Chapter 3 Egypt

Ancient Egypt

Old Kingdom

Middle Kingdom

New Kingdom

• most people settled near river due to easy access.

• 90% of people were farmers

• Farmers could have built the pyramids

Nile River flows South to North —> Mediterranean Sea

• “Upper Egypt” in the South

• “Lower Egypt” in the North

Egypt - Early Dynastic Period

• Palette of Narmer

  • ceremonial, made to represent makeup pallet

  • King Narmer is in a pose of strength showing his power

    • shows him unifying everyone

    • Papyrus represents Nile River

    • Pictograph —> (a fish + axe blade = “Nar”+”mer”)

Human figures shown twisted (composite view)

• figures would be drawn on a grid for proportions (canon of proportions)

  • shoulders 3-1 size to waist

• Mastaba Tombs

  • shaft underneath where burial was (underground)

• Stepped Pyramid (commissioned by King Djoser)

  • Worlds first ever stone building

• The Great Pyramids Pyramids of three generations of kings (built with pure white limestone)

  • King Khufu - 2551-2528 - the eldest king

  • King Khafre - 2520-2494 - the son of Khufu

  • King Menkaure - 2490-2472 - the son of Khafre

    • 3 satellite pyramids for his wives

  Slaves were not used to build pyramids (just workers)

• King Tut (Tutankhamen) tomb was discovered in 1922

  • buried with tons of items to accompany him in the afterlife

Mummification done to preserve the bodies for the afterlife