Egypt
A BRIEF HISTORY
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One of the oldest and long lasting civilizations in world history was Ancient Egypt. This civilization started in about 3100 BC by Menes-first pharaoh. Soon after that the Old Kingdom started in 2700-2200 BC. The first pharaoh of the Old Kingdom was Djoser. Djoser constructed the Step Pyramid. Common people payed taxes and worked. After the Old Kingdom ended the Middle Kingdom started in 2050 BC and ending in 1750 BC. The Middle Kingdom was Egypt's golden age. Trading began, built strong armies, and art and literature flourished. Lastly, there was the New Kingdom that lasted 1550-1050 BC. In this period the armies expanded Egypt's boundaries. Also during this time, pharaohs became very powerful. Egypt fell in 500 BC.
GEOGRAPHY
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-Egypt was divided into 2 lands- Black and Red Lands
-The Black Land was a fertile land on the banks of the Nile, this land was used for crops
-The Red Land was a barren desert. The desert protected Egypt from neighboring countries
-Egypt had natural barriers from deserts, mountains and the Nile
-The Nile is 4000 miles long
-The Nile supplied ancient Egyptians with drinking water, good farming water, transportation, trade, and materials for building
-The Nile flooded every year, once a year
-Without the Nile, Egypt would just be a desert.
-The Black Land was a fertile land on the banks of the Nile, this land was used for crops
-The Red Land was a barren desert. The desert protected Egypt from neighboring countries
-Egypt had natural barriers from deserts, mountains and the Nile
-The Nile is 4000 miles long
-The Nile supplied ancient Egyptians with drinking water, good farming water, transportation, trade, and materials for building
-The Nile flooded every year, once a year
-Without the Nile, Egypt would just be a desert.
ECONOMY
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-Egyptians grew wheat, barely, vegetables, figs, melons, pomegranates and vines
-Taxes paid with cattle, grain, and labor
-One person from each household was required to pay taxes or do labor
-Vizier controlled the taxation system
-Taxes paid with cattle, grain, and labor
-One person from each household was required to pay taxes or do labor
-Vizier controlled the taxation system
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
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1. Pharaoh- important pharaohs in Egypt-
-Pharaoh Khufu- built the great pyramid, set up strong government
-Pharaoh Senusret- time of literature, built and improved religious temples and monuments
- Pharaoh Hatshepsut- Gained power as a women, promoted trade
-Pharaoh Ramses ll- Reigned for over 60 years, peacemaker, best preserved mummy, built many monuments
2. Vizier- pharaohs right hand man, reported every day on what was happening to Egypt, judge of high court
3. Nobles and Priests
-Priests- embalmed mummies, mummified people, decorated sarcophagus
-Nobles- worked for pharaoh or rich families in some way
4. Scribes and Soldiers
-Scribes- recorded history and important events, described everyday life, wrote contracts, calculated taxes, recorded court cases, kept track of food supply, etc.
-Soldiers- trained for endurance and strength, army worked on fields and planted, and worked as laborers
5. Craftsmen- appreciated, not allowed to sign their work, drew heads, eyes, legs, and feet
positioned to the side, drew shoulders and chest towards the front,
-Men usually had dark colors, women with light colors
6. Farmers and Slaves
-Farmers- most villagers were farmers, grew crops around the Nile
-Slaves- slaves were just personal assistants
-Pharaoh Khufu- built the great pyramid, set up strong government
-Pharaoh Senusret- time of literature, built and improved religious temples and monuments
- Pharaoh Hatshepsut- Gained power as a women, promoted trade
-Pharaoh Ramses ll- Reigned for over 60 years, peacemaker, best preserved mummy, built many monuments
2. Vizier- pharaohs right hand man, reported every day on what was happening to Egypt, judge of high court
3. Nobles and Priests
-Priests- embalmed mummies, mummified people, decorated sarcophagus
-Nobles- worked for pharaoh or rich families in some way
4. Scribes and Soldiers
-Scribes- recorded history and important events, described everyday life, wrote contracts, calculated taxes, recorded court cases, kept track of food supply, etc.
-Soldiers- trained for endurance and strength, army worked on fields and planted, and worked as laborers
5. Craftsmen- appreciated, not allowed to sign their work, drew heads, eyes, legs, and feet
positioned to the side, drew shoulders and chest towards the front,
-Men usually had dark colors, women with light colors
6. Farmers and Slaves
-Farmers- most villagers were farmers, grew crops around the Nile
-Slaves- slaves were just personal assistants
GOVERNMENT
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-Pharaoh owned everything
-Pharaoh had many helpers
-People loved titles- government officials gave themselves titles
-Vizier made court decisions
-Whatever the vizier said was final
-Pharaoh had many helpers
-People loved titles- government officials gave themselves titles
-Vizier made court decisions
-Whatever the vizier said was final
BELIEFS/RELIGION
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-Religion guided every aspect of life
-Many gods
-Horus- sky god
-Amon-Ra- sun god
-Osiris- god of the underworld
-Believed death was better and in another world
-Believed they could only reach their full potential after death
-"Ka" needed to be protected after death
-Bodies got embalmed after death
-Organs got removed and put into special jars
-Body covered in natron for 40 days
-Lastly, bandages were wrapped around the body with jewelry inside the layers (mummification)
-Mummy was placed in a Sarcophagus
-Many gods
-Horus- sky god
-Amon-Ra- sun god
-Osiris- god of the underworld
-Believed death was better and in another world
-Believed they could only reach their full potential after death
-"Ka" needed to be protected after death
-Bodies got embalmed after death
-Organs got removed and put into special jars
-Body covered in natron for 40 days
-Lastly, bandages were wrapped around the body with jewelry inside the layers (mummification)
-Mummy was placed in a Sarcophagus
ADVANCEMENTS/ACHIEVEMENTS
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-Some achievements are:
-Obelisks- to write names down. Made of stone, often built in pairs, and least 70 feet tall-most were taller.
-Flat roofed homes- made out of sun-dried bricks. Homes were huge, people often sat on the flat roof.
-Pyramids- full of treasure, housed sarcophagus', designed to catch the robbers
-Mummification- for anyone who could afford it, preserved bodies.
-Written language- scribes need something faster to write than using hieroglyphics. Used Rosetta Stone.
-Papyrus- used for baskets, sandals, mats, rope, and paper.
-Number system including fractions- invented a decimal system.
-Obelisks- to write names down. Made of stone, often built in pairs, and least 70 feet tall-most were taller.
-Flat roofed homes- made out of sun-dried bricks. Homes were huge, people often sat on the flat roof.
-Pyramids- full of treasure, housed sarcophagus', designed to catch the robbers
-Mummification- for anyone who could afford it, preserved bodies.
-Written language- scribes need something faster to write than using hieroglyphics. Used Rosetta Stone.
-Papyrus- used for baskets, sandals, mats, rope, and paper.
-Number system including fractions- invented a decimal system.
ARCHITECTURE
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-Greatest architectural achievements were made out of stone
-Pyramids are a great example of how great Ancient Egypt was with architecture
-Had very beautiful and special art
-Pyramids are a great example of how great Ancient Egypt was with architecture
-Had very beautiful and special art