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Mesopotamia Egypt (3100-500 BC) In General Unification & Politics Absolutism & Pharaoh Ethics & Women’s Status Pyramids & Religion Conc. Key Terms Nile River Papyrus Menes Pharaoh Osirus Isis Horus Ma’at Imhotep Nomarchs. Ancient World (cont.). Rosetta Stone. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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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
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