3000 YEARS

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3000 YEARS OF EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION Thanks to
the Ancient Egypt Site for much of the factual
information in this presentation.
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Egyptian chronology
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KEMET
Ancient Egyptians called their land "Kemet,"
which meant "black," after the black fertile
silt-layered soil that was left behind each year
during the annual innundation, when the Nile
flooded the fields.
The most prevalent color of the desert, however,
is a decidedly reddish-yellow ochre. The
Egyptians called the desert Deshret," meaning
"red," and this endless carpet of sand covers an
estimated 95 of Egypt,
interrupted only by the narrow band of green
carved by the waters of the Nile.
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PRE-DYNASTIC EGYPTNeolithic Period 6000-3100 bce

• Slow development of civilization from 6000-3100
  bce
• Introspective character sense of cultural
  superiority
• Awareness of cyclical pattern supported by
  annual flooding of the Nile and knowledge of the
  suns revolutions
• Concentration of population on Nile banks led to
  development of agricultural villages
• Writing began to be developed ca. 3300 bce

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NileDelta
LowerEgypt
swamp
oasis
Aswan Dam
island
UpperEgypt
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MANETHO

• Manetho owes his importance to the fact that he
  wrote the Aegyptiaca, a collection of three books
  about the history of Ancient Egypt, commissioned
  by Ptolemy II
• As a temple priest, Manetho had access to the
  archives which contained a vast number of
  different kinds of writings, ranging in contents
  from mythological texts to official records, from
  magical formulas to scientific treaties.
• With such sources, however, we may not be
  surprised to find myths and folk-tale mixed with
  the facts of the Egyptian history.
• Manetho divided Ancient Egyptian history in 30
  dynasties, a division not always based on
  historical facts, but partly on mythology and
  partly on divisions of ruling families already
  established in the past.

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Palermo Stone

• A dark stone containing information from the
  early dynasties.
• It is inscribed on both sides with a list of
  kings from Pre-Dynastic Egypt to the middle of
  the 5th Dynasty.
• The exact creation date is not known, the
  earliest possible date being the middle of the
  5th Dynasty.

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EARLY DYNASTIC PERIODDynasties 1 2 ca.
3100-2700 bce

• The culmination of the formative stage of the
  Ancient Egyptian civilization that began
  centuries before during the Prehistory
• Goal to gain stable, superior status in Mid-East
• Establishment of divine kingship as Egypt's form
  of government
• Writing evolved from a few simple signs to a
  complex system of several hundreds of signs with
  both phonetic and ideographic values.
• Craftsmen increased their skills and experimented
  with the use of more durable materials.
• Structures built in brick, wood and reeds were
  copied in stone, giving birth to the typical
  Ancient Egyptian architecture.

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MENES

• According to the Ancient Egyptian tradition, the
  first (human) king to have ruled over the whole
  of Egypt was a man named Menes.
• Menes, a Southern (Upper Egyptian) king
  conquered the North (Lower Egypt) and united
  Upper- and Lower-Egypt.
• He is considered the first king of the 1st
  Dynasty is credited with many deeds the founding
  of Memphis as the united country's new capital
  the building of dams and the founding of many new
  cults and temples.
• The identification of Menes, however, is
  problematic he is most often identified with
  Narmer, first king on the ancient King Lists

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Red Crown of Lower Egypt
White crown of Upper Egypt
1ST DYNASTY
NARMER PALETTE
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The Sema

• This is a rendering of the lungs attached to the
  windpipe. As a hieroglyph this symbol represents
  the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. Other
  symbols are often added to further illustrate
  unification. In these renderings we see the Sema
  bound with two plants, the papyrus and the lotus.
  The papyrus represents Lower Egypt and the lotus
  represents Upper Egypt. In other representations
  we find two gods binding the Sema together using
  papyrus and lotus.

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MASTABAS

• Earliest tombs -- originally made from mud brick
  and built for only the most important Ancient
  Egyptians. Later they were also made from stone.
• The dead person was placed into the Mastaba with
  his or her worldly possessions
• To ensure a continued afterlife, a statue of the
  person was placed into a special room in the
  Mastaba called the Serdab.
• The Chapel had paintings on the walls which
  showed the dead person in life.
• In the Chapel there was a false door for the ka
  of the dead person to use when coming and going
  from the tomb.
• The Mastabas were robbed no matter how they were
  designed.

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Rise of Urbanism

• Inhabitants of small settlements throughout the
  country abandoned their homes and moved to larger
  communities and cities.
• The need for security may have caused people to
  seek protection within the safety of fortified
  walls.
• Urbanism facilitated central control of the
  population by the state.
• Society was evolving beyond its mere agricultural
  needs and required specialized craftsmen, traders
  and other skilled personnel. The ruling elite
  needed these people not only to be close at hand,
  but also to work and thus live together.
• Demographic changes, such as a growth in
  population, may have caused smaller settlements
  to extend and merge into one larger community.

