Impact of Hieroglyphics

1
Impact of Hieroglyphics

• Egyptian Society/Economy

2
Impact of hieroglyphics on Economy

• From studying hieroglyphic records, historians
  have learned not only what it was to live in
  Egypt during each kingdom, but also about the
  Egyptian Economic system.

3
What is Economy?

• An Economy is the way a country manages its
  resources to produce goods and services.

4
Egyptian Economy

• Ancient Egypts economy was based on a surplus of
  crops.
• The hieroglyphics was the system that told
  archaeologists and historians how the economy
  worked.

5
Egyptian Economy

• The ancient Egyptians had no concept of money.
  Instead of tax money, the pharaoh took part of
  everything made in Egypt ( crops or trading goods
  linen cloth, leather goods, baskets etc.)
• Ancient Egyptians would barter (trade) or make
  purchases with grain or other products.
• Around this time, other cultures started using
  gold, copper or silver as a medium of exchange
  usually a metal with a value that people will
  accept. First coins came from Lydia, a kingdom
  which is now Turkey.

6
Egyptian Economy

• Payment of the Pharaohs taxes were not only in
  the form of tangible objects but in days of
  work/labor.
• Egyptians worked on canal and government projects
  during the flood season and farmers served in the
  army during wars.

7
Egyptian Economy

• In addition, the Egyptians also utilized slave
  labor slaves were prisoners of war.
• Some worked in the government owned gold mines
  and others were trusted with high government
  positions.
• Still Egypt had a very stratified society (See
  Farmer vs. Noble wks.)

8
The Decline of the Old Kingdom

• The Old Kingdom laid the groundwork for a
  civilization that lasted more than 2,000 years.
• It had many accomplishments an organized
  government, stone monuments (the pyramids) a
  complex writing system etc
• Still taxes for building the huge structures
  would grow too great.

9
Decline of the Old Kingdom

• In about 2000 B.C. the leaders in Upper Egypt
  rebelled and brought the Old Kingdom to an end.
• They crowned their pharaoh and built a new
  capital in Thebes.
• A new age The Middle Kingdom would emerge.