NILE RIVER

Central geographic fact is Nile River Began in lakes of equatorial Africa and flows northward into the Floods every Mediterranean Sea fall, leaving Passes through rocky behind fertile ledges (cataracts) which layer of silt causes rapids and small Gave region waterfalls capability to support an Calms down 750 miles abundant south of the Mediterranean agriculture This 750 mile stretch and large population was ancient Egypt Narrow valley

Lower Egypt

Upper Egypt

MORE GEOGRAPHY

Nile also served as excellent artery of communication Encouraged early and lasting political unification Isolated by cataracts in the south, the Mediterranean Sea in the north, and huge deserts to east and west Would protect Egypt from periodic waves of new people which so often disrupted Mesopotamia Allowed civilization to develop in relatively peaceful and stable conditions Gave them cheerful and optimistic outlook

PREHISTORIC EGYPTIANS
Original settlers were a mixture of people from Nubia, Palestine, Syria, and Lybian Desert Settled in small villages Gradually cleared valley of swamps and wild animals by 4000 BC Some evidence of Mesopotamian influence

ZOSER
Settlements along Nile unified into a single kingdom around 3100 BC Perhaps by Zoser Egyptian history begins with this act Old Kingdom (31002000 BC) Middle Kingdom (2000-1575) Each period divided into Dynasties

OLD KINGDOM
Zoser established capital at Memphis in Lower Egypt Most records from this period have been lost Most of our knowledge today comes from monuments and tombs of pharaohs

PYRAMIDS
Pyramids would be normal form of burial for pharaohs until 1500 BC About 80 are still standing Most within 70 mile stretch of desert near Memphis Largest is the Great Pyramid of Cheops 481 feet high, made from 6 million tons of stone, covering 13 square acres Foundation is almost perfectly level and its sides perfectly square

Great Pyramid

PHARAOHS
Pharaoh was, in theory, all-powerful ruler But as time went on and government became more complex, he was assisted by growing bureaucracy Began to dominate pharaoh and act independently towards end of Old Kingdom

REASONS FOR DECLINE IN PHARAOHS POWER

Partly caused by enormous drain of pharaohs resources in maintaining pyramids and priests Partly due to custom of rewarding loyal officials with large estates and treasure Partly due to power struggles with the royal family By 2000 BC, central authority had virtually disappeared and the Old Kingdom was over Country plagued by anarchy

Old Kingdom bureaucrat

MIDDLE KINGDOM
Egypt recovered from decay of Old Kingdom and entered age of tranquility and progress 2000-1575 BC Regained strength under 12th Dynasty pharaohs Large sections of Lower Egypt brought into agricultural productivity by irrigation projects Pharaoh controlled bureaucracy Established loose political control over Palestine and trade contacts with Syria and Mesopotamia

FALL OF THE MIDDLE KINGDOM

When power and prosperity of Middle Kingdom began to decay, the country was invaded by the Hyksos Semitic tribe Took over northern half of kingdom Destroyed political unity Region enter 100-year period of chaos, foreign occupation, and economic stagnation

FUNDAMENTAL RELIGIOUS MYTHS

Sun rose daily in the east and traveled to the west, where it entered a mystical netherworld Fought off forces of chaos and disorder and then emerged in the east the next morning with renewed strength Nile river passed annually through a cycle of birth and death Flooded every fall and then receded, leaving behind fertile silt These events served as models of the unchanging rhythm of the universe Egyptians saw themselves as a part of all this

THE DIVINE PHARAOH

Orderly world was conscious creation of the gods But could be disrupted by evil forces To make sure that evil forces never succeeded, the gods delegated Horus to guard over the balance and harmony of the universe and serve as pharaoh Pharaoh was Horus in human form

MUMMIES
When human form died, Horus returned to heaven and then returned in a new human form In short, Horus continually died and was reborn in an endless cycle of succeeding pharaohs Explains why Egyptians went to such lengths to preserve the body of a dead pharaoh To ensure Horus safe journey back to heaven Built pyramids because they were meant to house the physical remains of what had once been a god

PHARAOHS POWER
Pharaohs authority was unchallenged and total (at least in theory) Charged with being the shepherd of his people Symbolized by shepherds staff Sole source of law No written law codes Obligated to administer law in accordance with the natural order of the universe and with mercy

GODS
Seth Popularity of various gods rose and fell with time Nekhbet

Wedjet: half woman/half cobra

Some had human form: Min, Ptah, Atum, and Amon

Hathor

TEMPLES
Temples build of stone and meant to last forever Laid out in a straight line with one room leading to another Each one symbolically further removed from the outside world Last room was were statue of god rested Only priests could enter this room

PRIESTS
Were not a closed caste set above the rest of society Ordinary laymen who spent part of the year serving the gods and the rest of their time performing their secular occupations Played no ethical role, counseled no one, never tried to convert others Sole function was to see that temple operated properly and that the god was properly taken care of Religious technicians, not holy men

AFTERLIFE
Believed dead person had to be provided with everything he or she might need to survive in the next world Hence treasures piled in tombs of pharaohs Hence household items, agricultural implements, tools and weapons in tombs of ordinary people Not sure what Egyptians thought their afterlife was like Some believed it was just a repetition of earthly life Others believed souls became stars after death Others saw it as escape from hardships of earthly life

ART
Tomb art not intended to be decorative or artistic Designed to serve a religious purpose to portray symbolically the things that the dead persons soul needed to survive in the afterlife Was also public Served the needs of the state or the gods Never considered to be private expression of an individual

HIERIOGLYPHICS
Developed writing around 3000 BC Always remained a clumsy means of creative expression Better for bureaucratic reports than for literature Very complex system Could only be mastered after years of study at special schools Because only small elite could read and write, there never was communication between writer and mass audience

LITERATURE
Most concentrated on the greatness of pharaohs and the gods Consisted of repetitious refrains Object was to evoke strong feelings; designed for maximum verbal impact Intended to be read aloud at public events

WISDOM LITERATURE
Developed at the end of the Old Kingdom Among scribes Practical advice on how to survive and advance in bureaucracy As time went on, it went beyond practical advice to aspiring bureaucrats and emphasized moral values

MESOPOTAMIA AND EGYPT I

Both civilizations had powerful religious flavor Religion dominated all aspects of life to a degree that seldom occurred afterwards Gods were seen as forces that directed and controlled nature Their ethical or moral qualities were at best incidental An ethical god would not appear until the development of YAHWEH by the Hebrews Had power of life or death over man Frightened and/or inspired Mesopotamians and Egyptians to devote so much energy, time, and wealth to religion

MESOPOTAMIA AND EGYPT II

Mesopotamians in the grip of deep fear of their capricious and often cruel gods Egyptians more at ease with their more orderly and peaceful gods Difference influenced by geography Wild rivers, rough terrain, and harsh climate of Mesopotamia produced a pessimistic and brooding people Totally predictable Nile produced a more optimistic and cheerful people Geography also fomented the early political unity of Egypt and political fragmentation of Mesopotamia Desire to control harsh environment caused Mesopotamians to focus on science while appreciation of more gentle surroundings caused Egyptians to focus on art