Egyptian Civilization

1. Egyptian Civilization

2. Egyptian Religion Egyptians were polytheistic, believing many divine forces ruled this world and the afterlife. The chief god was the sun god, Amon-Re Osiris ruled the underworld and was responsible for the Nile and its annual flood which made the land fertile Isis was believed to have taught women to grind corn, spin flax, weave cloth, and care for children. Both Osiris & Isis promised the faithful life after death.

3. Afterlife Egyptians believed each soul had to pass a test in order to win eternal life. Upon death Osiris would weight the dead person’ heart against the feather of truth To survive the journey through the underworld Egyptians relied on the Book of the Dead. Egyptians believed the afterlife would be much like life on earth, so they buried the dead with all they’d need in the afterlife. To give a soul use of its body in the afterlife, Egyptians perfected skills in mummification, the preservation of the dead.

4. Class Stratification

5. Women Egyptian women generally enjoyed a higher status and greater independence than women elsewhere in the ancient world. Under Egyptian law, women could inherit property, enter business deals, buy and sell goods, go to court, and obtain a divorce.

6. Egyptian Learning Learned scribes played a central role in Egyptian society. Egyptians developed a form of picture writing, called hieroglyphics, to keep important records. At first words were chiseled into stones, but later they learned to make paper like material from the papyrus plants along the bank of the Nile.