A society characterized by security and changelessness

Protected by natural barriers◦ Deserts (West and East)◦ Mediterranean Sea

(North) ◦ Cataracts (South)◦ Red Sea (East)

Regular flooding

Egyptian civilization arose slightly after Mesopotamia

3100 BCE King Menes unites villages of Upper and Lower Egypt (Dynasty)

3 major periods◦ Old Kingdom (2700 – 2200 BC)◦ Middle Kingdom (2050 – 1652 BC)◦ New Kingdom (1567 – 1085 BC)

Religion◦ Polytheistic◦ Sun god (Atum, Re)◦ Osiris (Resurrection)

Pharaoh (Great House)◦ Divine◦ Absolute power

Bureaucracy Vizier

◦ 42 provinces

These are the Giza pyramids, the most famous.◦ King Khufu

Pyramids were tombs for the kings.

Kings underwent process of mummification

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MQ5dL9cQX0

http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/mummies/home.html

These were built in 2500 B.C.E.

After 150 interregnum Middle Kingdom is established

Looked upon as a “Golden Age” Egypt expands to Nubia Pharaoh transformed into more of a

shepherd like figure Delta drained Canal dug between Nile and

Red Sea

Cultural Diffusion◦ Chariot◦ Bronze

Names you may know◦ Hatshepsut◦ Amenhotep IV -> Akhenaton◦ Tutankhamen◦ Cleopatra VII

Pharaoh

Nobles and PriestsMerchants,

artisans, scribes and tax collectors

Farmers

Hieroglyphics “priest carvings” Hieratic script Ancient Egyptians wrote on

papyrus, a substance derived from the plant of the same name