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Ancient Egypt. The Gift of the Nile. The Nile Valley, 3000-2000 BCE. Gradual, predictable flooding Inundation (July-October) Sprouting Summer. Unification of Egypt. Legendary conqueror Menes, c. 3100 unifies Egyptian kingdom
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The Gift of the Nile The Nile Valley, 3000-2000 BCE • Gradual, predictable flooding • Inundation (July-October) • Sprouting • Summer
Unification of Egypt • Legendary conqueror Menes, c. 3100 unifies Egyptian kingdom • Tradition: founder of Memphis, cultural and political center of ancient Egypt • Instituted the rule of the Pharaoh • Claimed descent from the gods • Absolute rulers, had slaves buried with them from 2600 BCE • Most powerful during Archaic Period (3100-2660 BCE) and Old Kingdom (2660-2160 BCE)
The Pyramids • Symbols of the pharaoh’s authority and divine status • A testimony of the pharaohs’ ability to marshal Egypt’s resources • Largest Khufu (Cheops) 2.3 M limestone blocks avg weight 2.5 tons • Role: burial chambers for Pharaohs
The New Kingdom Imperial Egypt, 1400 BCE • Few pyramids, but major monumental architectural projects • Engaged in empire-building to protect against foreign invasion • Invasions of Kushites, Assyrians destroy Egypt mid 6th century BCE
Hieroglyphs • “Holy Inscriptions” • Writing appeared at least by 3200 BCE • Pictographic supplemented with symbols representing sounds and ideas • Survives on monuments, buildings and sheets of papyrus
Mummification and the Afterlife • It was inspired by the cycles of the Nile • Belief in the revival of the dead • First: ruling classes only, later expanded to include lower classes • Cult of Osiris • Lord of the underworld • Power to determine who deserved immortality • Held out hope of eternal reward for those who lived moral lives