Egyptian Civilization

EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION

Introduction • History covers a period between 3100 BP to 322 • Egypt means- Gift of the Nile • Civilization based on the Nile River (Greek – Nelios)- River Valley • Upper Egypt (Nile Valley) occupied settled people between 3100- 1000BCE • 1250 BCE Lower Egypt (Nubia) & upper Egypt were rearing & grinding wild grains • Between 510 – 400 BCE -Sheep, goats, pigs & cereals

The Nile Settlement • Upper Egypt (Nile Valley) occupied settled people between 3100- 1000BCE • Settlement concentrated along the Nile: – Gave unity – Transport & communication – Source of flesh water – Filled marshes, shallow lakes & canals, papyrus paper (writing) – Home for birds & animals • Nile Valley towards the delta fertile triangular area at the mouth of the Nile

Factors contributing to Egyptian Civilization • Self sufficiency of Egypt: Egypt possessed enormous quantities of stones, which served as raw materials for: – architecture & sculpture – Clay-pottery – Gold- Jewellary & ornaments • Geographical location- Egypt was closed to the outside: – To West of the Nile Valley- Desert (Nubian Desert) – South-Cataracts of Nile discouraged penetration – Opening-Only Mediterranean sea

Economic activities • 1250 BCE Lower Egypt (Nubia) & upper Egypt were rearing & grinding wild grains • Between 510 – 400 BCE agricultural practices begun to be adopted– Sheep, goats, pigs & cereals

• Village grew to become little towns & attracted more people e.g.. Nagada (4000-3500 BCE) – Pottery & painting developed • Until dams built in 1950- Nile flooded yearly

Economic System • Ancient Egyptians were agriculturalists – Crops grown- wheat, barley, cotton, beans, onions, lettuces, cucumbers, dates – Animals- sheep, goats, camels, cats and oxen • Practiced irrigation using water from the Nile by Shadoof method – Canals & dikes were built & water was raised from the river into canal using buckets) – Dykes- control flooding

Factors contributing to Egyptian Civilization • Self sufficiency of Egypt: Egypt possessed enormous quantities of stones, which served as raw materials for: – architecture & sculpture – Clay-pottery – Gold- Jewels & ornaments • Geographical location- Egypt was closed to the outside: – To West of the Nile Valley- Desert (Nubian Desert) – South-Cataracts of Nile discouraged penetration – Opening-Only Mediterranean sea

Economic System • Ancient Egyptians were agriculturalists – Crops grown- wheat, barley, cotton, beans, onions, lettuces, cucumbers, dates – Animals- sheep, goats, camels, cats and oxen • Practiced irrigation using water from the Nile by Shadoof method (canals & dikes were built & water was raised from the river into canal using buckets)

Cont……. • Other Economic Activities – Mining – Industries- glass-making, dyeing & stone carving – Trade- Nubia for gold, silver, copper, bronze & iron)

Social System • Social structure was based on class – The Pharaoh Pharaoh family & relatives nobles, Priests, Scribes, Soldiers, Workers, Peasants, Foreigners & Slaves • Pharaoh – Head of state & representative of god on earth – Owned the land, mineral, human & labour – Strong Centralized government- to ensure that the high officials did not amass political &economic power – Hereditary

Cont….. • Scribes – Highest servants of the government – Responsible for art of writing- Papyrus paper – Planning the pyramids – Inherited profession

• Foreigners- refugees or people deported –Syrians, Phoenicians, Greeks • Slaves– Paid taxes according to the proportion of crops & animals

Religion • Most religious people • Polytheists- worship of many gods (Gods represented animals) • Examples of gods • Osiris (god of judgment) • Osiri initially had been a good ruler and teacher of agricultural arts and he had kept order • His success had aroused the anger of Set, a brother, who killed him and cut him to pieces • AMun-Re (Chief god in charge of heavens) • light, life and continued stability to the state whose earthly representative was the king

