Egypt

Location: North Eastern Africa - Bordering the Nile Geography: like most ancient civilizations it's located near a river, isolated by cataracts to the South and the Sahara Desert to the West Government: Ruled by Pharaoh and Priests Philosophies and Religions: Social hierarchy: Pharaoh was at the top High ranking officials Middle was low ranking officials, local leaders, priests, and other professionals, artisans, and well-to-do farmers Bottom was peasants

- Men are much Superior to Women Sm information is available about the lives of upper class women, but was filtered through male artists and scribes. - Marriage is very important Women in Egypt could own property, inherit property from their parents, and will their property to whomever they wished. Marriage wasn't confirmed by any legal or religious ceremony and essentially constituted a decision by a man and a woman to establish a household together. - We know this because their gods were usually part animal - Especially of the Niles Flooding and of the Sun Pharaohs were the link between Gods and men (similar to the Chinese idea of the Mandate of Heaven)
 * Ma'at - The order and justice of Egypt / Polytheistic (1350's BCE - Monotheistic/ changed back after the death of Akhenaten)
 * Associated with nature
 * Cycles
 * because of this, the death of a pharaoh called for elaborate funeral celebrations and tomb**
 * The religion was very tolerant to other religions

Important People:

Important Terms:
 * Ma'at

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">- The Order and Balance the Pharaoh is in charge of maintaining. The citizens can do their part by conforming to their jobs and rights.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Pharaoh

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">- The Leader and Religious Spectacle of Ancient Egypt. A human God who maintains order by being the link to the heavens.


 * NUBIA*** 3100 BC


 * Between Aswan and Khartam, straddling Egypt
 * Served as a corridor of trade between tropical Africa and the Mediterranean
 * Egypt had a hunger for Nubian gold
 * Early cultures/Egyptian domination: 2300-1100 BC