Size comparisonSize comparison

Size comparison (cont.)Size comparison (cont.)

Egypt and Sumer Egypt and Sumer NotesNotes

Religion, Government, Religion, Government, Economy, Geography, Social Economy, Geography, Social Structure, and Structure, and AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

Egypt - ReligionEgypt - Religion Mummification – the preservation of Mummification – the preservation of

the deadthe dead Sun god was chief godSun god was chief god Pharaohs were looked upon as a Pharaohs were looked upon as a

god as well as a monarchgod as well as a monarch Buried pharaohs with great care and Buried pharaohs with great care and

filled tombs with richesfilled tombs with riches

Egypt – Gov’tEgypt – Gov’t

Pharaoh ran the land Pharaoh ran the land Vizier - chief advisor who Vizier - chief advisor who

oversaw all activities oversaw all activities (enforced laws, collected (enforced laws, collected taxes)taxes)

Egypt - EconomyEgypt - Economy Based on trade, but surplus Based on trade, but surplus

and advances allowed for and advances allowed for new opportunities new opportunities (merchants)(merchants)

Foreign conquests brought Foreign conquests brought new riches to Egypt new riches to Egypt

Egypt - GeographyEgypt - Geography Nile River ValleyNile River Valley Yearly floods helped leaving layer of Yearly floods helped leaving layer of

silt (rich soil)silt (rich soil) Cataract - waterfall of the NileCataract - waterfall of the Nile Delta – triangular area of marshland Delta – triangular area of marshland

formed by deposits of silt at the formed by deposits of silt at the mouth of some riversmouth of some rivers

Egypt – Social Egypt – Social StructureStructure

Step 4 of your Step 4 of your Project!!!!!Project!!!!!

Pharaoh

High Priest/Priestess_____________________

Nobles – fought the Pharaoh’s wars___________________________

Merchants – (developed from surplus of food), scribes, artisans (smallest class)

Peasant Farmers (Largest Class)________________________________________________________________________

Slaves

Egypt - Egypt - AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

Building of pyramidsBuilding of pyramids Advancement in medicine, Advancement in medicine,

astronomy, and astronomy, and mathematicsmathematics

Sumer - ReligionSumer - Religion Believed in afterlife – a grim Believed in afterlife – a grim

underworld from which there underworld from which there was no releasewas no release

Gods were thought to control Gods were thought to control every aspect of lifeevery aspect of life

PolytheisticPolytheistic

Sumer – Gov’tSumer – Gov’t Many independent city – Many independent city –

statesstates Each city – state ruler was Each city – state ruler was

responsible for maintaining responsible for maintaining city walls and irrigationcity walls and irrigation

Led armies in war and Led armies in war and enforced the lawsenforced the laws

Sumer - EconomySumer - EconomyTrade brought riches to Trade brought riches to

citycityUsing rivers and the first Using rivers and the first

wheeled vehicles were wheeled vehicles were able to expand trade able to expand trade routesroutes

Sumer - GeographySumer - Geography Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent Between the Tigris and Between the Tigris and

Euphrates Rivers Euphrates Rivers Rivers frequently rose and Rivers frequently rose and

flooded, causing the soil to flooded, causing the soil to be ruinedbe ruined

Sumer – Social Sumer – Social StructureStructure

Social hierarchySocial hierarchy Ruling family, high priests, leading Ruling family, high priests, leading

officials (highest class)officials (highest class) Merchants, artisans, lesser priests, Merchants, artisans, lesser priests,

scribes (small middle class)scribes (small middle class) Peasant farmers (largest class)Peasant farmers (largest class) Slaves (lowest class) Slaves (lowest class)

Sumer -Sumer -AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

First wheeled vehiclesFirst wheeled vehicles1st writing system 1st writing system

(cuneiform)(cuneiform)used ironused iron