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OLD KINGDOM The Age of the Pyramids
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OLD KINGDOMThe Age of the PyramidsDynasties
3-6 ca. 2700 -2150 bce

• Although all the provinces were united united
  under the king/pharaoh, there was no central
  army.
• Powerful provincial governors, appointed by the
  king, collected taxes, defended borders, and
  promoted and improved agriculture.
• Egypt was regularly attacked from the East and
  West by Bedouins and from the South by Kush
  (Nubia)
• Bedouins defeated in 2600 bce in the Sinai Desert
• Saqqara became the site of nobles tombs and the
  first pyramids reliefs and paintings revealed
  sophisticated, elegant lives
• Pyramids and temples were built by paid labor
  during the flood time public works projects

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OLD KINGDOMArchitecture

• Pyramids and Temples
• 27th c. bce -- Djosers Step Pyramid
• Experimentation in the 4th Dynasty

One-step pyramid Bent pyramid
True pyramid
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IMHOTEP he who is coming in peace

• Served King Djoser 2630-2611
• The high priest of Ptah, vizier and the
  "overseer of works," architect, responsible for
  the construction of Djosers Step Pyramid and
  surrounding funerary complex at Saqqara
• Introduced the use of limestone in architecture
• Substituted stone for papyrus and palm in
  columns
• Deified as the patron of medicine, of writing
  and of knowledge

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Saqqara

• Part of the earliest known building to have been
  completely constructed in stone, this chapel in
  the Heb-Sed court of the Step Pyramid at Saqqara,
  already has all those elements that make Ancient
  Egyptian architecture so typical
• post and lintel construction
• flat roofs
• doorways for presentation of figures

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Heb-Sed Chapels and Ritual

• The presence and function of this court and its
  chapels provided the pharaoh with the means
  necessary to have his rejuvenating jubilee,
  called Heb-Sed.
• The ritual or a set of rituals allowed the
  living pharaoh, after he had ruled for some
  years, to magically refresh his physical powers
  and thus continue to reign.
• For the deceased pharaoh, the ritual could be
  repeated endlessly in the Netherworld,
  rejuvenating him and refreshing his powers, thus
  enabling him to have an eternal after-life.

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PYRAMID TEXTS

• The earliest funerary texts inscribed on a
  pharaoh's pyramid are found at Saqqara.
• The Pyramid Texts, were written on the inner
  passages and the walls of the burial chamber.
  They were intended to help the pharaohs travel
  through the afterworld, to secure the
  regeneration and eternal life of the king.
• The Pyramid Texts are considered the oldest body
  of religious writings in the world

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PYRAMID TEXTS

• The Pyramid Texts are made up of 750 utterances
  or spells.
• Some of the utterances are hymns and addresses to
  various gods others are magical formulae
  designed to assure resurrection and ward off
  malign forces.
• Their purpose was to ensure a happy afterlife,
  and through the power of the written word ensure
  that the deceased would be provided with food and
  drink.

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COLUMNS

• Egyptian architecture was the first to use stone
  columns
• A column usually contains a pedestal, a shaft,
  and a capital
• Egyptians had the widest variety of capitals in
  the ancient world.

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Columns originally made from palm and papyrus,
bound around with string, were imitated in stone
Palm-leaf column
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Inspired by Nature... ...and by the gods
Lotus column
Papyrus column
Hathor column
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PYRAMIDS OF GIZEH
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Great Pyramid

• The Great Pyramid, the tallest building in the
  world until early in this century,was built in
  just under 30 years.
• It is the last survivor of the Seven Wonders of
  the World.
• Five thousand years ago Gizeh, situated on the
  Nile's west bank, became the royal necropolis, or
  burial place, for Memphis, the pharaoh's capital
  city.
• Giza's three pyramids and the Sphinx were
  constructed in the fourth dynasty of Egypt's Old
  Kingdom, arguably the first great civilization on
  earth.

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How did the ancient Egyptians move the massive
stones from quarries both nearby and as far away
as 500 miles?

• Many Egyptologists agree the stones were hauled
  up ramps using ropes of papyrus twine.
• Gradually sloping ramps, built out of mud, stone,
  and wood were used as transportation causeways
  for moving the large stones to their positions up
  and around the four sides of the pyramids.
• According to the ancient Greek historian
  Herodotus, the Great Pyramid took 20 years to
  construct and demanded the labour of 100,000 men.
• Late 20th century archaeologists found evidence
  that a more limited workforce may have occupied
  the site on a permanent rather than a seasonal
  basis and suggested that as few as 20,000
  workers, with accompanying support personnel
  (bakers, physicians, priests, etc.), would have
  been adequate to the task.

