Ancient World (cont.)

I. Mesopotamia

II. Egypt (3100-500 BC)

A. In General

B. Unification & Politics• Absolutism &

Pharaoh• Ethics & Women’s

Status• Pyramids & Religion

III. Conc.

Key Terms• Nile River• Papyrus• Menes• Pharaoh• Osirus• Isis• Horus• Ma’at• Imhotep• Nomarchs

Rosetta Stone

• Discovered in 1799; deciphered 1822

• Included writing in hieroglyphics, demotic script, and Greek

Egypt’s Influence On Us Today

1. A new, less clumsy writing tablet: Papyrus

2. Toothpaste!

a) Ingredients: lead, powdered flint, incense, and honey (ca. 1500 BC)

The Gift Of The Nile

Most of Egypt is a desert, but the Nile...

1. flooded every year which added nutrients to soil.

2. made the land “livable;” 5-15 miles on either side of the River.

3. created a dependable and efficient transportation system.

In contrast to Mesopotamia’s instability, the Nile provided stability and prosperity to Egypt.

Egypt was believed to be first unified between 3100-2850 BC by… Menes

Unification Brings Prosperity

He was also known as Narmer

Political Unification & Prosperity

• From about 3000 BC to 30 BC Egypt = very prosperous

• Pyramid Building: the Old Kingdom (ca. 2700-2200 BC)– Later, pharaohs hid tombs in caves

Royal Absolutism: Pharaoh’s Power1. Pharaoh was a god on earth; no

separation of church and state—no written law

• Smaller tombs were placed near pharaoh’s tomb

2. Taxes: about 20% of income went to Pharaoh

3. In return, Pharaoh ensured there would be prosperity (flooding of Nile) & no change

4. Regional “governors” called Nomarchs served as pharaoh’s representatives at the local level

Yul Brynner as Ramses II

(Ten Commandments)

Pharaoh & Religion/Mythology

• Osiris ruled over the kingdom of the dead. Originally a god of fertility, he was murdered by his brother.

• Osiris was resurrected by his wife Isis who reassembled pieces of his body.

Horus

• Horus was the son of Isis & Osiris. Pharaoh was the incarnation of Horus on earth.

Ethics: Pharaoh & Ma’at

1. Belief: universe was characterized by chaos

2. To avoid chaos & maintain status quo, Pharaoh enforced Ma’at (outlined ethical behavior); this had to be kept to ensure prosperity

• Examples: feeding poor; protection of widows & orphans; treating others with kindness, etc.

Family Life & Women’s Roles

• Divorce was rare• Women = unique position for Ancient World:

– Matrilineal descent & inheritance – Owned property, engaged in trade, traveled in

public– Could occasionally became Pharaoh

Djoser’s Step Pyramid(ca. 2800-2700 BC)

Designed by the engineer Imhotep who later established a school of architecture

Quick Video Clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mce0Hm7h3GY

Statistics & the Great Pyramid

• Built about 2600 BC• About 480 feet high and 750 feet long• Built with 2.3 million limestone blocks• Each block weighed about 2.5 tons• Each block was hand-chiseled to fit in place

perfectly• Built with a labor force of about 100,000 men

working for 20 years

Three Feluccas Sailing The Nile(These boats are similar to those used years

ago)

So, why build them?--Religion

• Every body held a “ka” or double (soul?) that didn’t die when the body died.

• One’s “ka” survived more completely if the flesh was preserved.

• Pyramids were tombs for Pharaoh’s “ka” to allow it to be fed, clothed, etc.

Hieroglyphics From Book Of The Dead

Sphinx & Great Pyramid(Sphinx was carved from a natural bluff ca. 2500

BC)

Inside a Tomb

Playing a board game

Craftsmen making supplies

A man grinding grain

Video Clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2T3fZDiSsw&feature=related

Role/Function Of Laws/Religion

Region Religion Laws Misc.Mesopotamia Religion explains natural events

Laws are written & provide ethics but Church/State are one

Polytheistic; uncertainty & instability

Egypt Afterlife & natural events; Pharaoh is god on earth

No need; Pharaoh’s word is law

Polytheistic; Ma’at provides ethics; stable & prosperous

Ancient World (cont.)

I. Mesopotamia

II. Egypt (3100-500 BC)

A. In General

B. Unification & Politics• Absolutism &

Pharaoh• Ethics & Women’s

Status• Pyramids & Religion

III. Conc.

Key Terms• Nile River• Papyrus• Menes• Pharaoh• Osirus• Isis• Horus• Ma’at• Imhotep• Nomarchs