Egyptian SocietyCHW 3M

Culture

Some pillars of Egyptian culture were:

ART •Flourished during the Middle Kingdom•Distinct style•Ignored perspective (2D images)•Painted what they thought about something, not what they actually saw

MATHEMATICSMathematically developed 365 day calendarIncluded 24-hour daysClosely based on annual Nile flood

MEDICINERelatively advanced medical practicesExtensive procedures developed for surgeries, treatments of woundsOften mixed science and magic – illnesses blamed on demon possession

“For the evacuation of the belly:Cow's milk 1; grains 1; honey 1; mash, sift, cook; take in four portions.

To remedy the bowels:Melilot (?), 1; dates, 1; cook in oil; anoint sick part.

To refresh an aching head:Flour, 1; incense 1; wood of wa, 1; waneb plant, 1; mint (?), 1; horn of a stag, 1;sycamore (?) seeds, 1; seeds of [ (?) ] , 1; mason's plaster (?), 1; seeds of zart, 1;water, 1; mash, apply to the head.

To renew bowel movements in a constipated child:An old book, boil in oil, apply half on the belly to reestablish evacuation.”

“A Spell for the Common Cold:May you flow out, catarrh, son of catarrh, who breaks the bones, who destroys the skull, who hacks in the marrow, who causes the seven openings in the head to ache. “

Social Structure

SOCIAL MOBILITY•Hierarchical structure, but some social mobilitypossible•If talented, lower-classpeople could rise insociety (eg., Joseph)

ROLE OF WOMEN•Not completely equal, but well ahead of other civilizations•Had some legal rights•Could own property•Could occupy important roles• Hapshepsut – One of most

successful Pharaohs (Middle Kingdom)

• Cleopatra VII – Last Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt

•Daughters valuedas much as sons(shared inheritancewith sons)

EDUCATION•Was the key to rising above the lower classes•Only available to those who could afford it – very expensive!•Available to both sexes•Most important activity: learning to write

• Hieroglyphic Script – sacred writing

• Had mystical power (words could come alive)

• Pictures may represent objects or sounds Try to write your name in Hieroglyphics.

•Agriculture was the backbone of economy (near Nile)•Pharaoh owned all land, and taxed the people for its use•Trade also important • Imported raw materials (minerals and timber)• Exported finished products (skilled craftsmen)

Economics

THE END?•Iron Age – Technologically behind, leads to…

•Weak armies – foreign troops hired to protect country•Power-hungry nobles – erode power of Pharaoh

Fall and Legacy

THE LEGACYWhile Egypt’s pyramids, religion and culture are important, later civilizations adopted very little of it.

Egypt’s greatest legacy may be simply that it maintained cultural stability for over 1000 years.