Ancient Egypt                               9/25/09 

                                                                                                                               
Aim:  Why is Egypt called the “gift of the Nile”?

Initial Question:  Why did the Egyptian pharaohs build the monumental stone tombs we call the pyramids?

          The pharaohs believed in an afterlife and the pyramids were a residing place for the pharaohs soul or ka until he moved on into the next world. The pyramid was also a vault for material things that would go along with him on his journey.

Question:  What part did religion play in the political development of Egypt?

          The pharaoh was god-king.  He was the ruler of Egypt and the human manifestation of the sun-god, Ra.

Question:  Why were the Egyptians such a religious people?

          The Egyptians believed in an afterlife.

Question:  How did Amenhotep IV - Akhenaton - threaten the polytheistic

religions of Egypt?

          Akhenaton threatened the polytheistic religions of Egypt by declaring there was only one-god, Ra. 

Question:  Why is Egypt called the “gift of the Nile”?

          Egypt is called the “gift of the Nile” because without the Nile - Egypt would be a wasteland.

Question:  How is the myth of Osiris and Isis related to the flooding of the Nile?

Question:  How did Menes unite all of Egypt about 3100 B.C.?

          Menes became the first pharaoh of a united Egypt when he conquered Lower Egypt and united Lower Egypt with Upper Egypt.

Question:  What type of government did ancient Egypt develop?

Question: How is ancient Egyptian history divided into periods?

          Old Kingdom- 2850 B.C. - 2200 B.C.

          Middle Kingdom- 2050 B.C. - 1792 B.C.

          New Kingdom- 1570 B.C. - 1090 B.C.

Question: How did the pharaoh’s role change during the Middle Kingdom?

          Pharaohs during the Middle Kingdom had to share their power with the nobles and priests.

          There was a big decline in the building of stone pyramids.

Question: Why were the Hyksos able to conquer the Egyptians?

          The Hyksos came across the isthmus of Suez with horse drawn chariots.

          The Egyptians did not have horse drawn chariots and were soundly defeated.

Question: What changes were made in Egyptian society during the New Kingdom?

          During the New Kingdom, the pharaoh became an absolute ruler again.  And an empire was created in the western part of the Fertile Crescent.

          Under Hatshepsut women had equal rights with men.

          Thutmose II built an empire on the Eastern Mediterranean rim.

Question: Why is ancient Egypt considered to be a great civilization?

Math:  Egyptians developed geometry.

Science:  Egyptians developed a solar calendar.  The most accurate ancient calendar.

          Egyptians made advancements in medicine.

          Egyptians developed a method of embalming and preserving the dead.

Engineering:  Egyptians developed important engineering techniques in the building of their pyramids and monuments.

          Egyptians developed sophisticated irrigation systems.

Arts:  Egyptians had beautiful graphic arts (heiroglyphics).

          Egyptians created poetry and literature.

          Egyptians had monumental stone architecture and sculptures.

          Wall decorations.

Ethics/Religion:  Egyptians developed the notions of right and wrong, conscience and justice.

          Developed the idea of an organized religion.

Government:  Developed the idea of a bureaucracy.  Government by agencies and experts officials  who perform a function for the state - such as, tax-collecting.

Question:  How was the culture of Kush affected by trade and warfare?

          Kush conquered Egypt about 750 B.C. but Kush occupation of Egypt was short-lived when Assyrians armed with iron weapons invaded Egypt.

          The Kushites adopted Egyptian hieroglyphics and Egyptian religions and Egyptian architecture and arts.  But over time, the Kush developed their own religions and writing system.

          The Kushites learned to make iron tools but the Egyptians did not adopt iron technology.

          The Kushites traded with Arabia, India and East Africa.

          After 1000 years of civilization. the Kush kingdom collapsed around

200 A.D.

          Axum developed in what is today Ethiopia.  Axum adopted Christianity and there is still a Christian church in Ethiopia.