Old kingdom sac Flashcards
Three ways the Nile river aided Egypt
life sustenance
transportation and trade
religious importance
Nile river - life sustenance
2 points
provided water for drinking, agriculture, bathing.
allowed cultivation of crops - ensured stable food supply.
Nile river - transport and trade (and religous)
2 points
wind and flow of the river enabled Egyptians to travel both ways.
facilitated trade, communication, and religion between different regions.
How did the geography of the Nile aid Egypt?
currents flow north, winds flow south.
annual flooding allows Nile Delta to grow crops + produce silt-sustaining life in dry environment.
What was the unification of Egypt?
How did it happen?
When did it happen?
Narmer united lower and upper Egypt as one country under a centralized government.
Early Dynastic period.
What is the red crown called?
Is it for upper or lower Egypt?
Deshret
lower egypt
What is the white crown called?
Is it for upper or lower Egypt?
Hedjet
upper Egypt
Significance of the Pschent
combination of red crown (lower) and white crown (upper).
symbolised unification of two lands + pharaoh’s control over
When was the Narmer Palette created? (and what is it)
What does it represent?
Why is it important?
Ancient artefact from around 3100 BCE.
Narmer’s unification of upper + lower egypt, displaying one of the earliest known historical events in Egypt history.
One of only a few palettes ever uncovered.
Explain Djosers centralisation of power
2 points
Gov was bureaucratic and centralised around one figure - the Pharaoh
Gov based in Memphis (capital city)
What are Nomes and Nomarchs?
What did the Nomarchs do?
Ancient egyptian states and state leaders.
collected taxes, maintained order, reported to the pharaoh.
CULT OF RA
What is Ra associated with?
How is Ra depicted?
Role of Ra?
sun and life-giving properties.
Falcon-headed or sun-disk deity
Supreme solar deity -traversed sky at day, journeyed to underworld at night (symbolised eternal life)
CULT OF OSIRIS
What is osiris associated with?
How is osiris depicted?
Role of osiris?
Afterlife, resurrection, and fertility
mummified figure
Ruler of the underworld
CULT OF HORUS
What is horus associated with?
How is horus depicted?
Role of horus?
kingship, protection, divine rulership.
falcon-headed deity.
Rightful ruler of Egypt - protector of country and its people.
What did Djoser change the role of the Pharaoh to?
Role of priests?
divine ruler and embodiment of God’s.
given significant power, influence of religion increased power in gov.
Role of the Vizier?
2 points
Served as Pharaoh’s chief advisor - highest ranking offical.
oversaw gov operations (tax, justice, public projects).
Where were pyramid texts found?
What did they contain? Why?
inscribed on the walls inside pyramids to guide pharaohs in the afterlife.
contained magical spells, prayers, and rituals to protect and empower the pharaoh’s soul.
Where were the earliest (& most complex) examples of pyramid texts found?
inscribed inside the Pyramid of Unas, 5th Dynasty Pharaoh.
Where was the heart weighed against the feather of truth?
What happened to pure hearts?
What happened to impure hearts?
Hall of Ma’at.
continue to blissful afterlife.
face punishment or nonexistence.
When was the step pyramid built?
Where was it built?
Designed by who?
marked the beginning of…
around 2700 BCE
Saqqara
architect imhotep
…Egypts pyramid building tradition.
3 of Sneferu’s (4th Dynasty Pharaoh) pyramids + one fact about each
Bent pyramid - angle changed mid build due to structural concern.
Red Pyramid - first successful ‘true’ pyramid.
Meidum pyramid - initially ‘step pyramid’, converted to ‘true pyramid’ (construction difficulties resulted in partial collapse)
Role of the pyramids in the afterlife
4 points
monumental tombs for pharaohs and other elite individuals
protected and preserved deceased’s body
house their belongings
provide a structure that facilitates their journey to the afterlife.
When did the change in religion (focusing on sun cult) occur?
5th dynasty
What happened during the change of religion? How did this effect the pharaoh?
3 points
Ra grew as main figure in new religious trend.
elevated pharaoh’s divine authority - earthly representative of Ra.
reinforced belief in pharaoh’s connection to Gods.
2 examples of sun temples
What did they do at the temples?
Sun temple of userkaf and nyuverre.
Priests/worshippers conducted rituals and made offerings (food, incense).
Hyms/chants, expressing virtues of Ra and invoked his blessings.
When was Pepi II pharaoh?
What age did he come to the throne?
How long did he reign?
6th Dynasty - marked decline of old kingdom.
six.
94 years.
3 factors contributing to the fall of the Old Kingdom - during Pepi II’s reign
economic diffidulties
power struggles among local governors
climate changes
What did Pepi II having two Viziers (one for lower and upper) signify?
3 points
kingdoms were becoming hard to manage
Pepi needed to ensure nomarchs were following his command
sign of decentralisation
How did the nomarchs grow in power?
What were the effects of this growth?
gained peoples trust by living close to them - ppl began to favour them over pharaoh
some became de facto rulers in their regions, contributing to decentralization of authority during fall of Old Kingdom.
3 different art styles
frontalism
hieratic scale
symbolism
