Egypt

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Egypt

• Questions and Answers

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ReviewRecallReflect

• (page 63)

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1. List describe three ways that the
environment shaped Egyptian culture and society.

• The Nile, Western and Eastern Deserts, and the
  Mediterranean Sea were environmental factors
  which shaped Egypt.

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• The Nile provided transportation, irrigation, and
  communication networks.

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• The desert protected Egypt from invasion and
  allowed it to remain isolated.

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• The Mediterranean Sea provided the transportation
  route to Egypts trading partners.

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2. Explain the meaning and significance of the
double crown of Egypt.

• The double crown of Egypt signifies the
  unification of Upper and Lower Egypt in 3100 BCE,
  under the reign of King Menes.

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Why do you think Egypt became a united kingdom
earlier than Mesopotamia?

• Egypt, because of its isolation and
  commonalities, was likely able to unify sooner
  than Mesopotamia.

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3. Briefly explain how the political, economic,
and legal structures of ancient Egypt were shaped
by religious beliefs.

• The political hierarchy of Egypt revolved around
  the king, or Pharaoh, who was believed to be the
  earthly embodiment of the god Horus.
• This allowed the king to rule with a sense of
  divine right.
• Egyptian law revolved around the concept of
  divine inspiration.
• In the Egyptian economy, the Pharaoh owned all
  the land of Egypt, the people, and their
  possessions.

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• The goddess Maat personified the essential
  foundations of Egyptian law.

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The Mummification Ritual

• (page 71)

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1. Explain how mummification suited the Egyptian
notions of the afterlife. Would mummification
suit your beliefs? Why or why not?

• The Egyptians believed in an afterlife.
• The essence of the body, Ka, would return to the
  preserved body, and it was therefore essential
  that the body remain as life-like as possible.
• The process of mummification represents a
  time-honoured need to preserve the body, which
  ensured the continuation of the spirit or soul in
  the afterworld.

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2. The mummy has provided much inspiration for
books, movies, stories and exhibits. Pick one
medium and imagine you have to pitch the concept
to a publisher, producer, or gallery. Explain
why you think this would interest the public.

• The concept of mummification has always
  interested people. It has an aspect of the
  macabre, and the process holds a fascination for
  all.

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ReviewRecallReflect

• (page 74)

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1. With the concept of a god-king, the importance
of having a strong Pharaph was crucial to Egypts
stability. Respond to this statement using the
Pharaohs of the New Kingdom to support your
answer.

• Hatshepsut, Tuthmosis III, Akhenaton,
  Tutankhamen, Ramses II were all pharaohs of the
  New Kingdom considered strong.

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• Factors that led to their success army,
  expanding trade routes, building of monuments,
  and internal peace.

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2. Outline the funeral process for a wealthy
ancient Egyptian from the time of death, through
the mummification process, to the final laying to
rest in the tomb.

• A period of mourning takes place
• The body is then transferred from home of the
  deceased to the embalmers and mummified, which
  takes app. 70 days.
• The body is then returned to the family, and the
  procession to the tomb begins.
• At the tomb, the priest touches the bodys eyes,
  and the grave goods are lowered into the tomb.
• The body is then lowered into the tomb, and the
  roof is sealed.

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3. How did the concept of Maat help to shape the
way Pharaohs governed and the way in which people
lived their lives.

• Maat was the central premise of Egyptian
  stability.
• It was the concept of order, truth, and justice,
  and it formed the overriding principle of
  harmony.
• Egyptians believed that living in accordance of
  Maat would achieve harmony with the gods and
  assure a place in the afterworld.
• The Pharaoh was believed to be an essential
  entity in the Maat. If his world remained
  harmonious, then so too would the peoples of
  Egypt.
• Thus all laws and decisions were aimed at
  appeasing the harmony of Maat, and maintaining
  order, truth, and justice.