Ancient Egypt: Architecture, Arts, Trade, Religion and the Rise and Fall of Dynasties
1. Architecture and Arts
-Pyramids ~80 still stand today. Giza ï Khufu/Cheops
-Construction: ramps, levers, human labor
-Sculptors ï statues of rulers and animals
-Paintings show Egyptian way of life
2. Trade and Farming
-Govât controls trade, no social mobility.
-Women had rights and owned property ï given to
daughters
-Egypt traded surplus food to other civilizations
(wheat, barley, flax, cotton) Most of production
went to pharaoh.
-1st to trade with sea ships.
-Caravans â groups of people and camels travel
together for protection.
3. Education and Religion
-trained elite groups to be scribes ï learned to write in
hieroglyphics and record
-GODS ï local god linked to animal
Amon- Re (RA) â creator God, Sun God
Osiris â judged people after death
Isis â Osirisâ wife â Goddess of Nile River/Royal Throne
-After life ï persons heart weighed against a feather.
Balanced ï eternal happiness
Unbalanced ï monster gets it, âEater of the Deadâ
-Mummification ï preserving the body
4. Math, Science, and Medicine
-Calendar ï based on movements of the moon, stars
above before annual flooding â 365 days a year.
-Counted years by Pharaohâs reign.
-Math ï number system based on ten. Fractions, whole
numbers.
-Geometry ï to build pyramids and rebuild fields after
floods.
-Treat illness and mummify dead. Magic spells, herbs,
and medicines.
5. OLD KINGDOM
-2680 BC â 2180 BC
-Menes/Namer â unites UE and LE. Creates a ruling
dynasty and makes Memphis the 1st capital.
-Development in science and arts (sphinx,
pyramids, and mummification)
-Social Classes:
Pharaoh, royal family, priests, scribes, govât
officials
Peasants, farmers, army, labor
Noble class grows ï power struggle between
nomarchs and with pharaoh ï âinternal strifeâ
6. MIDDLE KINGDOM
-2050 BC ï Egypt reunited by Mentuhotep.
-Strong pharaoh makes Thebes 2nd capital.
-Two national works projects:
- drains Delta for farmland
- connects Nile and Red Sea with canal
-âGolden Ageâ â period of stability and prosperity
-Hyksos â foreigners from western Asia cross the
Sinai Peninsula and conquer Egypt with horse
drawn chariots and bronze scimitars.
- Hyksos rule Egypt for 100 years.
7. NEW KINGDOM
-1570 BC - ~1080 BC
-Egyptâs leaders drove out Hyksos by copying weapons ï
âCultural Diffusionâ
-Egypt united by long line of strong pharaohs. Gained land.
-1530 BC â 1482 BC Hatshepsut â 1st female pharaoh. Kept
boarders secure. Increased trade.
-1482 BC â 1450 BC Thutmose III (stepson) â conquest and
trade, ruled at the height of Egyptâs power.
-1380 BC â 1362 BC â Amenhotep IV â Believes only in RA.
Attempts to make Egypt Monotheistic. Changes his name to
Akhenaton.
-Tutankhamen â King Tut. Dies at 19. Buried in âValley of the
Kingsâ Changes Egypt back to Polytheism.
8. Egyptâs Decline
-Ramses II â 1279 BC â 1213 BC âRamses the Greatâ
builds temples and monuments
-Followed by weak rulers who could not keep off
invasion
-~300 BC Egypt was ruled by outsiders.
-Cleopatra â 1st century BC â tries to reunite Egypt and
rule independently â fails
-Egypt becomes province of Roman Empire.