EgyptEgypt

Presentation byPresentation by

Matthew BlevinsMatthew Blevins

PoliticsPolitics• Tied to religious beliefsTied to religious beliefs• Pharaohs were the rulers of EgyptPharaohs were the rulers of Egypt• Pharaoh’s “will” was lawPharaoh’s “will” was law• Penalties for disloyalty and defiance, were severePenalties for disloyalty and defiance, were severe• Signs from the gods were valued above the word of a Signs from the gods were valued above the word of a

pharaohpharaoh• Pharaohs were responsible for collecting the local taxes, Pharaohs were responsible for collecting the local taxes,

maintaining law and order, raising troops and organizing maintaining law and order, raising troops and organizing workersworkers

• All government officials, ranging from personal staff to All government officials, ranging from personal staff to imperial officials, were subject to the approval of the imperial officials, were subject to the approval of the pharaohpharaoh

Politics ContinuedPolitics Continued• The highest-ranking official was the vizier, who served as the The highest-ranking official was the vizier, who served as the

pharaoh's deputy in all the affairs of statepharaoh's deputy in all the affairs of state• This office was usually was held by a prince of royal bloodThis office was usually was held by a prince of royal blood• Office was in charge of almost all administrative affairs from Office was in charge of almost all administrative affairs from

collecting taxes to overseeing judges, scribes and treasury officialscollecting taxes to overseeing judges, scribes and treasury officials• During the Eighteenth Dynasty, the office became very complicated During the Eighteenth Dynasty, the office became very complicated

and two viziers were appointed, one for Upper Egypt and one for and two viziers were appointed, one for Upper Egypt and one for Lower EgyptLower Egypt

• By this time, the vizier could be a commoner who applied for the By this time, the vizier could be a commoner who applied for the positionposition

• Ancient Egypt was divided into 42 provinces, called nomesAncient Egypt was divided into 42 provinces, called nomes• Each of these local areas was governed by an official called a Each of these local areas was governed by an official called a

nomarch, appointed by the pharaohnomarch, appointed by the pharaoh

EconomicsEconomics• Trade started to happen in the fourth century B.CTrade started to happen in the fourth century B.C• The Egyptians traded with countries around the The Egyptians traded with countries around the

Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea, and the Red SeaMediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea, and the Red Sea• Items brought from other countries were goods like Items brought from other countries were goods like

silver, iron, cedar logs, horses, ivory, copper, cattle, silver, iron, cedar logs, horses, ivory, copper, cattle, leopard skins, and spicesleopard skins, and spices

• The main products brought from Egypt were gold and The main products brought from Egypt were gold and other minerals, wheat, barley, and papyrus sheetsother minerals, wheat, barley, and papyrus sheets

• Egyptians did not have coin money , just trade of Egyptians did not have coin money , just trade of objects of valueobjects of value

• Although there were no fixed prices, Egyptians were Although there were no fixed prices, Egyptians were good at figuring out how much an item would costgood at figuring out how much an item would cost

ReligiousReligious

• Religion guided every aspect of Egyptian lifeReligion guided every aspect of Egyptian life• Egyptian religion was based on polytheismEgyptian religion was based on polytheism• The Egyptians had as many as 2000 gods and The Egyptians had as many as 2000 gods and

goddessesgoddesses• The Egyptians saw the actions of the gods behind all The Egyptians saw the actions of the gods behind all

the elements and forces of naturethe elements and forces of nature• The depictions of the gods in art were not meant as The depictions of the gods in art were not meant as

literal representations of how the gods might appear if literal representations of how the gods might appear if they were visiblethey were visible

• Egyptians viewed kingship itself as a force of natureEgyptians viewed kingship itself as a force of nature

Religion ContinuedReligion Continued

• This is a list of the main Egyptian gods:This is a list of the main Egyptian gods:- Thoth - Seth - Osiris- Ra - Khnum- Horus- Isis- Bastet- Anubis

