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4.2 Art, Architecture, and Learning in Egypt. Writing and Literature. The Egyptians developed one of the world’s 1 st writing systems And some of oldest known literature Heiroglyphics Created around 3200BC About the same time the Sumerians made cuneiform We don’t know which was 1 st
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Writing and Literature • The Egyptians developed one of the world’s 1st writing systems • And some of oldest known literature • Heiroglyphics • Created around 3200BC • About the same time the Sumerians made cuneiform • We don’t know which was 1st • Or if they borrowed ideas from each other • Writing allowed them to preserve and share knowledge • Making more advanced tech. possible • We learned how to read them from the Rosetta Stone
Writing and Literature • Papyrus • Similar to paper • The word paper comes from papyrus • Much easier than writing on clay • Lasted long in the desert climate • Some have still survived
Writing and Literature • Egyptian Literature • Included: • Teachings • Stories • Poems • Religious text • Written on papyrus as well as monuments and coffins • The Book of the Dead is a guide to the afterlife • The Tale Sinuheis an adventure story of some afraid he will be accused of killing the Pharaoh
Architecture and Art • Much of their art and architecture is or is part of temples and tombs • The Pyramids • Early rulers were buried underground • Imhotep (the world’s 1st known architect) designed the step pyramid Later architects smoothed the sides
Architecture and Art • Much of their art and architecture is or is part of temples and tombs • The Pyramids • The Great Pyramid (along with 2 others) • as a burial chamber for the Pharaoh Khufu • Built during the Old Kingdom • For 4,000 years were the world’s tallest buildings • They are still some of the largest buildings on earth • Great achievement in engineering • Took massive amounts of labor
Architecture and Art • Painting and Sculpture • Much of what we know about life in Egypt come from their painting • The purpose of painting in the tombs was to provide the things they needed in the afterlife. • There were large sculptures of the pharaohs and gods • “lesser” people also had smaller sculptures incase their mummy was destroyed the sculpture could take its place for the afterlife
Science and Mathematics • There were many Egyptian discovers in math, science and technology • The Egyptian Calendar • Measured time by cycles of the moon • But this has only 354 days • They used the star Sirius (came about the same time as the floods) • Added an extra month if the star and the lunar calendar were too close • This meant each year had a different # of days • Eventually they moved to a solar calendar of 365 days • Greeks added a leap year to even this out
Science and Mathematics • Mathematics • The pyramids proves their ability to do arithmetic and geometry • Science, Technology, and Medicine • Astronomy (Sirius) • Engineering • the Pyramids • Irrigation (shadoofs) • Chemistry • Glass • Mortar • Cosmetics • Anatomy - learned from mummification