Egypt

1. Egypt

2. The Land of Egypt: “Gift of the Nile” • The land of Egypt is defined by the Nile River, the narrow green strip of arable land on either side of its banks, and the fertile Nile delta area. • The rest of the country is barren desert, the unfriendly “Red Land” that contrasted with the “Black Land,” which was home to the vast majority of the Egyptian population

3. The Fertile Crescent

4. The Nile • Provides detrimental source of water. • 4,100 Miles Long • 95% of the Egyptians live on 5% of the land. • Floods regularly and at the right time of year, leaving a rich and easily worked deposit of silt. • Egyptian agriculture depended upon the floods, and crops could be adversely affected if the floods were too high or not high enough. • Regular flooding inspired the Egyptians to view the universe as a regular and orderly place

5. http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/28707-assignment-discovery-uses-of-the-nile-river-video.htmhttp://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/28707-assignment-discovery-uses-of-the-nile-river-video.htm

6. Natural Resources • Egypt’s other natural resources included reeds (such as papyrus for writing), wild animals, birds and fish, plentiful building stone and clay, and access to copper and turquoise from the desert and gold from Nubia.

7. Divine Kingship • Egypt’s political organization evolved from a pattern of small states ruled by local kings to the emergence of a large, unified Egyptian state around 3100 b.c. • This was due to climate change and Menes, a ruler from the south. • Rulers of the Two Lands (Upper and Lower Egypt) • Thirty dynasties falling into three longer periods: the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms.

8. Pharaohs • Kings known as pharaohs dominated the Egyptian state. • The pharaohs were regarded as gods come to earth to ensure the welfare and prosperity of the people. Sons of Re. • Maintain ma’at. • The death of a pharaoh was thought to be the beginning of his journey back to the land of the gods. • Funeral rites and proper preservation of the body were therefore of tremendous importance. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMs_IGKxMu0

9. Early pharaohs were buried in flat-topped rectangular tombs. • Stepped pyramid tombs appeared about 2630 b.c.e. and smooth-sided pyramids a bit later.

10. Administration and Communication • In the Old Kingdom, Memphis (near Cairo) was the central position. • Thebes was farther to the south and came into prominence in the Middle and New Kingdoms. • The central government oversaw districts which kept detailed records of resources such as land, labor, products and people. • At times the people were taxed as much as 50%!

11. Central Gov. controlled long distance trade. • Majority of Egyptians lived rurally and farmed. • Isolationist policies.

12. Writing • Hieroglyphics- symbols standing in for words, sounds and syllables. High literacy rate. • Papyrus reeds were used for paper. The papyrus was exported in large quantities. • Wrote stories and hymns, manuals of instructions.

13. The People of Egypt • Did not encounter larger scale migrations and invasions common to Mesopotamia. • No formal class structure. • 1. King and high ranking officials. • 2.Lower level officials, local leaders, priests and other professionals, well-to-do farmers. • 3. Peasants=majority.

14. Peasants • Lived in rural villages. • Seasonal work=plowing, sowing, reaping, threshing and storing. • Maintained, improved and extended irrigation. • Periodically worked on state projects. • Worked, feasted and worshipped together.

15. Women • Portrayed as taking part in domestic activities. • Alongside, yet subservient to men in upper class. • Men were painted with darker skin tone than women. Why? • Control over property, funds and could dissolve marriage if desired.

16. Religion and Beliefs • Cycles of normality. • Re the sun god paddled through the sky. • $$ used build new temples, refurbish ones, gifts to gods. • Belief in an afterlife. Book of the dead. • Chemistry and math to preserve dead bodies. • Look of tombs indicated status.