FrontPage: Why do you think the Egyptian pyramids were built?

1. FrontPage: Why do you think the Egyptian pyramids were built? The Last Word: No Homework It's incredible, really. It features a central spire and an encircling picket-fence that's been reinforced by horizontal rails, and is strung together by a series of radially oriented guy wires. The structure measures less than 2 cm across. And here's the real kicker: nobody knows what made it.

2. Egyptians, Kush and Axum Kingdoms of Ancient Africa

3. The Egyptians - History • The earliest civilization in Africa History • People settle next to the Nile between 10 - 7000BC • Upper (south, upriver) and Lower (north, downriver) Egypt develop • Egyptian civilization begins around 3000BC when Menes unites Upper and Lower Egypt • End of ancient Egypt occurs with Roman conquest after death of Cleopatra in 27BC.

4. The Egyptians – Daily life • The Nile – life centered on the yearly flooding of this river • Cycle of Inundation, Emergence, and Drought • While flood occurred, farmers helped to construct pharaoh’s building projects • After waters recede, farmers plant and harvest crops • **Good flood and harvest = stability

5. The Egyptians – Government and Society • Ruled by the Pharaoh – owned all the land, issued and collected taxes • Was considered a god, then a representative of god • Society structured according to classes • Viziers, governors, scribes, artisans, farmers/laborers, slaves

6. The Egyptians - Religion • Polytheistic– worshipped and believed in many gods • Amon Re, the Sun God, was most important • Many other gods • Osiris, god of the underworld. • Belief in afterlife - Elaborate burial rituals included pyramids

7. The Hall of Ma’at Egyptian belief in how the dead would be judged.

8. Hieroglyphics • “Sacred writing”; Picture form of writing developed by the Egyptians • May have been the first form of writing (ca. 3200BC) • Over 2000 characters; ignored or omitted vowels • Pronunciation was key • Often written on the walls of temples or on papyrus • Cartouche – a “name tag”, believed to protect the name of the pharaoh

10. Ancient Egypt

11. Nile River Valley: Land of Plenty

12. Creation Myths and Life After Death

13. Hieroglyphics

14. Pyramids of Egypt

15. The Kingdom of Kush • South of Egypt

16. The Kingdom of Kush, Part 1

17. The Kingdom of Kush, Part 2

18. The Kingdom of Axum • South of Kush

19. The Kingdom of Axum