Cont…… – Horus – Anubis (god of Mummification) – Isis – Khepri- God of creation • Believed in life after death – Embalming of the dead body (body was washed and purified, body organs were removed and stored in a jar and then preserved with natron for 40 days) – Believed that the body had two parts the “ Ka” & “Ba” – The Ka was soul – Ka”, the soul that was expected to return afterwards and enjoy material comforts on earth

• Embalming and burial patterns depended on individuals social status • Focal point of political & religious life in Egypt was the Pharaoh who commanded wealth, resources and people • Considered to be a falcon god, Horus in human form • Pharaoh was a living god on earth & became one with Osiris after death • Mediator between god and men • Power that achieved integration between human & gods, nature & society and ensured peace & prosperity

Political System: Government & Kingdom • Period & Dynasty • Early Dynasty(1-2) • Old Kingdom (3-6) • Intermediate Pd (7-10) • Middle Kingdom (11-12) • Intermediate Pd (13-17) • New Kingdom (18-20) • Pd of decay & foreign domination • Dynasties- families of kings • Hereditary

Dates (BCE) 3100 – 2700 2700- 2200 2200 – 2050 2050 – 1800 1800 – 1570 1570-1085 1085 - 322

• Consolidation had begun as early as 40003500BCE • Divided into small nomes-challenge to the unity • Conflict (Valley & Delta) over the Nile and land • Hence each needed to develop a strong leadership for protection such as a leader was to fuse the different “Nomes” or agricultural district as base • Pharaoh was the official- King of upper and lower • Nile influenced the way of life of the Egyptian life – Strong government was needed to control the irrigation system • Unification- Alliance among, Pharaoh, priests and temples • Carry out the will of god-king- Egyptians established an elaborate political system

Early Dynasties • Aha Menes (Narmer) of Thinis unified (UE) 3200 • Conquered his neighbors defeated the LE • United the new region with new capital city of Menes in UP (Modern Cairo) • 1st Dynasty – Dynasty is a ruling family

• Unification- Alliance among, Pharaoh, priests and temples • Carry out the will of god-king- Egyptians established an elaborate political system • Pharaoh, chief administrative officer/Vizier (chief judge, superintendent public works), • Provincial administration- nomarchs • Scribes

• 1st & 2nd lasted for 300yrs- two dynasties helped establish a model of governance – Religion – And Social Organization – Writing was developed- Hieroglyphics – Craft and learning

• After the two dynasties, Egypt history was divided into 3 chronological segments-kingdoms • (old, Middle and New)

Old Kingdom • Established by King Zoser – Instituted royal absolute and grandiose structures – 1st pyramids were built – Power of Pharaoh was unlimited no separation (politics & religion)- chief priest – No standing army or national militia

Old Kingdom • Had a premier- Imhotep who as an architect, physician, writer and priest – Reputed to be founder of modern science – Due to this Egyptians elevated him to a godlike status • Designed pyramids (architect) • Started using bricks • Weaved a society with no standing army and maintain peace through avoiding quarrels hence helped maintain a cohesive theocratic state

• 4th Dynasty- Snefru (2650) was imperialistic, militaristic and extravagant • Snefru- no royal blood and usurped power but married into royalty hence the legitimate standing • Invaded- Syria, Nubia, and made Egypt an imperial power • Inaugurate massive construction-gods, pyramids and fortresses of defense • Smaller pyramids fro queen and noble members also existed

5th & 6th Dynasty • Imperialistic • Madre contact with Somali coast (Punt) for trading purposes • 6th- Egyptian kings invaded Palestine under General UNI and dynasty came to an end after the death of Pepi II • Characterized by chaos- declined as power and many claimants to the throne Arose (7th dynasty – 70 pharaohs in 70 days) • Con: initially stable, progressive became imperialistic and collapsed

