Transcript The Unification of ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt
3100-1069 B.C.
The Pyramids of Giza
A river valley and its people
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The Nile Valley receives little rainfall.
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Egypt relied on predictable yearly floods.
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The Nile is the longest river in the world.
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It is unique because it flows north.
The Nile Valley was divided into Lower and Upper
Egypt.
The Unification of ancient Egypt
Around 3000 B.C. King Menes of Upper Egypt invaded and
conquered Lower Egypt
Historians have organized the dynasties to describe Ancient Egypt:
Old Kingdom
Middle Kingdom
New Kingdom
Timeline of
Kingdoms
Dates
Significant Events
Old Kingdom
3100 - 2181
Construction of the pyramids
begins
Middle Kingdom
2125 - 1650
Recovery and political stability
New Kingdom
1550 - 1069
Creation of the Egyptian Empire
The Old Kingdom (3100-2181)
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Upper and Lower Egypt became a strong national government.
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The Egyptian Government was a Theocracy.
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Pyramids were built to honor their god-kings and provide an
eternal resting place.
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Power flowed from the king to a bureaucracy to control:
Trade/taxes/infrastructure
Pyramid Building:
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They were built on West side of the Nile.
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Quarried limestone was moved to each site.
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It sometimes took up to 25-30 years to build a pyramid.
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During same time temples and smaller pyramids for pharaoh's
queens were built.
Pyramid of
King Khufu
The
Sphinx
It was built
by King
Kaphre. The
sphinx is
roughly 4,636
years old.
Mummification Process:
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It was a 70 day process.
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Disposal of brain occurred through the nose.
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Important body organs were removed and stored in canopic
jars.
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Liver, lungs, stomach,
and intestines
Materials used in mummification:
• linen
• sawdust
• lichen
• beeswax
• resin
• natron
• onion
• Nile mud
• linen pads
• frankincense
Mummification tools:
• Brain hooks (replicas )
• Oil jar
(Royal Ontario Museum 948.1.17)
• Funnel (replica)
Embalmer's knife
(Smithsonian Institution 221.389)
• The heart was left in place.
• Natron salt was used to dry the body.
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The body was anointed with oils and honey.
• They were wrapped with linens and painted.
• The mummy was prepared for the ceremony of
“opening the mouth” which was important in the
next life.
The Middle Kingdom (2125-1650)
• This kingdom came into being due to a period of
upheaval and violence in the city of Thebes.
• During the 1700’s, Theban kings faced problems of
their own.
• These problems opened the door for an overthrow.
• The Middle Kingdom came to an end by invasion of
people from Western Asia named Hyksos.
• The Hyksos were successful due to advances in
weaponry.
• They ruled for a period of about 110 years.
The New Kingdom (1550-1069)
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The Egyptian prince Ahmose overthrew the Hyksos in about
1600 B.C.
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Around 1480 B.C. Queen Hatshepsut carried out an extensive
building program.
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Thutmose III expanded the empire.
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The empire now reached as far as Syria and the Northern
Euphrates.
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The empire grew rich from commerce, tribute, and cultural
diffusion.
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King Tutankhamen ruled for a short time from 1333B.C.1323B.C.
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Ramses II reigned by expressing power through statues of
himself and building towers and tombs. Egyptian power reached
its peak.
Life In Ancient Egypt - Social Classes
Life In Ancient Egypt
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Egyptian women enjoyed a dimension of freedom greater
than any of their counterparts from other places in ancient
times.
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Religion guided every aspect of Egyptian life. Egyptian
religion was based on polytheism. The Egyptians had as
many as 2000 gods and goddesses. Often gods and
goddesses were represented as part human and part animal.
System of Writing – Hieroglyphics
Rosetta Stone was discovered
in 1799 A.D.
The Rosetta Stone contained
writing from 3 different
writing systems.
Hieroglyphics was decoded
for the first time.
It is currently located in the
British Museum.
Achievements in Science
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Board Game
Bronze
Decimal System
Copper tubing
Papyrus
Medical/Surgery
Surveying
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Large scale building
Beekeeping
Calendar
Beer
Alphabet
Glass making
Petroleum tar for
mummification