Ancient Middle East and Egypt

Section 4: Egyptian

Civilization

Religion Shapes Life in Ancient Egypt

Egyptians worshipped many

gods, but chief among them

was the sun god, Re and

(later) the lord of the gods,

Amon-Re. Osiris and Isis were

also important to most

Egyptians.

Pharaoh Amenhotem IV

devoted himself to the worship

of Aton and changed his name

to Akhenaton.

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How Egyptians Viewed the Afterlife

Egyptians believed that

Osiris and Isis gave them

eternal life after death if

they passed a test.

To prepare their bodies

for the afterlife they were

mummified.

Pharaohs’ tombs were

filled with items they

would need in the next

life.

Egyptians Organize Their Society

They Egyptians had a class system that put the Pharaoh

at the top and peasants at the bottom.

In the New Kingdom, people were able to move up in

class because of increased trade and warfare.

Women had greater independence than in other Ancient

civilizations.

Egyptians Make Advances in

LearningThe Egyptians developed

several writing systems,

beginning with Hieroglyphics.

They invented a material to

write on that was made from

papyrus.

The discovery of the Rosetta

Stone allowed scholars to

decipher the meanings of

many hieroglyphics.

Egyptian doctors and

astronomers made many

advances in their knowledge

of the human body and the

heavens.

Scholars also developed

geometry for surveying

purposes.

Egyptians Develops Arts and Literature

Egyptian paintings,

statues, and carvings tell

much about their

everyday life and

religious beliefs.

Egyptian literature honors

gods and reveals the

histories of warfare and

the popular folk tales of

the time.

Ancient Middle East and Egypt