Egyptian Social Classes
How were pharaohs perceived by Ancient Egyptians
They were kings seen as Gods.
What is polytheism?
Belief in many gods.
How do we group the different Kingdoms together?
Dynasties
Describe where Upper Egypt, Nubia, Lower Egypt are, from most North to Most South.
Lower Egypt - Upper Egypt - Nubia
In what directions do we read hieroglyphics?
All directions
How many social classes are there in Egypt?
Seven Social classes!
How were bodies prepared to get them ready for the Egyptian Afterlife?
They mummified them by removing the organs/brains, drying them out in salt baths, then wrapping them in linens. Only the heart remained inside the chest to allow Anubis to put it on the scale.
What are the intermediate periods?
Times of fighting and unrest between the different Kingdoms?
Compare and contrast Nubia and Egypt's natural resources.
NUBIA: Gold, Ivory, Ebony
What is ivory?
Things such as elephant tusks.
What role did Merchants have in society? What level were they?
They sold and traded goods.
What did Egyptian gods look like? Why do we think that?
Animal Heads: It is believed that many gods and goddesses in Egyptian mythology were depicted with animal heads in order to represent their personalities or specific traits that were important to their purpose.
Describe two important developments that occurred during the Middle Kingdom.
- Nomarchs have more power (Decentralized Goverbment)
- Large Temples- Art as an expression of every day lives and people
How were Nubian and Egyptian pyramids different from each other?
What is Ebony?
A type of dark wood that's very hard and durable.
What role did Artisans have in society?
They made good for trade and selling
What sort of gods did the Egyptians have? Why do you think that was?
Nature gods! To explain an understand the world around us.
Describe three important things that came from the Old Kingdom.
The agricultural system
Knowledge of mathematics
Astronomy
The invention of a calendar
The invention of papyrus and hieroglyphic writing
Pyramids
Why do we know so much more about Egypt than we do Nubia?
Because we can translate Egyptian writing and we can't translate Nubian writing.
What is the Rosetta Stone? Why is it significant?
It is a manuscript that people found that depicts writing in three languages, Hieroglyphics, Greek, and Demotic. It's what allows us to translate ancient Egyptian writing.
What role did scribes have in society?
They did the major writing projects.
What is ma'at?
Ma’at → Harmony and balance. Everything is in order. The pharaoh was in charge of keeping it in balance.
Describe three important things that came from the New Kingdom.
- Egypt is an Empire
- Many famous manuscripts/lots of manuscripts- Egypt starts trading
- Famous tombs and famous pharaohs
What is Nubian writing called? What is Egyptian Writing called?
NUBIA: Meroitic
Egypt: Hieroglyphics, Demotic
What is the Book of the Dead?
It's a papyrus scroll + manuscript that allowed us to understand how Egyptian's understood their afterlife and their specific customs.