Chapter 4: Ancient Egypt and Nubia

1. Chapter 4: Ancient Egypt and Nubia Section 2 Art, Architecture, and Learning in Egypt

2. Section 2Art, Architecture, and Learning in Egypt Important Vocabulary Hieroglyphic: a drawing or symbol that represents a word or a sound Papyrus: a material very similar to paper pyramid: a structure with triangular sides sculpture: a statue or other free-standing piece of art made of clay, stone, or other materials Anatomy: the study of the structure of the body and its organs

3. Important InformationArts, Architecture, and Learning in Egypt • Ancient Egyptians invented early forms of writing by 3200 BC • Egyptians used hieroglyphics as their form of writing. (There were over 800 different hieroglyphics that represented words, ideas, or sounds) • Scribes or officials were usually the ones that knew how to write in Egyptians society and were valued for their knowledge • Egyptians were able to preserve and share knowledge with writing. This made it a complex civilization and helped advance technology. • Egyptians invented a material called papyrus (similar to paper) • It was made from the papyrus reed that grew along the Nile River • Our word paper comes from the word papyrus • The invention of papyrus helped because it was much easier to carry around papyrus than pieces of clay

4. Papyrus sheets could last a very long time in the dry environment of Egypt. • Some documents written on papyrus included: medical books, calendars, stories, poems, and prayers • The Book of the Dead was a guide to the afterlife for dead souls. • Egyptians created temples for their gods and tombs for their pharaohs. • The temple complex at Karnak contains the ruins of the world’s largest temples. • Tombs of the early rulers were underground chambers, or rooms. The chamber contained items the ruler may want in the afterlife. • Imhotep designed a new kind of tomb for his pharaoh with six stone mounds that resulted in a step pyramid.

5. During the Old Kingdom, three pyramids were built at Giza for King Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. • The Sphinx stands guard to Khafre’s pyramid. • These pyramids were the largest buildings on earth at the time • Pyramid building ended about 2200 BC. Pharaohs who rules after this carved massive tombs from the cliffs at the edge of the Nile Valley. • Much of what we know about Egypt comes from the paintings found on the walls or tombs. • The purpose of the painting were to provide the person buried with all the objects and pleasures shown on the walls • Sculptures were also created by artists. • If a mummy was destroyed, the statue could replace it as a home for the dead person’s spirit

6. The ancient Egyptians wanted to keep the seasons linked to the seasons to help farmers plan when to plant and harvest • They noticed the bright star of Sirius appeared above the horizon around the time of the Nile floods. • The Egyptians created a solar calendar with exactly 365 days. • Later on, the Greeks added a leap year when they ruled Egypt in the 200s. • The construction of the great pyramids shows their mastery of engineering. • They made the earliest discoveries in chemistry. • They invented complex systems of irrigation. • They also had the most advanced medical knowledge of their time. From their work with mummies, they learned about human anatomy.

7. Section 3Egypt and Nubia Important Vocabulary commerce: buying and selling of goods and services ivory: a hard white material made from elephant tusks interdependence: dependence by each country or group on the other Meroitic script: the world’s first alphabets created by the Nubians ebony: a black wood from West Africa

8. The region south of Egypt, farther up the Nile River is known today as the region of Nubia. It extends into northern Sudan • Egypt lacked forests, minerals, horses, and many natural resources found in Nubia. • Ancient Egypt were able to get these resources through trade (commerce) • Pharaohs sent merchants to other lands to promote trade. • Egyptians imported cedar wood from modern day Lebanon. • In the Mediterranean, they imported olive oil, tin, and copper. • The most valuable goods that were bought in Nubia were gold and elephant tusks (ivory) • In return, they sold grain, cloth, papyrus, glass, and jewelry • Egypt relied on Nubia’s gold and Nubia relied on Egypt’s grain (interdependence) • Because of trade, Nubia adopted elements of Egyptian culture • Nubia had much less land than Egypt to farm; therefore this sometimes cause a shortage of food. This made them trade gold, iron, and other products for Egypt’s grain

9. The Nubians also traded with people south of the Sahara. • Through trade, the Egyptians realized that Nubia was rich in resources including gold. • Egypt conquered most of Nubia for a time during the Middle Kingdom and again during the New Kingdom. • The Nubians had to pay tribute to the pharaoh. • In the mid-700s BC, a Nubian king conquered the Egyptian city of Thebes. Piye expanded the Nubian empire by conquering one Egyptian city after another. • Pharaohs from Nubia ruled Egypt for almost 100 years • After failing to conquer the Assyrians, the Nubians retreated from Egypt to Nubia • The Egyptians destroyed the old capital of Nubia. • Meroe became the new capital of Nubia • Meroe’s location on trade routes allowed it to become wealthy and powerful for trade

10. Nubians built hundreds of pyramids at Napata and Meroe. They were built at a steep angle unlike the pyramids of Egypt. • They held the tombs of the kings and the queen mothers of Nubia • Queen-mothers (candaces) were sometimes more powerful than kings throughout the history of Nubia • The Nubians created the world’s first alphabets. • Scholars still don’t understand the words of the language written in it • The Nubian kingdom may have controlled a larger area than the Egyptian empire. • They traded with many empires around the area including the Greeks, Romans, and African people. • They traded with countries as far away as India • Finally in the 300s AD, Nubia was conquered by the kingdom of Aksum • The Nubians created patterns of trade and farming that continued after the conquest of Aksum and have continued in the region to this day.