Transcript Study Guide: Egypt and Kush

Study Guide: Egypt and
Kush
What was the geographic
location and noteworthy
physical features of
ancient Egypt ?
Egypt was the Gift of the
Nile ( longest river in
world)
located in NE Africa: had
protective cataracts, and a
fertile delta
The Nile flows south to
north
Nile floods on a regular
cycle: upper Egypt in
mid summer, lower
Egypt in fall
2/3 of farmland is in the
delta area; desert
surrounds other land
Rich silted land from
flood = black land, desert
beyond river valley = red
land
River provided irrigation
water, fish, sailing
Desert too harsh for
enemies, Med Sea kept
many away, cataracts
stopped enemies from
south
How did ancient
Egyptians manage to
become a civilization ?
Rich fertile land gave rise to
farming, surplus,
diversification of labor,
greater pop, control of river
water with canals; with larger
population organized govt
developed and a shared and
well developed culture was
seen.
Describe the two
kingdoms that existed
in Egypt before they
were a united Kingdom
.
Upper ( southern) on west
bank of Nile; white crown in
cone shape
Lower (northern)
Northwest Delta; red
crown
What were the important
cultural features of the
Old Kingdom, Middle
Kingdom and New
Kingdoms of ancient
Egypt ?
Old: govt developed pharaohs as
both King and a god- he came to
earth to manage Egypt for all the
gods
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Khfu best known because of monuments for him(pyramid)
Society: Pharoah, priests and govt officials (mostly nobles, rich and
powerful families)
Middle Class = scribes and craftspeople, lesser govt officials;Lower Class
– 80% people and mostly farmers – worked on pharaoh projects in off
season. Slaves and servants
Trade with Nubia and Suria – materials for building
Religion: all worship same gods, tons of them too, temples built and
they collected $ from worshippers and govt.
– Pyramids as burial sites very important
– Idea of afterlife important
Middle: time after a
decline of pharaoh power
with nobles ruling but
ineffectively –pharaoh
comes back into power;
invaded by Hykos – they
rule, but Ahmose drives
them out
New Kingdom: height of
power
– Controlled invasion routes, built an empire ;
extended from Euphraetes to Nubia – those
neighboring send gifts to maintain good
relations.
– Expanded trade
– Queen Hatshepsut – trade and monuments
and temples
– Invasions led to decline
– Ramses the Great fought off many enemies
– Labor: scribes, artisans, artists, architects,
merchants, traders, soldiers, farmers and
peasants
Who were significant
leaders of ancient Egypt
and what were their
lasting legacies ?
•Khufu – pyramid
•Hatsheput – increased trade
•Ramses – fought invasions, massive
monuments
Menes: unites Upper and
Lower Egypt – from
Upper; 1st Pharaoh, and
first dynasty; extended
territory south
What were the religious
beliefs and rituals of
ancient Egyptians ?
• Many gods, afterlife
• Ka must be preserved
What societal groups
lived in ancient Egypt
and how were they
employed ?
Scribes
•
govt and temple records
B. Artisans, Artists, and
Architects
– 1. sculptors builders, carpenters,
jewelers
• metalworkers and leatherworkers
– 2. statues, furniture, jewelry, pottery,
shoes
– 3. architects designed temples and
royal tombs
• a. could become high govt officials
C. Merchants and Traders
– 1. few, accompanied by soldiers,
scribes and
• laborers
D. Soldiers
– 1. After Middle Kingdom wars E had
professional
• army
– 2. land as payment
– 3. keep treasure captured in warj
E. Farmers and Other
Peasants
– 1. bottom of social scale
– 2. majority of pop
– 3. crops as taxes to pharaoh to pay for
land use
• a. pharaohs controlled all land in
kingdom
4. required for special duty too
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a.
b.
c.
d.
soldier
projects
mining
paid in grain
• F. Slaves
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1.
2.
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4.
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most equal to farmers
convicted criminals
pows
projects, farms, workshops , households
had some rights and could earn freedom
• in some cases
What were the most
memorable achievements
of ancient Egyptians ?
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Arch
Hieroglyphics
Papyrus
Books and histories written
Temples, sphinx
Painting – profile and straight on
Carvings and jewelry
What led to the decline of
ancient Egyptian
civilization ?
• Over taxing, invasions, not
connected enough to all in
empire
What were the similarities
of Kush and Egypt ?
• Located along a river whose flood
brought silt and fertile land to farm
( Nile)
• Cataracts were natural barrier
• Rose from farming villages
• Diversification of labor
What were the
political, commercial
and cultural relations
interactions and
influences between
Kush and Egypt ?
• Kush supplied slaves and raw materials
to Egypt
• Egypt controls when Thumose invades
• Kush then controls Egypt – but
reestablishes much of Egyptian culture
• Kush defeated by Assyrians in Egypt
• Kush rebuilt own civilization built iron
industry, expanded trade, very much in
Egyptian stlye ; resources declined, trade
weakened, military weakened lead to
decline
Cataracts = rapids
Vocabulary
Delta = triangular
shaped land from
deposited river soil
Menes = 1st pharaoh,
dynasty, united Egypt
Pharaoh = god king
Dynasty = series of
rulers from same
dynasty
Old Kingdom – 3rd
period dynasty rise
Khufu – famous new
kingdom pharoah
Nobles –rich and
powerful
Afterlife – life after
death
Mummies – specially
treated bodies after
embalmment; linen
wrapped
Elite –people of wealth
and power
Pyramids – 4sided burial
tombs
Engineering –science for
practical matters
Middle Kingdom – after
New Ahmose King
New Kingdom – period of
greatest achievement
Trade routes – paths of
traders
Queen Hatshepsut –
New Kingdom – many
public works
Ramses the Great –
great military leader
and King; New
Kingdom
Hieroglyphics- writing
system of ancient Egypt
Papyrus – paper in
ancient Egypt from
plant fiber
Rosetta Stonediscovery that unlocked
key to hieroglyphics
Sphinxes – body of
lion and heads of
animals or human
temple
Obelisk -4 sided pillar on
side on monuments
King Tutakhamen –
discovered tomb of the boy
king