Post on 12-May-2015
transcript
Ancient Egypt
Location• Egypt was located in the Nile River Floodplain• Predictable flooding• Fertile farmland• Three Seasons of the Nile
• Farming Season• Floodwaters disappear which left rich farmland
• Harvest Season• Farmers harvest crops
• Flood Season• No one could work because their farmland was flooded
so they worked for the Pharaoh• Silt was deposited into the soil during the floods for the
Farming Season
Religion• Polytheistic• Pharaoh was divine• Egyptians belief in an afterlife led to
mummification • “Book of the Dead” outlines
requirements for afterlife• Pyramids represent importance of
afterlife in Egyptian thought
Government• Bureaucracy• Pharaoh a living god• Vizier chief administrator of
Pharaoh’s government• Local nobility and priests administer
government responsibilities
Economics• Nile river = strong economy
• Fertile farmland from silt deposits meant enough crops for the entire year
• Surplus used for trade and to support the less fortunate
• Season of flood meant farmers worked for Pharaoh
• Middle Kingdom began to become a world trade power
Old Kingdom EgyptThe Pyramid Age2600 BC – 2150 BC
• 2600 BC• 1st Pyramid Building• Tombs of Pharoahs
• 2500 BC• Great Pyramids & Sphinx constructed at Giza• Hieroglyphics standardized
• 2100 BC • Regional nobles competed for control• Dynasty loses control
Middle Kingdom EgyptWorld Trading Power2100 BC – 1700 BC
• 2000 BC • Egypt becomes an international power by
reconquering Nubia and expanding trade routes• Foreigners called Hyksos from eastern
Mediterranean settle in Egypt during good times
• 1500 BC• Hyksos eventually gain control of Lower Egypt• Native Egyptians still control Upper Egypt from
Thebes
New Kingdom Egypt The Age of Empire1550 BC – 1075 BC
• 1550 BC • Rulers from Thebes reassert control and drive out Hyksos• Expand borders of Egypt in military campaign designed to
strengthen the empire• Take control of Nubia
• 1400 BC• Leading military power in the region• Many surrounding areas such as Nubia, Assyria, and
Babylon had to pay gifts to Egypt
• 1320 Ramses II• Strong, warrior Pharaoh
Ancient Egypt• Three Kingdoms
Old Middle New
Accomplishments• Pyramids
• Hieroglyphics
• Papyrus
• Medicine
• Astronomy
• Math
• Literature
Important People• Menes
• Foundations
• Hatshepsut• Trade
• Akhenaton• Monotheism
• Tutankhamun• Tomb
• RamsesII• War / treaty• Exodus?
Reasons for Decline• Old Kingdom
• Disunity / greed of local nobles
• Middle Kingdom• Hyksos
• New Kingdom• Assyrians