Chapter 2 Section 2

Egyptian Life And Culture

Architecture•Pyramids: Great Pyramid at Giza–Tombs for pharaohs

•Engineers used:–Ramps–Levers –1000s of workers

Medicine

•Knowledge of Human Body.–Gained from preserving bodies after death.

•Treated illnesses with magic spells, herbs

and medicines.

Religion•Polytheistic: believed in many gods.

•Universal Gods included:•Amon (Ra)- Creator (Sun) •Osiris- Judged Dead (Nile)

Religion and Afterlife

•Believed in the Afterlife–Pharaohs vs. everyone –Sacred scale/ feather–Mummification: Preserve the body

–Tools, weapons, food•Use in the afterlife

Mummies!

                                                                                              

Education

•Connected to Religion.

•Scribes and clerks: –read and write for government.

Society•Social Classes: Rigid

•Women – Equality•Equal in business affairs.•Own property•Leave property to daughters

-Lower vs. Upper Class

Farming•Estates – Peasants worked with hoes and plows

•Difficult Life

•Crops went to the Pharaoh for Rent and Taxes

•Grew Wheat, flax and cotton

Trade•Controlled by government

•Sea trade: •Mediterranean and Red Seas.

•Land trade: •caravans to Asia and Africa.

•Food / Cloth surplus traded.