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Ancient Egypt. The Gift of the Nile. How do we know about Ancient Egypt. Jean Champollion And the Rosetta Stone. Hieroglyphics. Ancient Egypt. Upper and Lower Kingdoms unified under Menes ca. 3000 B. C. E.
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Ancient Egypt The Gift of the Nile
How do we know about Ancient Egypt Jean Champollion And the Rosetta Stone
Ancient Egypt • Upper and Lower Kingdoms unified under Menes ca. 3000 B. C. E. • Political History apportioned into Old Kingdom; First Intermediate Period; Middle Kingdom; Second Intermediate Period; and New Kingdom. • Pharoah was political and religious head of state—he owned all and was the source of all law.
Political Instability • Power of Pharoah in Old Kingdom challenged by Nomarchs, who rebelled in First Intermediate Period (2200-2050) • Leading Nomarch became Pharoah and lauched Middle Kingdom (2050-1800) but government was unstable. • Second Intermediate Period resulted from political unrest among the Nomarchs and resulted in foreign invasion by the Hyksos • New Kingdom emerged—a period of great nationalism (foreigners were persecuted—Including the Hebrews
New Kingdom 1570-1085 • Most Colorful • Thutmose III (1490-1436) spread Egyptian power—marked by obelisks • Empire was especially wealthy—consider what was found in King Tutankhamen’s tomb • Religious conflict and royal incest weakened New Kingdom
Egyptian Kingship • Pharaoh means “great house” • Capital Cities were really the physical manifestation of a divine king. • Justice – “what Pharaoh loves” • Evil – “what Pharaoh hates” • Pharaoh was bridge between human and divine. • Over time, Pharaoh was more of a martial leader—depicted on chariots—than a god associated with the sun.
Egyptian Religion • Pharaoh was considered a god, but many gods were honored • Re, the sun god became dominant over time. • Osiris, god of the nurturing Nile River, and Isis, god of the fertile earth, were popular with the common people.
Religious Upheaval • Ahmenhotep IV (1367-1350) sought to remove the Aman-Re priesthood • Instituted worship of Aton, the Sun’s disc • A. IV changed his name to Akhenaton ("it pleases Aton") • He claimed Aton was the one, universal god • Alienated the priesthood
Pyramids • Great Pyramid with its 52° angles represent the rays of the sun. • Architecture symbolized belief of Pharaoh as a God. • Massive building projects helped weld together disparate peoples along the Nile into Egyptians– “How the pyramids built Egypt.”