Roots Chapter 3 Flashcards
Who said “Egypt is the gift of the Nile.” ?
The Greek historian Herodotus.
Why has Egypt been called the “ Kingdom of the Two Lands”?
Because it has two regions: Upper Egypt (in the south) and Lower Egypt (in the north)
What is the cycle of flooding for the Nile?
It began in July, climaxed in August and September, and finally receded in October.
What are some signs that Mesopotamia influenced early Egyptian civilization?
- Evolution from Neolithic culture to civilization in Egypt followed the Mesopotamian pattern: draining swamps, clearing junglelike vegetation, and digging canals.
- The presence of Sumerian artifacts and artistic motifs from the beginning of this formative period..
- A small number of ruling families, who perhaps were responsible for the consolidation of Upper Egypt into a political unity by 3100 b.c., were wealthy enough to import decorated items with Mesopotamian motifs–example–a Mesopotamian knife, turned up in an ancient Egyptian settlement near the Nile
- The early Egyptian step pyramids resemble Mesopotamian ziggurats.
Scholars believe early contacts between Mesopotamia and Egypt were made by what route?
The fact that most Mesopotamian items were found in central Egypt has suggested that the early contacts between Mesopotamia and Egypt were made by way of the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.
When were Upper and Lower Egypt unified?
around 3100 BCE
Who was the first pharaoh who we think united Egypt?
Menes (or Narmer)
What was the first capital of Egypt?
Memphis
What are the dates for the Early Dynastic Period?
3100–2686 B.C.E.
During the Early Dynastic period, Egypt developed characteristics later considered to be typical of it. What were some of those traits?
- The recognition of one king, the pharaoh, as the ruler of the country, from the Nile Delta to at least Aswan;
- the development of a cultural homogeneity,(sameness) which distinguished it from its neighbors;
- the characterization of its neighbors as a threat;
- the emergence of Memphis as the main seat of government.
What style of writing appeared around 3100 BCE?
Hieroglyphics
What were the earliest purposes of writing in Egypt?
It was used to record the deeds of the kings and to record royal expenses and income.
Where did the kings get their income?
Taxes in the form of agricultural produce and animals were collected and stored in royal depots to be distributed later by the kings. The kings themselves were large landowners.
What happened when the pharaoh died during the Early Dynastic Period?
Huge resources were devoted to the royal burials, including construction and maintenance of the royal tombs.
How did the Egyptians view the universe?
They saw the universe as orderly and benevolent (predictable and kind).
Where were the first examples of Egyptian writing found?
Earliest examples of written records from Egypt are from a tomb in Abydos.
A key concept in Egyptian religious thought is expressed in the word ma’at–what does it mean?
“truth,” “right behavior,” or “correct balance.”
What was the attitude of the gods in Egypt?
The gods cared about Egypt. It was the gods themselves who wanted the world, particularly Egypt, kept in correct balance.
What were the roles of the pharaoh?
- The king was responsible for maintaining ma’at–correct balance–but was also ruled by it.
- The pharaoh himself was in some
sense a living god, an incarnation of sacred power–but he did not share in the omnipotence of other gods such as Re, the sun god) - All Egypt was his personal estate, and his whim was law. Egypt produced no law codes, for the law was in the pharaoh’s mouth.
- He was the victorious champion of the Egyptians against the forces of chaos and darkness.
What did the god-kings of Egypt wear?
- special robes which distinguished them from their subjects.
- They also wore a special kind of kilt with the tail of a bull attached at the waist.
- A ceremonial beard hung from the chin of the king.
- He wore the great double crown which symbolized his rule over Upper and Lower Egypt.
- A cobra was shown rearing up on his forehead, ready to protect the king.
Who became the new pharaoh when the old pharaoh died?
The pharaohs were polygamous, so the eldest son of the pharaoh’s principal wife normally succeeded his father as pharaoh
What did the coronation ceremonies of the pharaohs symbolize?
The creation of the universe–they were reenacted each year
When the pharaohs died, what rituals took place?
Elaborate rituals, centered around their tombs (pyramids), were staged by the Egyptians to ensure that their kings had a successful journey to join their fellow gods and goddesses.
Who was the greatest god to the Egyptians?
Re, personified the lifegiving sun.
Who was Amun-Re?
During the Middle Kingdom, Re was combined with the local Theban god Amun into Amun-Re. Amun-Re became, in middle and later Egyptian history, the most important god. He was the god of victories, and had a magnificent temple at Karnak in Thebes.
Who was the god of victories with a his magnificent temple at Karnak in Thebes ?
Amun-Re
Which god was said to have once been a benevolent pharaoh who taught his people agriculture?
Osiris
Who was the sister-wife of Isis and symbolic of the fertile earth?
Isis–believed to be supremely wise and skilled at the art of magic.
What was the legend of the death of Osiris?
Osiris had been killed and cut to pieces by Seth, his evil, animal-headed brother. But afterward, Osiris was miraculously resurrected and then passed on into the next world to become the king of the dead and judge of souls.
Why was the theme of death and resurrection basic to the religious thought of many ancient cultures? What did it mean in Egypt?
- It was a mythological expression of the death of vegetation in winter and its resurrection in spring.
- It also symbolized the death of the sun each evening and its rebirth at dawn.
- The Nile itself followed this same basic sequence; the low Nile of early spring, bringing the possibility of famine to the land, gave way in the summer to a new, resurgent Nile that revived the fields.
- The Osiris-Isis myth eventually came to symbolize the hope of individual salvation and eternal life.
Which god was the pharaoh identified as?
The living pharaoh was identified with the falcon-god Horus, the son of Isis and Osiris, but he was also believed to be the son of the sun god Re
Which god established the pharaoh-god as overall lord of Egypt?
Ptah, the god of the city of Memphis.
When was the Old Kingdom?
c. 2686–2181 B.C.
Why was the Old Kingdom called Egypt’s classical age?
Egyptian culture held together as a strong, cohesive state under the power of the pharaohs and the favor of the gods. At no other time was Egypt so stable.
What was the first true pyramid?
It was a step pyramid built of stone at Saqqara for Djoser, a famous pharaoh of Dynasty III (2686–2613 b.c.).
When were the largest pyramids built?
They were built during the Dynasty IV (c. 2613–2494 b.c.),
