Egyptian Civilization PDF

 Ancient Egypt’s period of history Egyptian priest Manetho, who lived during the third century BCE, recorded thirty dynasties in the history of Egypt. The chronology of events is based on significant events that happened in each pharaoh’s reign like structures erected and important war...

 Ancient Egypt’s period of history Egyptian priest Manetho, who lived during the third century BCE, recorded thirty dynasties in the history of Egypt. The chronology of events is based on significant events that happened in each pharaoh’s reign like structures erected and important war or ritual for the dead observed. Predynastic Period (1st and 2nd dynasties-3100 BCE) which laid the foundation for the development of their society, government, and religion. Ancient Egypt’s period of history Dynastic Period which was further divided as Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom. The First and Second Intermediate Period took place during the latter part of the Old Kingdom and the latter part of the Middle Kingdom and was characterized by a period of darkness and invasion particularly of the Hyksos, a warrior tribe which originated from the Nubian Desert.  In this period, the political union between the Lower and the Upper Egypt was made possible through the efforts of King Narmer (or King Menes) around 3100 BCE. During his reign, he established the capital city at Memphis and later his successors exercised their power with divinity and absolutism  Djoser, the first leader of Third Dynasty and was the first pharaoh to commission the services of Imhotep. Imhotep, the architect and engineer of the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. Pyramids, like mastabas, it were used as burial sites for the Egyptian royalties. It is also served as a place where the deities and the pharaohs communicate about affairs in Egypt.  The Pyramid Age came to an end when Egypt’s treasury was impoverished because of their leaders’ pre- occupation for pyramid-building. The once unified land was again divided into autonomous political units with unresolved issues on poverty and social unrest.  Menhotep II reunified Egypt and established his capital at Thebes. Amon-Re or Ra became the national god of Egypt. There was development of overseas trade relations in some areas along the southwestern part of Asia, particularly Palestine and Syria.  The pharaohs ordered the construction of canals to facilitate boats that crossed from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. The city of Heliopolis was founded at the northeast of Memphis. Economic prosperity was achieved during this period.  Hyksos, invaders from the south founded the small kingdom of Avaris. They were able to put a Hyksos pharaoh in Thebes and were able to assimilate many aspects of Egyptian culture to their own. They ruled during the second intermediate period and was successfully drove out by Ahmose I from the Egyptian territory.  It is considered as the Age of Empire in Egypt’s history. It was the period when notable pharaohs like Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Amenhotep IV, Ramses II, Ramses III, and Queen Cleopatra launched expansionist projects and reforms within the empire.  Hatshepsut was Egypt’s female pharaoh. She acted as regent of her stepson, young Thutmose III and she wore false beard as a sign of authority to her subjects. Her twenty-year reign is characterized with efficient governance, peace, and stability. She was overthrown by Thutmose III.  Thutmose III (1479-1425 BCE) developed a strong military defense system in Egypt and launched the conquest of Syria, Phoenicia, Nubia, and northern Sudan. He established an imperial system. He ordered the construction of lavish temples in Karnak and four obelisks to his name.  Amenhotep IV who later changed his name to Akhenaton, ordered his people to turn to monotheism and worship the god Aton instead of Amon- Ra, after he discovered that the priests of Amon-Ra committed corrupt practices. When he died, he was succeeded by his nine-year-old son Tutankhaton.  Tutankhaton was influenced by priests to turn to Amon-Ra. He changed his name to Tutankhamun. He ordered the destruction of monuments of Aton and revived the old religion.  Ramses II successfully overthrew the Hittites and completed a 67-year-rule (1279-1213 BCE). His administration was able to reclaim some of its former territories in Asia like Palestine by signing a peace treaty with the Hittites. His marriage to a Hittites princess resulted into lasting peace.  Ramses II revived the construction of massive structures like the Temple of Abu Simbel which stood at 65 feet high. Alexander the Great of Macedonia overpowered the Persian Empire and established his capital at Alexandria in Egypt. The fall of his empire paved the way for the coming of the Romans.  Queen Cleopatra known as the Serpent of the Nile because she used her beauty and intellect to lure the Roman rulers like Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony. But a tragic love story ended Cleopatra’s reign. Egypt became a minor province under the Roman Empire.  Religion Ancient Egyptians were primarily polytheistic They worshipped animals and other forces of nature especially the sun, represented by their supreme god Amon-Re or Ra. This sun god is manifested as the Re-Atum or the declining sun, while Horus or the sky god is represented by a falcon, also associated with the sun god.  