Transcript Ancient Egypt

PYRAMIDS ON THE NILE
WORLD HISTORY
EGYPT
• “The Gift of the Nile” Herodotus
• Geography
• The Nile River: flows S
to N and floods
regularly (very
predictable), &
deposits silt
• Climate: dry & hot
• Natural Boundaries:
Mediterranean Sea,
Red Sea, & Sahara
Desert.
PHARAOH
• United Egypt was ruled
by pharaoh or “great
house”
• Egyptian god-king
• Absolute/unlimited
power
• Bore full responsibility
for the kingdom’s
prosperity
• Caused the rivers to
rise, Nile to flood, &
crops to grow
• This form of government
is a theocracy
• Rule is based on
religious authority
PYRAMIDS
• Egyptians believed
the life continued
after death
• Tombs were very
important to rulers
because they
continued to rule
after death
• The resting places for
pharaohs were
pyramids built during
the Old Kingdom
HIEROGLYPHICS & HIERATIC
• System of writing
• Hieroglyphic - a word
meaning “sacred”
carvings” or priestly
writings
• First inscribed on stone,
later on a plant material
called papyrus.
• Key to translate
hieroglyphics was the
Rosetta Stone
• In 1822 Jean Champollion
broke the code of
heiroglyphics
TRADE
• Traded with
Minoans on Crete &
Nubians & Kushites
(south of Egypt)
GOVERNMENT
1. Why is Narmer a legendary hero in ancient Egyptian
History? (pg. 37)
2. How did the role of Egyptian pharaohs differ from the
role of Mesopotamian rulers? (pg. 37)
3. Why did the Egyptians build great pyramids for their
Kings? (pg. 37-38)
4. How did Egyptian religious beliefs compare with those
of the Mesopotamians? (pg. 38)
5. What social classes made up Egyptian society? (pg.
40)
6. What were significant achievements of the ancient
Egyptians in science and technology? (pg. 40-41)
7. How did the Egyptian writing system compare with the
Mesopotamian system? (pg. 40)
8. Why was Ancient Egypt viewed as the “gift of the
Nile”? (pg. 35)
GOVERNMENT
1. Why is Narmer a legendary hero in ancient
Egyptian History?
• Menes united Upper and Lower Egypt
2. How did the role of Egyptian pharaohs differ from
the role of Mesopotamian rulers?
• Egyptian pharaohs were gods who ruled over government,
religion, and the military. Mesopotamian kings were
representatives of gods, but they themselves were not
considered gods.
3. Why did the Egyptians build great pyramids for
their Kings?
• Egyptians believed kings had eternal spirits and built
pyramids as resting places from which their rulers could
reign forever after death
CULTURE
4. How did Egyptian religious beliefs compare with
those of the Mesopotamians?
• Both were polytheistic; Egyptians believed in an afterlife
while Mesopotamians had a bleak view of death
5. What social classes made up Egyptian society?
• Royal family; upper, middle, and lower classes; & slaves
6. What were significant achievements of the
ancient Egyptians in science and technology?
• Developed a number system, form of geometry, columns in
architecture, calendar, medical procedures,
mummification
7. How did the Egyptian writing system compare with
the Mesopotamian system?
• Both systems began with pictures to represent ideas
WHY WAS ANCIENT EGYPT VIEWED AS
THE “GIFT OF THE NILE”?
• The Nile provided Egyptians with water
from distant mountains, rich fertile soil,
especially in the delta region and
abundant harvests. The Nile was a
reliable source of transportation
between Upper and Lower Egypt, two
distinct regions that developed
between the First Cataract, or rapids,
and the Mediterranean.