ANCIENT EGYPT

NILE RIVER
Nile River, the great vein within a
soulless desert that made the
emergence of the ancient Egyptian
civilization possible. It was the
main pathway of the ancient
settlers, establishing a trade route
between dozens of city-states. Its
bountiful soil had invited hundreds
of tribes to settle down by its side.
• Upper and Lower Nile

Upper Egypt was called “Deshret” or

Red Land, due to being in a drier
sandy location above Lower Egypt -
called “Kemet” or Black Land, as it
was settled by the rich soils of Nile’s
delta
FORMATION of
GOVERNMENT
• For the longest time, the city-
states of Egypt had different
rulers and cultures, that would
fight from time to time for more
power. The situation changed
when the traditionally believed
first true leader of Unified
Egypt, king Narmer, led his
army from Upper to Lower
Egypt, conquering and joining
together the entire land.
KING NARMER
 WHO IS PHARAOH?

• A pharaoh is an Egyptian God-

King, who was worshiped as a
God and obeyed as a King. The
pharaoh was responsible with
ruling and protecting the
kingdom, creating laws, leading
military campaigns, building
shrines and temples, and
represented all of Egypt as a
whole.
 NATION of ANCIENT EGYPT

• Interestingly, up until the middle of 20th century, experts believed that the Ancient Egyptians could not
have reached such heights had it not been for the non-African part of the nation, some even claimed that
this civilization owns its flourishment to the white race. Meanwhile, the Afrocentric representatives of
the same time viewed ancient Egyptians exceptionally as black Africans. Anthropological research of
today shows that the population was initially of African origin, however, due to immense immigration,
and Egypt being a very multi-national society, significant genealogical change can be viewed throughout
the Middle and New Kingdom eras. Race mixing was commonplace as foreign immigrants were
Architecture of
Ancient Egypt
 Pyramids
• These used to be covered with marble
• A little of it is left only at the top of
Khafre Pyramid
• Ancients believed that the King could
easily descend to the other world through
the top of the Pyramid

• Interior is decorated with magical

texts and pictures
• These tombs were built by the free
Egyptians and not the slaves
 Shrines
• There was at least a
single temple in each
city for people to
worship at
• Priests would dress,
feed and decorate
statues of these gods
• These temples
played a huge role in
the economy of Nile
region
Esna Temple
 Private Tombs
• Egyptians built tombs at the
border of the Western
desert, considered as “The
Land of The Dead”
• These were divided into
upper and lower portions,
first one a chapel for the
visitor and second one being
an underground funerary
camera

• It was believed that the

soul of the dead person
would pass into the
Other World through the
“False Door”
• Families would place
food and drink at the
front of the door
Palaces
 Fortresses
• Egyptians built a fortified wall after defeating the army of Nubia
from South
• The style of the fortress is somehow similar to the ones built in
Europe during the Middle Ages

• It was equipped with edgy

towers and strategic
positions, heavy gates,
deep trenches and access
to the water, in case of
military isolation.
• These forts would protect
royal mines, which
contained precious metals
and raw materials.
Science & Technology in ancient egypt
Medicine
Sorcery
Transportation
Math & astronomy
Mummification
 Instruments and artistry

Egyptian Harp

Egyptian Box Lyre

Philosophy & faith
Myths of creationism
Ra – god of sun
Osiris and resurrection
Funerary appliances and
texts
wisdom
Tomb raiders
MUSIC
Scenes accompanied to music have been depicted in
ancient Egyptian art throughout history. It is known
that the royal family members were birthed in the
presence music, as priests and servants danced and
sang with joy.
 Writing System
Egyptians notoriously invented the hieroglyphics as a
written system. These were a series of pictograms that
were first carved upon small tablets made out of bone.
Sometime after, it developed into a complex language that
could be written on papyrus scrolls in a very convenient
fashion.
Literature
Unfortunately, literary artifacts have not survived in our day and
age. But we do know that during the Middle Ages, literature
works spiked up, as essays and novels about historical events,
magic, spirituality, adventure and even rebellion were written and
dispersed. In New Age, people began to write stories about gods
and goddesses, which were passed on from one generation to the
next, until it reached us in the form of myths.
Ancient Sculpting
Since the dawn of time, sculptors have transformed raw
pieces of granite and quarts into figures or tools, initially
starting this practice by carving into alabaster or wood.
Ancient Egypt was known to produce many such objects,
depending on the raw materials at hand, and economic
status of the client – they would often order figurines made
of bronze, silver and gold.
 Art and Illustration
Illustrative tradition was set with the creation of pictograms, and
were set in a similar manner – the hero was drawn combined with
his actions over and over again until the storyline was completed,
adding new elements to seemingly the same image. When
decorating palace or tomb walls, the first and last steps were done
by painters.
Decorations and Jewelry
• Ancient Egyptians cared a great deal about their
vanity. All clothing items were traditionally white,
due to the hot and dry climate. The skirts, tunics, and
dresses of the rich were intricately designed and
decorated. Those exceptionally fortunate would have
colorful beaded collars and semi-precious jewelry
around their necks
 In Ancient Egypt, most
families valued the
relationship between
two spouses over
everything else. During
divorce, the
government would
FAMILY AND rarely intervene,
ADOLOSCENCE respecting the sacred
bounds of marriage,
and when it did, it took
on the role of a peace-
maker, rather than a
punisher.
 GENDER ROLES

• Men worked in the fields, handling the

cattle, hunting and fishing. Women
harvested the crops during ripening
seasons, and took care of the children
and the household. In bigger families,
women would help the men to produce
bread and beer, but the only profession
that belonged solely to the females
was carpentry. Politics and religion was
considered to be a male liberty,
although women weren’t banned from
these spheres – some became
priestesses and even pharaohs.
 NUTRITION
• The basis of Egyptian diet was formed by cereal crops such as
maize, wheat, rice and barley. Every transaction or tax was
measure in grains and product made out of it, like bread and beer.
Besides these carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables were eaten in
abundance as well. Beans were consumed mostly by workers, as it
provided an easy source of protein. Interestingly, Egyptians would
also eat some parts of papyrus plants, lotus flowers and riverside
bushes. Elite drink was considered to be wine, as well as honey-
dipped dates for dessert. The amount of meat in a person’s diet
was directly proportional to his income. Nevertheless, everyone
could afford to keep birds and produce eggs.
Bureaucracy
 Sports and Games
• Ancient Egyptians favoured both active
and passive types of sport – physical
activity was believed to bring mercy from
the gods. They would run competitively,
dance, spar with swords and wrestle, or
play table games and have a team ball
game. Many of these playing items were
found by the archaeologist at the funeral
sites, presumably belonging to their late
owners. Elite representatives would hunt
desert animals for sport, catch fish and
prey on river birds. The winners often
earned praise from the higher ups, but
mainly just gained bragging rights.
•  
 MILITARY POWER

• The armed forces of Egypt faced great changes throughout history. During
the Old Kingdom, no stable army existed, and any man of an appropriate
age could become a soldier during times of need – to defend the state,
venture into a military advance or to protect trading caravans. After
fending of the invaders from the South, Egyptians learned the art of
warfare and established a regular army. This army evolved into an
empirical power, equipped with cavalry coaches, water fleet, archers and
skilled warriors. During the conquer of Syria under pharaohs Thutmose I
and Thutmose III, the Egyptian battalions consisted of 20000 soldiers and
2000 coaches. Gradually however, by the end of New Age, its power
dwindled, the country became overrun by invaders and the army broke
down into groups of traveling mercenaries, thus ending the last great Era
of Ancient Egypt.