Do Now: Why do you think the Egyptians spent so much time and energy building pyramids? What do the pyramids tell us about the Egyptians?

2040-1640 BC Middle Kingdom  

Dynasty XI – XIII Commoners practice mummification.    

Dynasty XI  King Menuhotep reunites Egypt.  

Dynasty XII Lower Nubia is conquered, irrigation practiced, pyramids are built again. Literature becomes an important art form.  

Dynasty XIII The Hyksos, a foreign people settle in Egypt. Egyptians abandon Nubia.

1800 BC Book of the Dead appears in tombs. It contains instructions for entering the afterlife and protective spells.

The Next World – Kingdom of the West (Heaven)

(Egyptian Concept of Eternal Life After Death)What happens when you die?????

If the mummy was prepared and properly preserved physically and spiritually correct prayers are said, there are 4 steps that must be completed to reach immortality (eternal life).

1. Dead person (KA-sprit) had to persuade an old man to take him west across the river of death (symbolizing the Nile).

2. Cross through twelve gates guarded by Giant Cobras if person has prayers, maps and amulet charms to disarm the snakes he can render them poison less.

3. Dead person has to pass a lake of fire then confront 42 judges-assessors who read a list of possible sins. The Dead has to swear he has never sinned.

4. Enter the judgment hall of Osiris… where his heart was weighed against the Feather of Truth. If the heart was to heavy with sin or evil, then Ammit. If he was judged good, then the heart would balance with the feather and he would be able to join Osiris and the dead and live forever.

Note: As long as mummy is preserved and cared for with prayers and offering or gifts to the gods then the KA can live forever. If the mummy is destroyed or name of the dead removed, then the KA twin dies in the next world and existence ends.

1640 - 1532 BC  2nd Intermediate Period  

Dynasty XIV Phoenicians and Palestinians settle in Egypt.   Dynasty XV - XVI (Hyksos) The Hyksos usurp Egyptian Rulers, make contact with rulers of Nubia.Dynasty XVII (Theban) Thebes dynasty rules with the Hyksos, but then try to expel the Hyksos. Egyptian military use horse drawn chariots.

CORRECTION FROM LAST CLASS:

The Hyksos Invaded during the SECOND Intermediate Period

1550 - 1070 BC New Kingdom    

Dynasty XVIII The Hyksos are expelled, Nubia is reconquered. Egypt is unified once again, and then expands to control Syria and Palestine. Kings begin hiding their tombs - separate from their mortuary temples in the Valley of the Kings.

1500 BCThe Ebers Papyrus is written recording methods of diagnosis, treatment, spells and recipes for medicines.

1485  BC After ruling as regent for her stepson Thutmos III, Hapshepsut declares herself Pharaoh of Egypt.

1380 BCAnkhenaten and Nefertiti establish and enforce a monotheistic religion based upon the solar disk, the Aten. 

1325 BC Tutankhamun restores traditional religion.

Dynasty XIX Egyptians fight with the Hittites and then make peace, then conquer Israel. 1290 BCRamses II succeeds to the throne.  He was one of the most powerful pharaohs in Egyptian history.  He lived to be at least 90 years old, commissioned many building projects and fathered an estimated 400 children.

Dynasty XX  Ramesses III repels dislocated tribes from Asia Minor.  Moses and the Israelites exodus from Egypt.  Time of political and economic decline.  Priests gain power.

1200 BC The Middle East enters the Iron Age.