Religion God Osiris- According to legend, he was a competent ruler in Egypt until he was killed by his wicked brother Seth who chopped his body into pieces and scattered them along the stretch of the Nile River. His wife Isis, picked up the scattered body parts and and brought him back to life. Osiris became the representation of the underworld and of the River Nile.  Religion When the ka or soul dies, the Egyptians believed that they will be judged by Osiris whether they are deserving to enter paradise or not. Jackal-head Anubis- measures the goodness of a person by weighing his heart against the feather of truth. If the scale is balanced, the ka will enter heaven.  Religion Egyptians believed in life after death. They practiced mummification in order to preserve the body because the soul will return to its body. During the Predynastic Period, mastabas or house-like tombs were made to house the mummified bodies. But beginning Old Kingdom, the rulers ordered their subjects to build a pyramid instead.  Religion Most Egyptian gods are represented as anthropomorphic or creatures with half human and half animal characteristics. Some animals are considered as sacred creatures like the bull, beetle, dog, crocodile, falcon, and most especially, the cat. It was believed that Egyptians offered mummified cats to the cat goddess Bastet to pray for protection against diseases and demons.  economy and social classes Farming is considered the primary means of livelihood for ancient Egyptians. Farmers grew barley, wheat, vegetables, and millet. They were also skilled shipbuilders.  economy and social classes They were known for the construction of ships made of papyrus reeds. They engaged in overseas trading with the Asians during the Middle Kingdom. Knowledge of different crafts was expressed in glass-making, pottery, weaving as well metal and wood carving. economy and social classes Egyptians followed a pyramid-like structure of social stratification. 1. Pharaoh and his family were esteemed as the most powerful people for they were considered both as earthly and divine beings. They did not pay taxes, owned vast lands, and enjoyed many privileges. economy and social classes 2. Priests and priestess who performed rites during religious festivities and facilitated the people’s worship of the patron gods. economy and social classes 3. Soldiers were also given parcels of land which were cultivated by slaves and peasants. They served the pharaoh in times of war. They did not pay taxes and enjoyed many privileges as well. economy and social classes 4. Commoners were composed of skilled laborers, farmers, and craftsmen. They paid taxes and were paid based on a daily wage. They did not own the land they cultivated. economy and social classes 5. Slaves included the prisoners of war and non-Egyptians who migrated to Egypt like Hebrew. They endured the harsh conditions involved in the most difficult tasks such as the construction of pyramids and temples. they were punished, beaten, and treated differently.  status of women Egyptian women were treated fairly in their society. Ramses II once said: “The foot of an Egyptian woman may walk where it pleases her and no one can deny her.” According to their law, women can inherit property, buy and sell goods, enter into priesthood, witness in court, and obtain a divorce. Women were not usually confined at home because they were very active in the trading of perfume, textiles, jewelry.  system of writing Hieroglyphics, their system of writing which means sacred writing, is made of pictograms. They represented the letter sound, similar to our modern day alphabet. They are usually written on papyrus reeds.  system of writing Scribes were the specific group tasked to reproduce and keep record of sacred texts, government documents, scientific and mathematical concepts developed through time. A father once told to his son: “Learn to write, for this will be of greater advantage to you than all other trades...” Would-be scribes were trained for twelve years starting as early as age five.  A more accurate 12-month-calendar with 365 days in a year. Mummification, which helped scientists gain more knowledge about the human anatomy. First recorder book in medicine. Knowledge of surgery, medicine, and embalming (mummification) Inventions: hour glass, water clock, paper, glass, make- up, linen cloth  Development of arithmetic and geometry Concept and use of pyramids Knowledge on the use of a shaduf for irrigating their fields  Rosetta Stone, a stub discovered in 1799 with Greek and Egyptian inscriptions. When scholar Jean Francois Champollion deciphered its hieroglyphic text in 1822, it helped other scholars to learn more about ancient Egypt. Massive architectural structures such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, Step Pyramid of Saqqara, Great Sphinx, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Karnak, Temple of Abu Simbel, and Obelisk of Thutmose III which stands today at central Park in New York, USA.  Written Literature like the Tale of Sinuhe, a story of an Egyptian official who visited Syria; Pyramid Texts which contained romance stories from Egyptian writers; Book of the Dead, incantations and spells and Hymn to the Sun, written by Akhenaton to honor Aton. Paintings which helped scholars to understand the day-to- day life of the Egyptians.