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ARTISTICCANONS

• Canons or conventions for Egyptian art were set
  during the Old Kingdom and generally adhered to
  throughout Egyptian history
• Frontality
• Body proportions
• Rigid, erect stance
• Dignity
• Differing conventions for aristocrats, commoners
  and slaves

Statue of Demedji and Hennutsen, ca. 246526
B.C.E. early Dynasty 5 Old Kingdom
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OLD KINGDOMThe pre-eminence of RA

• Most aristocratic of the gods -- prefers
  offerings of gold, silver and slaves
• Huge offerings were burnt on obelisks
• Priests used the offering money for their own
  purposes
• Mummification was very expensive and limited to
  the aristocracy
• Religious rites consumed a huge part of the
  countrys budget
• At the end of the 4th dynasty the power and
  authority of the priest of RA reached its height
  when the high priest married the heiress princess
  backed by bribed provincial governors

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1st INTERMEDIATE PERIODDynasties 7-10 ca. 2150
-2040 bce

• Civil war erupted at the end of the 6th Dynasty
  caused perhaps by inadequate flooding from the
  Nile
• Priests of RA were blamed for unrest
• Worship of OSIRIS became more prominent
• more egalitarian
• popular with commoners
• rise of ethical and moral religious concepts

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MIDDLE KINGDOMDynasties 11-13 ca. 2040-1640 bce

• Country reunited under Menuhotep II of Thebes
• Less centralized government with more authority
  given to regional governors
• Golden period of agriculture land reclamation
  and irrigation products led to highest crop
  yields in the world
• Worship of AMON became pre-eminent
• Use of mud brick for building rather than stone
• Rock-cut tombs came into use
• Classical age of Egyptian literature prophecies,
  hymns, narrative prose tales Tale of Sinuhe

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TOMBS Grave Goods

• Mud-brick pyramids and mastabas have largely
  disappeared
• Some rock-cut tombs remain at Beni-Hasan,
  ca.2100-1800 bce
• Layout of tombs similar to homes
• Paintings of domestic scenes and farm life

Statue of an Offering Bearer, ca. 1985 bce
Model of a Riverboat, ca. 1985 bce
Coffin of Khnum-nakht, ca. 19001800 bce
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2nd INTERMEDIATE PERIODDynasties 14-16 ca.
1640-1450 bce

• A group of Asians, known as the Hyksos,
  established their own dynasties in Egypt.
• It is commonly assumed that they invaded Egypt
  and overtook it by force. This theory may be
  supported by the name the Egyptians themselves
  gave to the Hyksos "rulers of the foreign
  countries.
• There is no real proof of military conflicts
  between the Egyptians and the Hyksos at the end
  of the Middle Kingdom. It is also possible that
  the Asian settlers who had been coming to Egypt
  for some generations had become so powerful, that
  they were able to gain political control and
  establish their own dynasties, without a military
  show of force.
• Technological advances Copper and bronze were
  introduced into Egypt during this period,
  together with many new tools and, most
  importantly, weapons chariots, horses, bronze
  swords, military tactics.

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HYKSOS CONTRIBUTIONS to Egyptian Civilization

• Introduction of copper and bronze
• Upright loom
• Musical instruments long-necked lute, lyre,
  oboe, tambourine
• Weapons chain armor, battle axes, bronze
  swords, high velocity composite bows, horse-drawn
  chariots, military tactics

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NEW KINGDOM Dynasties 18-20 1550-1070 bce

• After the expulsion of the Hyksos during the
  17th and 18th dynasties, Egypt set out on a
  series of conquests to secure the borders and
  create an Empire
• Spoils of war and the tributes owed by the many
  conquered states increased Egypts wealth and
  prosperity
• New temples were built, older ones were restored
  or enlarged.
• Especially favoured were the god AMON and his
  great temple at Karnak, in the capital Thebes.
• Egypts stability was briefly ruptured the late
  18th Dynasty with the Amarna-revolution.

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Egyptian Empireca. 1450 bce
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HATSHEPSUT reigned c. 1479--c. 1458 bce

• She acted for several years as regent for the
  young Tuthmosis III, her nephew and stepson,
  assuming pharaonic titles and styling herself as
  the senior partner of a co-regency.
• Unlike previous women who had ruled Egypt, she
  was consistently portrayed in sculpture and
  relief as a male to legitimize her claim to the
  throne.
• She built extensively at Karnak, but her
  architectural masterpiece is her mortuary temple
  at Deir el-Bahri, a monument whose plan
  foreshadows the later funerary temples of the New
  Kingdom.

