Ancient Egypt

  • Geography and climate:

    • Consists of many deserts
    • Mountains which isolate the area
    • Earliest Egyptians were hunter-gathers in the Nile River Valley
    • Lower Egypt: north of the river, includes the deltas
    • Upper Egypt: south of the river, has cataracts
    • Navigating is dangerous
    • Nile River is a very important water source, as there is little rainfall
    • Flooded in the summer, and the muddy silt allowed for agriculture
    • Ample food supply and natural barriers allowed Egypt to flourish

  • Egypt’s first dynasties:

    • Pharoah Narmer from upper Egypt united the upper and lower.
    • From Narmer, the first dynasty of Egyptian Pharoahs was establish
    • Many dynasties rose and took power.
    • This era is called the Old Kingdom

  • The Old Kingdom: 2650 BC - 2200 BC

    • Cities grew and trade became more widespread

    • Social and political systems were established

    • Social order from high to low: pharoah, priests, nobles, traders, artisans, farmers, slaves

      Social hierarchy of the Old KIngdom

    Religion:

    • Early Egyptians were polytheistic
    • Ra: god of the sun
    • Hapi: god of the Nile
    • Osiris: god of the underworld
    • Isis: god of fertility
    • They built temples, performed rituals and made prayers.
    • Believed in rebirth. Everyone has a ka (life force)
    • Kept ka intact by mummifying the body

  • Pyramid:

    • Started being built during the Old Kingdom
    • Served as burial tombs for Egyptian royalty
    • Size reflected the importance of the individual entombed

  • Old Kingdom Achievements:

    • Economy flourished because of trade with kingdoms
    • Developed a form of writing called hieroglyphics and used papyrus

  • Decline of the Old Kingdom:

    • Power hungry nobles sought to take control from the pharoah
    • Economic troubles rose due to expensive projects
    • Devastating famine

  • The Middle Kingdom:

    • Egypt faced political and economic instability after the fall of the Old Kingdom
    • In 2050 BC, Pharoah Mentuhotop II restored order and moved the capital from Memphis to Thebes.
    • Increased trade with Syria
    • Added new lands, including kingdom of Nubia
    • Weak pharoahs failed to the hold the Kingdom
    • Conflicts with rivals and invasions led to political instabilities
    • Pharoah Hyksos attacked, and Egypt’s technology was no match
    • Conquered Lower Egypt and ruled for 100 years
    • Under Hyksos, Egypt adopted strong technology
    • In 1550 BC, Egyptian leader Ahmose ousted Hyksos

  • The New Kingdom:

    • Egypt because powerful through military invasions to Syria and Kush, and gained control over trade routes

  • Great Pharoahs of the New Kingdom:

    • Hatshepsut: female pharoah from 1450 BC
    • Expanded the economy through trade
    • Traded with other civilizations and got ebony and gold
    • Built many great monuments and temples
    • Amenhotep IV: 1370 BC
    • Ordered that one god, Aton, be worshipped. Close temples for other gods
    • Egyptians resented him
    • Under him, Egypt was attacked and lost territory
    • Tutankhamen: age between 10-19
    • His tomb was found in 1922, still intact
    • Ramses II: 1280 BC
    • Reigned for 66 years.
    • Military reconquered lost territory in southwest Asia
    • Commissioned construction of many temples

  • Decline of Egypt:

    • Location as a trade center made it a target to attacks
    • Didn’t have advanced weapons.
    • Lack of wealth from famines and a civil war
    • In 600 BC, the Assyrian empire conquered Egypt