ANCIENT EGYPT CIVILIZATION

The NILE RIVER, the longest river in the world (6,650 kilometers), flows north from the heart of

Africa to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Great Pyramid of Giza

Pyramids

These are the Giza pyramids, the most famous.

Pyramids were tombs for the kings.

These were built in 3500 B.C.E.

The Great Sphinx is located on the The Great Sphinx is located on the Giza plateau, about six miles west Giza plateau, about six miles west of Cairo.of Cairo.

The Great Sphinx is located on the The Great Sphinx is located on the Giza plateau, about six miles west Giza plateau, about six miles west of Cairo.of Cairo.

Egyptian Pharaoh: Tutankhamun

Egyptians were led by Pharaohs.They were priest-kingsKing Tut is the most famousUsing computers, this image was reconstructed using his remains

TutankhamunTutankhamun

Abu Simbel was built by Ramseses II Abu Simbel was built by Ramseses II

ROYAL WOMEN:

Royal mothers, wives, and daughters derived their status from their relationship with

the king.

Kings had MANY WIVES and royal families were large.

The most prolific was Rameses II, who had eight wives and over a hundred children.

Mummies

Egyptians who could afford to do so would have themselves mummified.

They believed in a better afterlife if their body was preserved.

MummiesMummies

The Egyptians took out all of the internal organs, except the heart because it was believed to be the intelligence and emotion of the person.

The Egyptians thought the brain had no significant value, so they took it out through the nose. The body was packed and covered with Natron (a salty drying agent). After this the body was left for 40-50 days. 

MATERIALS USED IN MUMMIFICATION:

1. Linen

2. Sawdust

3. Lichen

4. Beeswax

5. Resin

6. Natron 7. Onion 8. Nile mud 9. Linen pads10. Frankincense

Egyptians wrote in Hieroglyphics

What did Egyptians write on?

Ancient Egyptians used papyrus, a substance derived from the plant of the same name

The EGYPTIAN LANGUAGE was one of the earliest languages to be written down, perhaps only the Sumerian

language is older.

First appearing on stone and pottery dating from 3100 B.C. to 3000 B.C., it remained in use for almost 3,000 years.

The last inscription was written in A.D. 394.

Pharaohs and nobles participated in HUNTING, FISHING and

FOWLING expeditions, a means of recreation that had ritualistic

and religious significance.

HUNTING SCENES often depicted on temple walls and

tombs reinforce the prowess of kings and nobles. Rabbits, deer, gazelles, bulls, Oryx, antelopes, hippopotamuses, elephants and

lions were among the wild animals hunted for their meat and

skins.

Daily Life

ROYAL PALACES, frequently CITIES IN THEMSELVES, included separate residences, a temple and a workers’ village.

WOMEN engaged in WEAVING, PERFUME MAKING, BAKING and NEEDLEWORK. Very few artistic creations were signed, and exceptional ability was rewarded through increased social status.

Women of all classes COULD EARN WAGES, OWN PROPERTY and EMPLOY WORKERS, but their main role was within the family. The title most women had was "MISTRESS OF THE HOUSE". They were considered EQUAL WITH MEN BEFORE THE LAW, and could sue

for damages and divorce.

Art and Literature

From tombs and wall paintings we know they Egyptians were very talented artisans

Wrote many folk tale stories of battle as well as poems and songs.

They would share these with their Sumerian neighbors.

The ancient Egyptians built their pyramids,

tombs, temples and palaces out of stone, the most durable of

all building materials.

ARCHITECTURE:

Apart from the pyramids, EGYPTIAN BUILDINGS were decorated with PAINTINGS, CARVED STONE IMAGES, HIEROGLYPHS, and THREE-DIMENSIONAL STATUES. The art tells the story of the pharaohs, the gods and the common people.

GOVERNMENT & RELIGION

The PHARAOH was the head of State and the divine representative of the gods on earth.

RELIGION is the glue that binds local communities together and transforms them into nations. It creates common understandings and shared

values that are essential to the growth of a civilization.

Egyptian Economy

Although Egypt looks really sophisticated, their traditional economy is based on farming and trade.

Egyptians traded up and down the Nile, with Mesopotamians and sometimes with Indus Valley (in Pakistan)

Sources

Egyptian Civilizationhttp://www.civilization.ca/civil/egypt/egcivile.html

Ancient Egyptian Virtual Templehttp://showcase.netins.net/web/ankh/

Greetings from Pakistan

Compiled by:

Students of Class V A & B

Beaconhouse School System

North Nazimabad Primary – IV

Karachi - Pakistan