Characteristics of Egyptian Civilization

• Centralized political authority embodied in the absolute ruler the pharaoh in Egypt and the person of the King in the region of Kush (Nubia)

• Imperialist expansion in the second millennium B.C.E. as the Egyptian army pushed into Palestine, Syria, and north Africa and south into Nubia and as the Kushites later conquered Egypt and expanded their influence to the south

• Highly stratified and patriarchal societies based on an agricultural economy

• Development of industries, transportation, and trade networks that facilitated economic growth and the intermingling of cultural traditions

• Writing systems: hieroglyphic, hieratic, demotic, and Coptic scripts in Egypt and the yet-to-be-translated Meroitic inscriptions in Nubia

• Organized religious traditions that include worship of Amon and Re, sun gods, the cult of Osiris, pyramid building, and in Egypt, mummification of the dead

Classification of Egyptian History 

Period Dates Significant Events

Archaic: 3100-2600 BC Unification of Egypt

Old Kingdom 2660-2180 BC Construction of the pyramids

First Intermediate 2180-2080 BC Political Chaos

Middle Kingdom 2080-1640 BC Recovery and Political Stability

Second Intermediate 1640-1570 BC Invasion of the Hyskos

New Kingdom 1570-1075 BC Creation of an Egyptian Empire, King Tut/Religious Chaos.

Final Decline 1075-626 BC Invasion of numerous groups, crushed by Assyrians.

 

The Natural Setting

The Nile

Black and Red Land

Egypt: The Natural Setting

Center of Egyptian Civilization• Location• Nile• Climate

The early kingdoms of Menes

• Two original kingdoms• 3100 BC• Capital• The 1st dynasty (of 32)• Shrouded in Mystery

Archaic Period 3100-2660 BCE

• Earliest hieroglyphics• Foundation of the Egyptian

State• Creation of Memphis• Contact with people outside

the region• Step pyramids are built

The Old Kingdom:

• 2580-2190 BC• Pharaoh as leaders• Absolutism of Pharaoh• Religion• Government• The age of the pyramids• Governmental structure:

An Age of Pyramids: Zoser

Decline of the Old Kingdom

• The first Intermediate Period-(2190-2025 BC)

• Huge costs of the vast pyramids• Low Floods• Rise in power of the priests at

Re• Split of the Egyptian state

(Memphis-North, Thebes-South)

Egyptian Religion:

• Religion centered around Pharaoh

• Polytheistic• Creation story• Pyramids

Hierarchy of Gods: Egypt

• Ra: Sun God (Amon Re)– Daughter of Ra: Maat: Goddess of

Justice

• Isis: Goddess of Love and Creation

• Married to OSIRIS: death, Nile, creation– Son: Horus (Pharaoh, human

incarnation) Falcon god

Decline of the Old Kingdom:

The 1st intermediate period

• Natural Factors• Class system• Power of pharaohs weakened

The construction of Pyramids:

• Shrouded in mystery• Theories• History Channel Video

The Middle Kingdom:

• 2052-1778 BC• Reunification by Mentuhotep• Conquest of Nubia• Achievements• Reign of the Hyksos

Politics: the absolutism of the Old Kingdom comes to an end.• Pharaohs portrayed it as a Golden Age.• Goal benevolent rule for all. Pharaoh

characterized himself as a shepherd to his people.

• Nomes (districts) were clarified and taxes spelled out.

“He who created me as one who should do that which he had done, and to carry out that which he commanded should be done. He appointed me herdsman of this land, for he knew who would keep it in order for him”

Pharaoh

Nobles and Priests

Merchants and Artisans

Farmers and Laborers

Osiris becomes a more prominent figure.

Osiris cult had the effect (Book of the Dead) of “democratizing” Egypt.

Bronze Chariots Desire for new

territories to create “buffer zones”

The Second Intermediate Period:

• Decline of Middle Kingdom• Hyksos• Division

The New Kingdom:

• 1570-1085 BC• Pharaohs take on a more

militaristic approach• Thutmoses III’s chip on his

shoulder!• Monotheism and Amenhotep

Dominant rulers of the New Kingdom:

• 18th dynasty-greatest string of rulers in Egyptian history:– Thutmose II (Useless)– Hathesput:– Thutmose III– Amenhotep IV– Ramses the Great

Hathesput: 1st female ruler

Akhenaton: divine revolutionary

• Amenhotep IV:• Akhen????• Monotheistic?• Priests at Amon, a burden of

all of Egyptian history

Akhenaton:• Role in history Montheism

Amun surges in importance.

After Akhenaton the god saw 2/3 of all temples in Egypt.

Husband was allowed to keep more than 1 wife if she didn’t bare him a child.

Patriarchal, queens were strong and women did serve as Pharaohs.

Women kept their property even in marriage.

The era and Legacy of King Tut:

• Tutankhamen:

• Howard Carter’s excavation

Transformation of beliefs:

• Tut’s real legacy• Reason for reverence?

The riches and legacy:

• Field Museum, Chicago• Best example for

mummification• Mummification?

The age of Ramses:

• Egypt’s best?• Arrogant• Beginning of the end

The Final Declination:

• 1085-525 BC• Causes• Egyptian Society and class

structure

Legacy and Achievements of Ancient Egypt:

• Writing• Papyrus• Engineering• Architecture• Mathematics• Astronmy• Solar Year• Medicine

Egyptian Mysteries:

• Sphinx• Rosetta Stone• Tombs• Mummification• Pyramids• Valley of the dead

Later Dynasties:

• Persian• Greek/Hellenistic• Age of Alexander• Roman