CHAPTER 4.2THE OLD KINGDOM

YouTube: The Old Kingdom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSKB

OilYBiY&sns=em

The Old Kingdom Egypt was first made of two kingdoms

Upper and LowerUpper-Southern Nile River ValleyLower-Northern Delta

Menes was king of Upper EgyptHe led his army from the Southern Valley

into Lower EgyptConquered the Lower Kingdom and married

a princess

The Old Kingdom His marriage united the kingdoms He wore two crowns, the Upper and

Lower crownsHigh White one from the south (Upper)Low red one from the north (Lower)

Menes declared a new capital of Egypt in MemphisBorder city

The Double Crown

Map

Old Kingdom 2600 BCE, the Old Kingdom arose (500

years)Cities were centers of religion and

governmentCity centers housed Kings, priests,

government officials, and artisans Many Egyptians did not live in the city,

but large estates on the Nile banks.Rich owners had gardens and pools

Home of the Rich The homes had many paintings

depicting daily life Family, servants and artisans lived there

Artisan were hired to build boats, weave linen, and make tools/pottery

Egyptian Farmers Most Egyptians did not live in the center

of the city or on the banks of the Nile. Most lived on the rich estates as farmers

Homes made of reed and mud, and later sun-baked brick.

Had one room, palm leave roof and built on high ground to avoid flood waters

Worked fields, built monuments, dug ditches, and repaired roads

The Pharaoh Pharaoh is a king

Meaning “great house” Pharaoh was ruler, priest, and a god Center of life and ruled on earth as

god’s ruled in heaven Owned all land, often gave as a gift to

the rich Maintained the land, kept up with it to

make sure it could produce

The Pharaoh Made sure canals were made and

repaired Developed granaries to house the grain

so people would not starve if a bad harvest

Elected all officials Taxed and issued building permits, trade

went through Pharaoh first Word of Pharaoh was law

The Pharaoh People believed fate of Egypt depended

on Pharaoh’s actions Carried out rituals to ensure good

harvest Treated with respect, flutes were played

when he appeared Bowed and smelled the earth, or

brought head to ground

YouTube Video: The Pyramids http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycUbk

jfW1Xc&sns=em

The Pyramids Pyramids were built out of respect for

the Pharaoh’s. Pyramids were great tombs built for

Pharaoh’s as “Houses of Eternity” Built in west to avoid flood waters Built to protect Pharaoh and his

belongings EVERYTHING was placed in tomb

The Pyramids

Making the Pyramids Farmers worked on them for the 3

summer months (flooded fields) Used copper tools to cut granite and

limestone blocks that were shipped down the Nile from the quarries

After unloaded workers brought them to building site and dragged the blocks up ramps to create the layers

YouTube Video: Making the Pyramids http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CpjM

xXG52s

Making the Pyramids

Religious Beliefs Believed in many god’s River God Hapi and Sun God Re were

most importantRiver brought water and fertile soil and sun

grows crops Osiris is god of harvest and eternal life

The God: Re (Sun God)

The God: Hapi (River God)

The God’s: Osiris (God of Harvest)

Mummification Egyptians used the technique of

embalmment to preserve the bodies of the dead.First only used with Pharaoh to preserve the

body so the soul could live on and watch over Egypt

Body placed in wood box and covered with natronNatron dried up water in body and shrunk it

Mummification Body was wrapped in linen Poor people were buried in sand, while

rich in tombs