Egyptian Society6th Grade UBD - Unit 3 - Egyptian Society

Preview Egyptian Dynasties- The Kingdoms of Upper and

Lower Egypt united around 3100 BCE. For most of the next 3,000 years, this land was ruled by powerful kings called pharaohs.

Calling Rank- Ancient Egyptians ranked members of society based on their status.

Egyptian Religion- Ancient Egyptians were polytheists who believed in many gods. They also believed that the dead lived on in the afterlife.

Reach Into Your BackgroundPredict what

effect power and social class had on the lives of ancient Egyptians? (5 minutes)

Partner ActivityWork with a

neighbor and compare your answer with theirs. What things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)

Key Ideas- Egyptian Dynasties Historians divide ancient Egypt into three periods: the Old

Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom. During these time periods, pharaohs ruled the empire.

They passed their power down from one generation to another through ruling dynasties.

Pharaohs waged wars to expand their empires. They built elaborate temples and tombs that still stand throughout Egypt today.

Egyptian Society

Egypt’s first civilizations were small villages.

These villages were scattered along the Nile River.

During those early days, Egypt was not united.

Egyptian Society

Over time, the people of Egypt formed two kingdoms.

Egypt was divided into Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. Around 3100 BCE, the two kingdoms became one.

Pharaohs Unify Egypt

It is believed that the king of Upper Egypt led his forces into Lower Egypt.

This king was Menes. He seized control of Lower Egypt.

Menes succeeded in bringing together all the people living along the Nile into one nation.

Pharaohs Unify Egypt

Menes became Egypt’s first pharaoh, or ruler.

Egyptians believed that Menes, and the pharaohs who followed him, were not just kings. They were gods on Earth.

Key Term

Menes- Menes was the first king, or pharaoh, of Egypt. He is credited with unifying Lower and Upper Egypt under one rule.

Key Term

Pharaoh- A ruler of ancient Egypt.

Pharaohs Unify Egypt

Pharaohs in ancient Egypt held an incredible amount of power and influence over their subjects.

Their subjects considered them living embodiments of the god Horus.

Key Term

Horus- The God of the sky and of the pharaohs.

Pharaohs Unify Egypt

The pharaoh’s power influenced every level of the Egyptian social structure.

Construction and adornment of their tombs and temples became large public-works projects that required countless hours of labor and enormous quantities of resources.

Egypt’s Kingdoms

Historians today divide up Egypt’s ancient times to keep track of the changes.

They use Egypt’s many dynasties as a simple way to divide up its long history.

Key Term

Dynasty- A series of rulers in a particular kingdom or empire, and each ruler in the series is said to be a member of the same family.

Egypt’s Kingdoms

Historians group Egypt's history into three main time periods:▪ The Old Kingdom▪ The Middle

Kingdom▪ The New Kingdom

Egypt’s Kingdoms

The time before the Old Kingdom is known as the Early Dynastic Period.

During this time, Egypt’s culture was beginning to form.

The Egyptians had not yet built large cities.

Egypt’s Kingdoms

Between each major era were Intermediate Periods.

These periods were times of change and conflict.

No one central power ruled over all of Egypt.

King Khufu – Pyramid Builder

The pharaohs ruled Egypt for 3,000 years.

Egypt’s most recognizable ancient site was built by one of its earlier pharaohs.

The Great Pyramid at Giza was built by King Khufu.

King Khufu – Pyramid Builder

To build the pyramids ancient Egyptians had to use their advanced knowledge of geometry and architecture.

The ancient Egyptians combined this knowledge with the use of huge amounts of physical labor.

Key Term

Pyramid- A large stone structure that is built with a square base and has triangular-shaped sides that meet in a point at the top.

Pyramids at GizaVideo- Pyramids at Giza

Key Ideas- Calling Rank

The ancient Egyptians believed that pharaohs were gods.

A small group of government officials and priests served the pharaohs.

The majority of Egyptians were farmers. Enslaved people had the lowest status in

ancient Egypt.

Social ClassesVideo- Social Classes

Social Structure of Ancient Egypt

The pharaoh was the most powerful person in all of Egypt.

However, every person had a role to play in Egyptian society.

Social Structure of Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptians were born into a social group.

They usually continued in the same jobs as their parents.

Scientists study the sculptures and paintings that were left behind in ancient cities.

Why It Matters

Every class in the social structure contributed to Egyptian society.

All classes supported the power of the pharaoh.

The pharaoh made decisions about war, building projects, and who would rule next.

Slavery in Ancient EgyptReading Handout- Slavery in Ancient Egypt

Key Ideas- Egyptian Religion To prepare for the afterlife, pharaohs

order their subjects to build elaborate tombs. They filled the tombs with fine objects.

After death, a pharaoh’s body was carefully mummified, or preserved, by priests. Then it was placed in its tomb.

Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt

The ancient Egyptians held very strong religious beliefs.

For most of their history, they practiced polytheism, or the worship of many gods.

Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt

Anubis: God of the dead. Guided dead souls to the underworld

Isis: Goddess of fertility and motherhood. Wife of Osiris and mother of Horus

Osiris: God of the underworld and resurrection Horus: God of the sky and of the pharaohs Seth: God of the desert and violence. Brother of Osiris

Life After Death

Ancient Egyptians believed in the presence of their souls.

Their souls were the part of them that would continue to live in the underworld after their bodies had died.

Life After Death

Most Egyptians wanted to be buried near their relatives and friends.

They also were buried with prized belongings, like jewelry.

They wanted to have these items with them in the afterlife.

Life After Death

Statues, jewelry, and paintings all went into the tomb.

Paintings and carvings on the wall celebrated a pharaoh’s life.

Once a pharaoh died, skilled priests began to preserve the body.

Life After Death

Egyptians from all social classes were mummified to prepare for the afterlife.

However, the process was very expensive. The richest and most powerful could afford the most elaborate burials, while poorer, less powerful Egyptians had simple burials.

The AfterlifeVideo- The Afterlife

Why It Matters

The ancient Egyptians’ focus on the afterlife is one reason that their culture has been so well preserved.

Builders made secure buildings to house the pharaohs’ bodies after death. Artists and scribes created works to record the past of the pharaohs.

Tomb art, including hieroglyphics, gives historians clues about what happened in ancient Egypt.

Key Term

Hieroglyphics- Symbols or pictures that stand for objects, ideas, or sounds.

Independent Activity

What has been the

“muddiest” point so

far in this lesson? That

is, what topic remains

the least clear to you?

(4 minutes)

Partner Activity Work with a

neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)