Reasons for collapse • Shortage of money: grandiose pyramids, fortresses and temples not correspondence to national income • Climatic change: change in climate which led to crop failure • Insubordination of governors who later usurped power of the central government • Rise of local war lords who destabilized the government of Zoser which continued until 2050 when order was restored-11th dynasty

Middle Kingdom

(Golden/Classical Age)

• Started 11th dynasty • 12 dynasty marked the reduction of nobles through the establishment of central government » Create alliance with middles class thereby undercutting the power of the nobles » Alliance kept the nobility in check, laying foundation for prosperity • Bureaucratic officials, merchants, artisans and framers were encouraged to advance thus helping revive the economy,

• Achievements: – Developed public works e.g. extensive drainage & irrigation projects replaced building of pyramids – Social justice and military intelligence – Democratization of religion- emphasis on moral conduct rather than ritual based on wealth – Emphasize on good moral conduct and opportunities open to all classes • 12th dynasty was a period of prosperity – Followed by chaos and created an opening for foreign domination

– Nobles revolted against being reduced in status which had incapacitated them

• 1n 1750- Hyksos (rulers invaded Egypt from Asia

of

foreign

land)

– Military advantage- bow, arrows, horses and war chariots – The division among the Egyptians made it easier for Hyksos to conquer and put Egypt under foreign rule – Forced Egyptians to unite against foreign tyranny, taught Egyptians new war techniques – Resistance begun in Thebes

New Kingdom • Period of more absolute rule, creation of professional army • Military power formed the basis of Pharaoh rule • Ahmose I- defeated the Hyksos (enslaved them or dead by 1560 • Founded the 18th dynasty- also new kingdom • Cities of Thebes and Akhetatou became show case for Egypt • Egyptian became imperialistic and militaristic invaded Palestine, Syria, and Nubia and demanded tributes

New Kingdom • Increased trade during his era to Asia, Europe and Africa • Politically the 18th c dynasty (New Kingdom) was marked by rise of three rulers • Politically the 18th c dynasty (New Kingdom) was marked by rise of three rulers

•Queen Hatshepsut •Thutmose III •Amunhotep III

• Achievements Queen Hatshepsut • She was regent of her stepson, crowned herself Queen claming to be the son of god Amun • Ruled for two decades • Sent ships to Punt for incense • Picked wise advisers and generals to conquer land • Erected monuments and temples for god-Amun

• Succeed by stepson Thutmose III

• 18th dynasty was also marked by the cult of Atonlink to Amenhotep II and more so with his son Amenhotep IV – Built temples for god Amun – Built large monuments – Introduced the cult of Aton (Atonism)monotheism – Attack and destruction of the old religious systems – Amenhotep changed his name to Akhenaton

• The 18th dynasty was followed by a period of Foreign domination- Pinki- a people originating from Napata in Sudan – Established their throne for 60 years after which Egypt was invaded by foreigners- Romans, Greeks and Persians

• 30 AD- invaded by the Romans – Roman regarded the region as the precious property of Rome due to its fertility – Largest trading and industrial centre

• 65 AD- Coptic Christian era • 640 AD- Islamic era • Modern Egypt- 1882 colonized by the British 1952

Contribution • Agriculture- along the Nile Valley (5000BC) • Urbanization- started in Egypt with the agricultural community • Making of paper-papyrus later copied by the Greeks and the Romans, Arabs and Byzantine • Medicine\mummification (embalming of the dead) which involved chemistry, physics and surgery • Psychology- derived form Greek word Psychicmind, which means the same in Egypt • Craftsmanship- back-tan of leather, clothes and glass making • Jewellery- ornaments and beads and pearls • Feminism movement

• Bureaucracy and hierarchy • Mathematics- used for measuring huge buildingsareas of triangles & volumes of pyramids, cylinders & hemispheres • Astronomy- calendar divided into 4 segments of 12 months each of 30 days and each year added 5 days• Architecture- pyramids • Literature- hieroglyphic scripts • Religion- gave to the world a number of gods and goddesses • Alphabets- 24 symbols each representing a single consonant