Hamster+Egypt

__Geography__ Located in Africa Nile River Desert Fertile Soil Black Land and Red Land Flooding

Comparisons to Mesopotamia They both had flooding Egypt was cut of from the rest of the world by the desert, so they couldn't really have any warfare. Mesopotamia had constant warfare. In Mesopotamia, Kings were just representations of gods. In Egypt, pharaohs were actually considered gods.

Environmental Challenges Flooding: didn't know how much it was going to flood. Desert: forced to live on a small strip of land surrounding the river. Cut off interaction with other peoples.

Culture Different villages had different gods, rituals, and chieftan. Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt Eventually united King called Scorpion King of Lower Egypt wore a red crown. King of Upper Egypt wore a white crown. Pharaohs ruled as gods. Theocracy Believed the king ruled even after death. Pyramids were built for dead kings.

Religion Polytheistic Re - god of sun, Osiris - god of the dead, Isis - ideal mother/wife More than 2,000 gods/goddesses Afterlife Judged after death Anubis, god of the underworld, weighed hearts Fierce beast eats heart if it's too heavy. Mummification

Government Narmer Palette is wearing Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt crown Palette celebrates the union of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt Narmer made the first dynasty Over 2600 years there were 31 dynasties. Theocracy

Lifestyle Social Classes: 1. King, Queen, royal family 2. Wealthy Landowners 3. Merchants and Artisans 4. Peasant farmers and laborers Slavery - slaves served in homes or toiled in gold mines. Women equal to men

Technology Calendar - 365 days per year. 12 months per year System of numbers They needed mathematical knowledge to build the pyramids First to use stone columns

Time Period Farming villages as far back as 5000 B.C. Two separate kingdoms - Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt in 3200 B.C. Unification of the two kingdoms around 3000 B.C. 2660-2180 known as the Old Kingdom Power of Pharaohs declined about 2180 B.C. Middle Kingdom Pharaohs regained power (2040-1640 B.C.) Hyksos took control 1630-1523 B.C.

Climate Annual flood left rich silt The level of water was very important Black land and red land - red land=desert, black land=silt

Important People Over 2000 gods were worshipped Pharaohs were considered gods Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt had separate kings until Narmer Became king of both. Pharaohs got huge Pyramids as tombs.

Writing A key to the growth of Egyptian Civilization Started with characters called pictographs where a picture would stand for a word. Hieroglyphics - sacred carving Papyrus - paper Rosetta Stone - How we can translate Hieroglyphics.

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