14-Oct-15GNED002 - Ancient Empires1 Ancient Egypt Land and History.
22-Aug-15GNED002 - Ancient Empires1 Ancient Egypt Culture & Society The Daily Life of Ancient Egypt.
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Transcript of 22-Aug-15GNED002 - Ancient Empires1 Ancient Egypt Culture & Society The Daily Life of Ancient Egypt.
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 1
Ancient EgyptAncient EgyptCulture & SocietyCulture & Society
The Daily Life of Ancient Egypt
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 2
OverviewOverview
PopulationLanguageSocial structureDivine kingshipArts and leisureCosmology Skiffs in Nile Swamps
Saqqara Mastaba6th Dynasty, 2300 BC
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 3
PopulationPopulation
Numbers– Old Kingdom
• 1 - 2 million
– Roman Empire• 7 million
Immigration– Nubians, Asiatics,
Greeks
– Small numbers, acculturated easily
Nubian tribute
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 4
Language
Afro-Asiatic Egyptian language Five Ancient Language Periods
– Old Egyptian (Predynastic Old Kingdom)– Middle Egyptian (Middle Kingdom)– Late Egyptian (New Kingdom)– Demotic (Ptolemy to Middle Ages)– Coptic Egyptian (Middle Ages to 1600’s)
• replaced by Arabic Hieroglyphic (picture writing)
– evolved into demotic (cursive writing) Literacy
– Grew with growth of central administration
papyrus
scribe“doctor”
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 5
WritingWriting
Hallmark of administrative class Hieroglyphic: picture writing
– From Old Kingdom– Rosetta Stone: same text in Egyptian
hieroglyphic, Egyptian demotic, and Greek
– Cursive script 2500 BC Records, literature, hymns &
prayers, technical manuals Papyrus workshops in temples:
copying traditional texts
Rosetta Stone
scribe
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 6
Social StructureSocial Structure
UpperUpper– pharaoh & court– high-level officials
MiddleMiddle– lower-level officials– local leaders, wealthy farmers– priests & professionals– artisans
LowerLower– common folk (majority)
SlavesSlaves– Limited to captives, criminals
Royal couple
Sulptors
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 7
Divine KingshipDivine Kingship
Pharaoh son of Sun God - RePharaoh son of Sun God - Re– Sent to maintain ma’at: divinely
authorized order of universe– People’s link with gods– Rule ensured security, prosperity– Source of law, authority
Centralized PowerCentralized Power– All Egypt belongs to Pharaoh– Strong monarchy = strong central
government Capital CitiesCapital Cities
– Old Kingdom: Memphis (near Cairo)– Middle & New Kingdom: Thebes
(Luxor)
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 8
Nomes and CitiesNomes and Cities
NomesNomes– Provinces of Ancient Egypt– Lower Egypt: 20, Upper Egypt: 22– Nomarchs
• provincial governors• supervised irrigation & dams, dispensed justice
CitiesCities– Pharaonic capitals
• No archaeology: still occupied• Essential wealth in land & products
– Provincial capitals• Religious and economic centres for region,
frontier fortresses• Nubia ruled directly by viceroy of pharaoh
1st nome - Saqqara
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 9
Royal BureaucracyRoyal Bureaucracy
Writing recordsWriting records– Land, labour, products, people– Taxes up to 50%
AdministrationAdministration– Palace, bureaucracy, army– Built & maintained temples,
monuments to pharaoh Simple geography of Nile lands
easy to administer State monopoly over key sectors of
economy– Some local private enterprise
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 10
The Imperial MilitaryThe Imperial Military
Old & Middle KingdomsOld & Middle Kingdoms– Limited contact with other civilizations
• Defense against desert raiders
– Small standing army of professional soldiers
• Local militia when needed
New KingdomNew Kingdom– Expanded Empire
• NubiaNubia, Middle East
– Trade, not territory• Access to resources e.g. Lebanese cedar
Bedouins
Egypt’s Kingdoms
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 11
The Army of EgyptThe Army of Egypt
WeaponsWeapons– Striking weapons
• club, mace, axe, sword, spear
– Throwing weapons• javelin, bow, slingshot
– Shield, helmet, armour– chariot after Hyksos invasion
New Kingdom Army– Mercenaries– Nobility as officers– Use of specialized forces: sappers (military
engineers), trenchers, shock troops– Rewards for excellence: land, slaves,
social position
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 12
Shipping and TradeShipping and Trade
ShipsShips– River boats
– Seafaring traders
– Naval vessels
Trade RoutesTrade Routes– Nubia: gold
– Sinai: copper, gems
– Canaan: cedar
– PuntPunt: ostrich eggs, ivory
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 13
ArtisansArtisans
Carpenters– cabinet making, furniture
Sculptors Stonemasons
– tomb & temple complexes
Goldsmiths– jewellry, funeral masks
Weavers– linens
PottersFuneral mask of
Psusennes 21st dynasty
Chair forKing Tut
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 14
LeisureLeisure
Zoos & parks– gardens in house courtyard– animals & birds
Hunting & fishing– royal leopard hunts
Games– ball, board– sports– toys
Banquets– games, music, dancing
Nefertari playing Senet
garden withfish pond
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 15
Music
Strings– Harps, lyres, lutes
Percussion– Drums, rattles,
cymbals
Wind– Flutes, trumpets,
oboes
Vocal music
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 16
CosmologyCosmology
Religion rooted in landscape of Nile– Vision of cosmic order
– Recurrent cycles, periodic renewal
Pharaoh as Chief PriestPharaoh as Chief Priest– Temples, gifts to gods, tomb monuments
– Required great wealth• Continuity of divine kingship
• Ensure renewal of life Menkaure and goddesses
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 17
Gods of Ancient EgyptGods of Ancient Egypt
1. Amen (Amon)– Creation deity of Thebes
2. Anubis– Jackal head, conductor of souls
3. Isis– Mother goddess of fertility &
nature
4. Re (Ra)– creator, sun god
5. Osiris– god of dead, underworld
Amen
Osiris Re
Anubis
Isis
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 18
RitualRitual
Temple CultsTemple Cults– God statue in inner room– Priests serve daily needs
FestivalsFestivals– Boat litter carried god statue in public
Household AltarsHousehold Altars– Offerings to
• Bes, god of marriage & family• Local gods• Family ancestors
MagicMagic– Amulets : An amulet (Latin amuletum) can be any object whose
most important characteristic is its alleged power to protect its owner from danger or harm.
Bes
Temple of Amon - Luxor
Apr 19, 2023 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 19
Obsession with Afterlife
Death as hazardous journey to afterlife– Book of the Dead: ritual & prayer to
protect soul– Weighing of deceased’s heart– Shabti: figurine servant as
companion (also ushabti) Mummification
– Organs removed to canopic jars– Body dried in natron
• Naturally occurring• Salt & sodium carbonate
– Sarcophagus: decorated casket in tomb Sarcophagus of Tutankhamen
shabti
canopic jar