Transcript Pyramids on the Nile

Pyramids on the Nile
Geography of Egypt
The Nile river flows from south to north
for over 4100 miles
 Egypt's first settlements were along the
riverbanks in a narrow strip following the
fertile soil. The change from soil to desert
was so abrupt that one could see it.
 The Nile flooded every July, and when the
water receded in October, it left VERY
fertile soil.
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Geographical Challenges
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Unlike the Mesopotamians, the Egyptians’
Nile was regular as a clock. Problems
were still present:
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If the waters were too low one year, the
amount of silt was reduced and thousands
starved
If water was a few feet higher than usual,
homes and crops would be destroyed
The desert on both sides of the Nile hindered
travel and interaction with other people – trade
was limited
Upper & Lower Egypt
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Halfway up the Nile is a
waterfall/rapids area called
a cataract, which renders
the river impassible. It
also creates Upper and
Lower Egypt
The river was navigated
both with and against the
current by the Egyptians
with wide-sailed ships –
this allowed Egypt to
become a kingdom,
instead of the city states of
Mesopotamia.
Egypt Unites a Kingdom
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By 3200BC, Egypt was divided into 2 distinct kingdoms – Upper
and Lower Egypt. King Narmer was responsible for uniting the
two kingdoms.
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To symbolize this unification, Narmer combined the white crown of
Upper Egypt with the Red crown of Lower Egypt into one.
He established his capital, Memphis, at the spot where Upper & Lower
Egypt met. He became the first in 2600 years of 31 dynasties
Pharaohs Rule as Gods
In Mesopotamia, rulers are
representatives of the Gods. In Egypt, the
rulers ARE gods and are descendants of
them. This rule of religion is called a
theocracy.
 The Pharaoh was responsible for the well
being of the kingdom. Since they were
gods, they were responsible for the sun
rising, the Nile flooding, and the crops
growing, along with truth and justice.
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Pyramid Building
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Egyptians believed that since a pharaoh was basically a
god, he ruled after death as well. His spirit, or ka,
wandered the earth and partook in the same earthly
pleasures as the king did while he was alive. Since the
kings ruled forever, their tombs had to be palaces – kings of
the Old Kingdom built pyramids to rest in.
Egyptian Culture
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Osiris
Isis
The early Egyptians
were polytheistic, with
the main gods being
Re, the god of the sun
and Osiris, the god of
life, death, and
fertility. The most
important goddess
was Isis, who
represented the ideal
mother and wife.
Afterlife
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Due to the fact that their life was
not nearly as harsh as the
Mesopotamians thanks to the
regularity of the Nile, the
Egyptians had a positive view of
the afterlife. They believed that
life continued after death
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The ka roamed the earth, and
needed someplace to return to at
night, hence the process of
mummification and sarcophagi in
tombs. If a tomb was destroyed
the person was doomed to walk
the earth forever.
To get into the underworld, your
heart was weighed against a
feather by Anubis, the god of the
underworld. If your heart was too
heavy with misdeeds, he would
eat it and your soul as well. If the
feather was heavier, you could
pass to the underworld.
One of the main functions of Anubis was to release the human body at death
from the uncleanness that possessed it. He washed the body, embalmed it,
perfumed it with myrrh, wrapped it with clean linen and received it at the door
of the tomb – to the Egyptians he was "Lord of the Cleansing Room."
Mummification – how’d they do it?
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Greek historian Herodotus explains it thusly:
First, they draw out the brains through a
nostril with an iron hook… Then, with a
sharp stone they make an incision in the
side, and take out all of the bowels… Then,
having filled the belly with pure myrrah,
cassia, and other perfumes, they sew it up
again; and when they have done this steep it
in natron [a mineral salt], leaving it under
for 70 days… At the end of 70 days, they
wash the corpse, and wrap the whole body
in bandages of waxen cloth.
Life in Egyptian Society
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Classes were not lucked in
position – you could move
up through marriage, and
even some slaves could
win advancement as a
reward for exemplary
work. Reading and writing
were mandatory for
moving up, though.
Women held many of the
same rights as men – own
and trade property,
propose marriage, or seek
divorce. If divorce was
granted, she got 1/3 of the
property.
Pharaoh and Royal Family
Upper Class: Landowners and Gov’t Officials
Middle Class: Merchants and Artesian Workers
Lower Class: Farmers and laborers
Hieroglyphics
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Pictures originally
stood for an idea, but
as time passed on,
symbols took their
places, and they
started to stand for
sounds and ideas.
They were first written
on stone & clay, but
as time went on the
discovery of papyrus
made it easier to write
letters.
Science and Technology in Ancient
Egypt
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They created a calendar to help keep track of the
time between floods. This was based on the
number of days between the risings of Sirius, or
the Dog Star. It was 365 days, divided into 12
months of 30 days each, with an additional 5
days for holidays and feasts. It fell short of the
true solar year by only 6 hours.
Also, numbers were used, though there was no
concept of zero.
Their medicine was excellent for the time, with
knowledge of how to take a pulse, splint broken
limbs, and how to perform surgery.
Invaders Control Egypt
The Old Kingdom’s power declined around
2180 BC, with a period of contention until
the Middle Kingdom (2040-1640 BC)
restored order. They improved trade and
irrigation.
 In 1640 the Hyksos, or “rulers of foreign
lands” invaded from Palestine and ruled
Egypt from 1630-1523 BC.
 After this period the New Kingdom arose,
which will be discussed later, in Chapter 4.
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