Leadership in

Class System in Ancient Egypt

PHARAOHEarthly leader; considered a god

HIGH PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSESServed gods and goddesses

NOBLESFought pharaoh’s wars

MERCHANTS, SCRIBES, AND ARTISANSMade furniture, jewelry & fabrics for

pharaohs & nobles, & provided for other needs

PEASANT FARMERS AND SLAVESWorked in the fields and served the pharaoh

Advances in LearningDeveloped a form of picture

writing called hieroglyphics.

Doctors diagnosed and cured illnesses, performed surgery, and developed medicines still used today.

Developed 12-month calendar on which modern calendar is based.

Astronomers mapped constellations and charted movement of the planets.

Developed practical geometry.Skilled in design and engineering.

Advances in the ArtsStatues, paintings, and writings

tell us about ancient Egyptian values and attitudes.

Developed painting style that remained unchanged for thousands of years.

Wrote hymns and prayers to the gods, proverbs, love poems, stories of victory in battle, and folk tales.

Built pyramids and other great buildings, such as temple of Ramses II.

• Early Dynastic (2920-2575)- unification of upper and lower Egypt into a single Kingdom by Pharaoh Narmer

• Old Kingdom- (2575-2134 BC)- development of despotic Pharonic dynasties- construction of Pyramids

• 1st Intermediate- (2134-2040 BC)- Chaos and disunity

• Middle Kingdom- (2040-1640 BC)- reestablishment of Kingdom with Thebes as political center- beginning of powerful cult of Amun

• 2nd Intermediate- (1640-1530 BC)- Hyksos invasion

• New Kingdom- (1530-1070 BC)- Imperial period (Valley of the Kings)

• Late Period- (1070-332 BC)- decline of Kingdom; conquest by Alexander the Great

OLD KINGDOM

MIDDLE

KINGDOM

NEW KINGDOM

Pharaohs organized a strong central state, were absolute rulers, and were considered gods.

Egyptians built pyramids at Giza.

Power struggles, crop failures, and cost of pyramids contributed to the collapse of the Old Kingdom.

Large drainage project created arable farmland.

Traders had contacts with Middle East and Crete.

Corruption and rebellions were common.

Hyksos invaded & occupied the delta region.

Powerful pharaohs created a large empire that reached the Euphrates River.

Hatshepsut encouraged trade.

Ramses II expanded Egyptian rule to Syria.

Egyptian power declined.

Pharaohs a sampling

Pharaohs a sampling

King Menes <NARMER>

• 1st dynasty (of 30 dynasties)• King of Upper Egypt• United Upper & Lower Egypt • Combined two crowns

– White crown for Upper Egypt– Red crown for Lower Egypt

C 3100 BC

+ =

ZOSER <DJOSER>

• 3rd Dynasty of the Old Kingdom• Responsible for world's 1st

known known monumental stone building: Steppe Pyramid at Saqqara

• Little known about Djoser, but– Steppe Pyramid suggests that Egypt politically

stable-- successful economy• Architect Imhotep,

– a priest and advisor – first architect known by name in history

c. 2650 BC

Khufu <Cheops> • Created largest pyramid at Giza• 4th Dynasty • Full name, Khnum-Khufwy, means

‘[the god] Khnum protect me.’• Believed he was protected by higher power• Gave him confidence/foresight to build

the Great Pyramid. • Khufu’s father, King Sneferu, taught him

the art of pyramid building.

2551-2528

Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut rules Egypt “his majesty herself”

Married to Thutmose II

Regent for Thutmose III

Ruled 20 years on her own

Temple at Deir-el Bahri

Established trade routes to Punt to make Egypt rich

1490-1469

Thutmose III

• Destroyed evidence of his stepmother/ aunt

• Great military leader• ““Napoleon of Ancient Napoleon of Ancient

Egypt”Egypt”

• 54 years of rule, • Captured over 350

cities• Buried in

Valley of the Kings

1490-1436

Amenhotep IV/ Akhenaten

• Changed Ancient Egyptian Religion to Monotheism

• Took name Akhenaten, means “Servant to Aten”“Servant to Aten”

• Aten, god & disk of the sun

• Married to Nefertiti• Father of Tutankhamun• Considered heretic king

1353-1335

NEFERTITI"And the Heiress, Great in the Palace, Fair of Face, Adorned with the Double Plumes, Mistress of Happiness, Endowed with Favors, at hearing whose voice the King rejoices, the Chief Wife of the King, his beloved, the Lady of the Two Lands, Neferneferuaten-Nefertiti, May she live for Ever and Always"

Nefertiti was active in the religious and cultural changes initiated by her husband

~Some maintain she initiated the new religion ~She also had the position as a priest(ess)

• Known as the “Boy King”• Married one of his half sisters• Helped restore Egyptian polytheism• Took throne @ Nine• Died ~ 19 due to a head injury• Buried in the Valley of the Kings (KV

62)

Tutankhamun

1333-1323

Ramses II

•Known as – Ramses the GreatRamses the Great

•200 wives •96 sons •60 daughters•Lived for 96 years•Originally buried in the Valley of Valley of

the Kingsthe Kings–but was moved to avoid looting

1290-1224

The Last Great Pharaoh - Ramses III 1187-56 BC

At time of Ramses III the world was going through great upheavals.

Two principle wives plus many minor wivesmany minor wives

TiyeTiye, caused his destruction.

Plot to kill him with the aim of placing her son, prince Pentaweret, on the throne.

She <and others> stirred rebellion used magic wax images and poison as weapons.

Conspiracy failed, traitors arrested but not before Ramses was mortally wounded.

Fourteen officials sat in judgment and all the accused condemned to commit suicide.

Ramses died before the trial was completed.

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