SocialSocial

• Egypt’s socialism were focused on slaveryEgypt’s socialism were focused on slavery• HemHem, generally translated as “slave”, generally translated as “slave”• Slaves were either prisoners of war or traded Slaves were either prisoners of war or traded

by slave merchantsby slave merchants• Period of enslavement in Egypt was often Period of enslavement in Egypt was often

limitedlimited• Debt slaves or prisoners of war were at times Debt slaves or prisoners of war were at times

set free after serving for a certain periodset free after serving for a certain period

IntellectualIntellectual• The ancient Egyptians believed that writing was invented The ancient Egyptians believed that writing was invented

by Thoth, the god of wisdomby Thoth, the god of wisdom• The earliest known examples of writing in Egypt have been The earliest known examples of writing in Egypt have been

dated to 3,400 BCdated to 3,400 BC• The latest dated inscription in hieroglyphs was made on the The latest dated inscription in hieroglyphs was made on the

gate post of a temple at Philae in 396 ADgate post of a temple at Philae in 396 AD• The hieroglyphic script was used mainly for ceremonial The hieroglyphic script was used mainly for ceremonial

inscriptions on the walls of temples and tombsinscriptions on the walls of temples and tombs• In some inscriptions the glyphs are very detailed and in full In some inscriptions the glyphs are very detailed and in full

color, in others they are simple outlinescolor, in others they are simple outlines• Possibly pre-dates Sumerian Cuneiform writing - if this is Possibly pre-dates Sumerian Cuneiform writing - if this is

true, the Ancient Egyptian script is the oldest known writing true, the Ancient Egyptian script is the oldest known writing systemsystem

Intellectual ContinuedIntellectual Continued

After the Emperor Theodsius I ordered After the Emperor Theodsius I ordered the closure of all pagan temples throughout the closure of all pagan temples throughout the Roman empire in the late 4th century AD, the Roman empire in the late 4th century AD, knowledge of the hieroglyphic script was lost knowledge of the hieroglyphic script was lost until the early 19th century, when a French until the early 19th century, when a French man named Jean-Francois Champollion man named Jean-Francois Champollion managed to decipher the script. managed to decipher the script.

ArtisticArtistic

• Ancient Egyptian art refers to painting, sculpture, Ancient Egyptian art refers to painting, sculpture, crafts and architecture developed by the civilization in crafts and architecture developed by the civilization in the lower Nile Valley from 5000 BC to 300 ADthe lower Nile Valley from 5000 BC to 300 AD

• Ancient Egyptian art as expression in painting and Ancient Egyptian art as expression in painting and sculpture was both highly stylized, detailed and sculpture was both highly stylized, detailed and symbolicsymbolic

• Much of the surviving art comes from tombs and Much of the surviving art comes from tombs and monuments, some of the most symbolic structuresmonuments, some of the most symbolic structures

Note: I received over Note: I received over 34 million 34 million more results for “ancient more results for “ancient Egyptian art” than I did for present day Egyptian artEgyptian art” than I did for present day Egyptian art..

Near?Near?• Location: the northeast corner of the continent of Africa • Size: approximately 997,740 sq. km • Capital: Cairo • Official language (today): Arabic • Official language (ancient): combination of Semitic and Hamitic • Major river: The Nile, longest river in the world, divides Egypt in half • Deserts: Libyan, Nubian, and Eastern. They were barriers of protection,

shielding the people against invasion by surrounding civilizations • Topography: The highest lands are in the south and the land slopes gently

toward the Mediterranean Sea. There are some mountains located on the southern Sinai peninsula. Some of these reach over 2600 meters (8530 feet high). The land at the Mediterranean is at sea level.

• Climate: very dry; there is almost no rainfall on a regular basis. The people depend on the annual summer floods of the Nile River for water. The floods begin in June and end in October. Without the Nile, there would likely be no Egypt.