Ancient Egypt

Middle Kingdom

2055-1650 BC

Chapter 4 Lesson 3 Vocabulary

Civil War – war between two groups in the same place

Famine – food shortages

Cost Benefit Analysis – decide whether to carry out trade

The Middle Kingdom (2055-1650)

a. Began with the reuniting of Egypt after a civil war

b. Time of stability and growth

Middle Kingdom Achievements•Reunited Egypt•Conquered Northern Nubia•Completed building projects (forts, irrigation

canals, temples, pyramids)•Revived interest in the arts (wall painting, jewelry

and literature) •Grew more crops Could support more people

Needed more land

Middle Kingdom Trade

•Trade with other regions increased•Trade by land and sea was dangerous, but traders could become wealthy•Traded with other places to get resources such as wood and copper•Got silver from Syria, Turquoise from Sinai Peninsula, wood from Lebanon, and gold, ebony and ivory from southern Nubia

Time of Invasion

•After Dynasty 12 Egypt faced attacks from invaders•People from Southwest Asia called Hyksos (foreigners) conquered Lower Egypt•Ended the Middle Kingdom•Hyksos ruled for about 100 years and were then overthrown•Hyksos ntroduced superior weapons, the horse, and expanded Egyptian trade routes

Life In Ancient Egypt

a. Social Classes

Life In Ancient Egypt

b. Status of women

• Egyptian women enjoyed a dimension of freedom greater than any of their counterparts from other places in ancient times.

Life In Ancient Egypt

c. Religious beliefs

• Religion guided every aspect of Egyptian life. Egyptian religion was based on polytheism. The Egyptians had as many as 2000 gods and goddesses. Often gods and goddesses were represented as part human and part animal.

Life In Ancient Egypt

d. System of writing

• Hieroglyphics--pictograms

Rosetta Stone (1799 A.D.)

Life In Ancient Egypt

e. Achievements in Science

• Board Game• Bronze• Decimal System• Copper tubing• Papyrus• Medical/Surgery• Surveying

• Large scale building• Beekeeping• Calendar• Beer• Alphabet• Glass making• Petroleum tar for mummification