The document provides an overview of ancient Egyptian geography, climate, social structure, and the practice of mummification. The Nile River was the primary geographical feature and basis for their agricultural system and beliefs. Society was organized hierarchically with the Pharaoh and priests at the top. Only three female pharaohs ruled, including Hatshepsut who built monuments. Mummification was a complex months-long process of dehydrating and preserving bodies to prepare them for the afterlife. Major organs were removed and the body wrapped in linen strips.

2. Lower
Egypt
Ancient
Egypt
Upper
Egypt

3. Geography & Climate
 Primary geographical benefit was the Nile
 annual flooding provided rich silt
 crop system was reliable for feeding the cities
 became the basis for their cosmology beliefs
 Mediterranean Sea to the north and Red Sea to the east
 The sun was the inspiration for the greatest god, Amon (Amon Ra,
Aten), which had association with the Pharaoh
 Cosmological creation
 The Earth is a flat plane floating on the waters of the underworld—
the underworld surrounds us.
 Amon Ra came out of the silt of the Nile’s waters and produced the
remaining gods

4. Social Structure
 theocratic socialism—sharing of crops and basic supplies as needed by the
communities
 laws and traditions were mostly oral until ~300 BC
 upper-class families claimed decent from gods
 Royalty, priests, and upper-class determined regulations for all classes, but the
caste system was flexible
 Pharaoh, vizier, priests, then upper-class citizens and downward
 lowest class were slaves, mostly of military conquest
 slaves were a great tool for Egypt’s major constructions, though it is believed that
most slaves who built the pyramids were Egyptians
 Women had some independence with civil rights, but men still had more
power, even in marriages

5. Pharaohs
 Pharaoh means great house, such as first family
 The Pharaoh’s power was derived directly from Amon Ra—often
represented as Horus because of resurrection and claim to throne
 Neolithic villages along the Nile until Narmer became the first
Pharaoh in 3150 BC
 Rule of pharaohs is divided by dynasties of families that last until
Alexander the Great’s conquest in 332 BC
King Tut rules
Amenhotep Alexander
Narmer Early Old Middle New New laws are
IV
dynastic Kingdom Kingdom Kingdom Kingdom written the Great
period begins pyramids begins begins Hatshepsut falls down conquers
begins are built Egypt

6. Female Pharaohs
 Despite being thought of as males, the line of succession was matriarchal, usually
from marriages.
 Royal incest was not uncommon as a result to maintain rule with a male child.
 Only three female pharaohs known
 Hatshepsut (~1500-1447 BC)
 known for her architecture projects that set standards for Egyptian cultures
 had her mortuary complex built (the first) on what would become the Valley of the Kings
 toward the end of Thutmose III’s reign, attempts to erase her from history were
executed, though mostly publically rather than in private chambers or her tomb
 out of anger at sharing co-regent title, which was common
 to eliminate a female in the line of pharaohs
 by Amenhotep II in attempts to show stronger lineage for the throne
 Donald Redford: “Here and there, in the dark recesses of a shrine or tomb where no
plebeian eye could see, the queen's cartouche and figure were left intact ... which
never vulgar eye would again behold, still conveyed for the king the warmth and awe
of a divine presence.”

7. Hatshepsut
mortuary temple in the
Valley of the Kings
aerial view of terraces
chiseled cartouche of Hatshepsut

8. Mummification
 Initial mummification may have been accidental and discovered by accident via the
desert heat dehydrating bodies.
 Burial was originally in the elements, but use of coffins eliminated the invasion of
animals.
 Embalming was introduced to preserve the bodies when the desert heat was
removed.
 Mummification
 10-week process of using salts to dehydrate the skin and some bone
 major organs were removed—the heart was left and the brain discarded
 strips of linen keep the body from damage
 Theories and evidence suggest that part of Egyptian belief related to preserving the
body for use in the afterlife, which led to such a sophisticated and severe process.
 Research of hair samples shows mummies of early dynasties commonly suffered
from anemia and certain blood disorders while later dynasties had a more stable
diet.

9. Mummification
Canopic jars
Painting on papyrus

10. Mummification
outer holding for sarcophagus
Tutankhamun’s coffin

11. Mummification
Tutankhamen’s mummy inside the coffin
Tutankhamen’s full sarcophagus

12. Mummification
Pharaoh’s fake
Ankh
beard
representation of
the gods
Pharaoh’s
headdress eagle
Pharaoh’s staff

13. Mummification
reconstructed face of Tutankhamen