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AMARNA REVOLUTION

• Amenhotep IV, also known as Akhenaten, changed
  the Egyptian religion and had most temples
  closed.
• Established a new capital at Akhetaten, now
  Amarna
• Akhenaten favored one new god, the solar-deity
  Aten.
• Amarna-style painting and sculpture were
  characterized by a greater realism and artistic
  freedom.
• During this period of turmoil and upheaval, the
  so-called Amarna-revolution, Egypt lost most of
  its former influence in Asia and Nubia. 

Pharaohs of the Sun
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LATE DYNASTIC PERIOD Dynasties 21-31 1070-332 bce

• Also known as the 3rd Intermediate Period (1070 -
  712 or 1070 - 525), composed of the dynasties 21
  through 24 or 26 and the Late Period (712 - 332
  or 525 - 332)
• Often described as a period of decline and chaos
  as there was more than one centre of power in
  Egypt.
• A period of relative peace and stability. The
  21st Dynasty royal tombs, unearthed in Tanis, are
  among the richest finds indicating the
  increasing wealth of private persons, such as the
  Theban high-priests.
• During most of the New Kingdom, the wealth and
  power of the Theban high-priests had slowly
  increased. The Amarna-revolution attempting to
  break this power failed, for a mere 20 years
  later, the old temples were reopened and the
  high-priests were reinstated in their offices.

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Nubian Dynasty770 657 bce

• Dynastic rivalry would bring an end to the new
  found unity and power. In Leontopolis, also in
  the Delta, a 23rd Dynasty was proclaimed. This
  example would soon be followed by Tefnakht, a
  prince in the Delta-city of Sais, who founded the
  24th Dynasty. Not only was Egypt divided between
  the Delta and Thebes, now the Delta itself would
  be divided as well. 
• Taking advantage from these internal conflicts, a
  new power arose in the South, in Nubia. There a
  dynasty had come to power intent on conquering
  Egypt. The 25th Dynasty would be a Nubian
  Dynasty. The monarchs of the 25th Dynasty would
  rule the larger part of Egypt -but they would
  rule it following the old Egyptian traditions.

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Assyrians

• The peace and stability resulting from the Nubian
  conquest would be brought to an end by another
  external factor the Assyrians. Although the
  presence of the Assyrians in Egypt has been a
  short one, its results were devastating. The once
  glorious Thebes was plundered, ransacked and many
  wonderful temples, among which the mortuary
  temple of Ramesses II, were destroyed.
• Fortunately for Egypt, the Assyrians were forced
  to return to Assur, leaving the king of Sais,
  Psamtek I, the opportunity to take control over
  the whole of the country. With him began the 26th
  Dynasty and a new era of stability and prosperity
  in Egypt. For more than a century, the 26th
  Dynasty would rule over Egypt, until it was
  defeated by Persian invaders.

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PERSIAN CONQUEST525-332 bce

• The latter part of the Late Dynastic Period
  starts and ends with a Persian occupation. The
  first Persian occupation, also known as the 27th
  Dynasty, lasted for more than a century (525
  404).
• The second Persian occupation only lasted for 10
  years (343 332), but it was one of the darkest
  pages in the history of Ancient Egypt temples
  were plundered, holy animals were butchered and
  the people were subjected to demanding tributes.
• Egypts ordeal made it ready to welcome the
  Alexander the Great as its liberator.
• With the "conquest" of Egypt by Alexander, Egypt
  would become a Hellenistic state and a new era
  had begun.

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GRECO-ROMAN PERIOD332 bce-395 ad

• When Alexander the Great entered Egypt, he was
  welcomed as the son of the god Amon and
  immediately accepted as the new king of the
  country.
• He founded a new city on the shores of the
  Mediterranean, the first of many to bear the name
  of Alexandria. He also began to restore all the
  damage done by the Persian occupation.
• Upon his death, his empire was divided between
  his generals. Egypt was taken by Ptolemy, who
  conquered Syria-Palestine.
• The Ptolemaic pharaohs continued Alexanders
  policy of restoration in Egypt and supported the
  building of new temples throughout the country to
  ensure the support of the Egyptian clergy and the
  Egyptian people.

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The Romans

• The dynastic rivalry of the later Ptolemies
  finally resulted in an intervention by the Romans
  
• From then on, the Romans began to play an
  important part in Egyptian history. They again
  intervened, this time in favour of Ptolemy XIIs
  daughter Cleopatra, a few years later.
• Cleopatra, a capable and a politically gifted
  ruler, became involved in the power struggle of
  the Romans, Octavian (Augustus) and Marc Antony,
  and unfortunately, she chose the wrong side.
• When her fleets were destroyed at the battle of
  Actium, she committed suicide, Egypt became a
  Roman province.