjoyed high status – female rulers • The Decline of Meroe • As trade declined the empire began to weaken • Timber trade declined as wood ran out while smelting iron products • Invasions against trading partners reduced profits • Increased competition reduced profits • Aksum kingdom invaded Meroe and Kush civilization ended

37. Knowledge Check Point What was Kush’s most valuable product? Why was this significant to the Kush Kingdom?