Invention: Water Clock
The Ancient Egyptians were very smart and got pretty creative. They invented the first clock that would give the time at night. They invented the water clock. This is a clay jar that has a small hole in the bottom and there are markings on the inside. Each "jar" had to be made exactly like the other ones so that the time would always be accurate. The markings represented units of time. The water would flow out of the hole and reveal markings. When a marking was shown, they knew that a certain amount of time had passed. This made it easy to know what time it was at night. A sun dial obviously does not work without sun, and the water clock required no sun.
Invention: Papyrus Paper
Although the Chinese were the inventors of paper, the ancient Egyptians were the first to create anything closer to paper than stone. They used the papyrus plants that grew along the Nile to create this substance. They would remove the outer layer of the plant and the remaining part was cut into thinner pieces. It was then flattened and placed into rows. Another layer is placed on top of that but placed in the opposite direction. They were left to dry for a few days until the two layers were together and they were dry enough to write on.
Invention: Black Ink
The Ancient Egyptians were the first to invent a proper form of black ink. To do this, they mixed soot with vegetable gum and bee wax. This mixture was what created black ink. They created other colors by replacing the soot with other organic items. The quality of the ink was very good because some papers from there still exist today and they are readable.
Invention: The Ox-Drawn Plow
In Ancient Egypt, they didn't have all of the tractors and plows that we have today. They had to find other ways to cope with their difficulties. They found that utilizing an animal would be a lot easier than using their hands, so they found a large animal that was perfect for the job: the ox! It was large and it walked across the field a lot faster than the hands of the people could plant.
Mathematics
The Ancient Egyptians drew pictures to represent certain numbers. They also utilized a lot of simple Algebra. A lot of this algebra came from figuring out how they were going to feed all of the workers and how much they really needed. They multiplied using columns to change the problem into addition. They didn't use the same methods as we do today. To measure distances, they would use long knotted ropes. The knots were all the same unit of measurement apart. This was a very early version of a ruler.
Writing
The writing used in Ancient Egypt was hieroglyphics. This was where they wrote using pictures and shapes to write what they wanted to say. Hieroglyphic script was mainly used to writing on tomb walls. Hieroglyphics were first carved onto stone on stone. Later, hieratic script was used as a simpler form of hieroglyphics. This was composed of dashes, strokes and curves to represent the more complicated pictures. Hieratic script was usually written on papyrus. Longer literature was written on long rolls of papyrus. In school, students used broken pieces of a stone called ostraca. People would learn hieratic script before they learned hieroglyphics due to the face that it was a lot easiler than hieroglyphics.
Religion
Ancient Egyptians were known to be some of the most religious people during the time period. They were polytheistic, meaning that they believed in multiple gods and goddesses. Their gods were gifted with natural forces, and were divided into two groups. They had both land gods and sun gods. They worshiped a sun god with the name of Re when he was a falcon with the body of a human. His name was Atum when he was found in human form.
They also were solid believers in life after death. They went to greatly inconvenient and expensive measures to preserve the dead in hopes of helping them into the afterlife. They practiced mummification; a process of preserving a body through slow drying a corpse to prevent rotting. They would often stock their tombs with furniture, food, and jewels for them to have in the afterlife.
They also were solid believers in life after death. They went to greatly inconvenient and expensive measures to preserve the dead in hopes of helping them into the afterlife. They practiced mummification; a process of preserving a body through slow drying a corpse to prevent rotting. They would often stock their tombs with furniture, food, and jewels for them to have in the afterlife.
Family
Family was considered an important part of Egyptian life. Egyptians often married in their teen years. Even though parents arranged marriages for their children, love was still an important aspect in their lives and families. Particularly love for their children. In ancient Egyptian society, children were considered blessing from the gods. Though they hoped to have sons to carry on their name, daughters were greatly valued as well.
Children under the age of seven years old usually were confined to playing; but may occasionally run errands as young as the age of three. Most of the time, they played with tops, dolls, and other simple toys. They also kept pets, such as birds, cats, and baby gazelles. At the age of seven, they take on chores and have to begin acting like an adult. They help with the fieldwork, babysitting younger siblings, and even hunting.
Women were highly respected. Unlike most old societies, women in Egypt had roles in government and society. For example, Hatshepsut was a greatly accepted female pharaoh, even though she eventually began pretending she was a man to protect her people. Women were allowed to own property and receive inheritance, even when in marriage. They were also permitted to run businesses.
Men were considered the head of the house. They were responsible for providing their wives and children with food, shelter, and money.
Children under the age of seven years old usually were confined to playing; but may occasionally run errands as young as the age of three. Most of the time, they played with tops, dolls, and other simple toys. They also kept pets, such as birds, cats, and baby gazelles. At the age of seven, they take on chores and have to begin acting like an adult. They help with the fieldwork, babysitting younger siblings, and even hunting.
Women were highly respected. Unlike most old societies, women in Egypt had roles in government and society. For example, Hatshepsut was a greatly accepted female pharaoh, even though she eventually began pretending she was a man to protect her people. Women were allowed to own property and receive inheritance, even when in marriage. They were also permitted to run businesses.
Men were considered the head of the house. They were responsible for providing their wives and children with food, shelter, and money.
Geography
Egypt is located in Northern Africa, with the Nile River making it a “River Valley Civilization.” The Nile provided them with swimming, food, travel, trade, and materials for papyrus. Even with all of the provisions of the Nile, it’s yearly flood was what made it so precious. When the Nile flooded, it rose a great deal over the banks. When it went back down, it left fertile silt behind; which was optimum for growing crops. They called it the Black Land because the soil was so dark from nutrients, it appeared black. When the soil dried back out, they called it the Red Land.
Their location provided the benefits of natural barriers. With vast deserts to the East and West , the Red Sea to the East, the rapids of the Nile to the South, and the Mediterranean Sea to the North, it was incredibly difficult to invade their civilization.
The best time for pyramid construction was during the fifth and the sixth dynast but the first pyramid was constructed in year 2950 B.C. The very first pyramid was a relatively simple in that it was a flat roofed pyramid called a “mastaba”. The oldest known pyramid was a step pyramid constructed for King Djoser. The most famous Egyptian pyramids are the Pyramids of Giza. The great Pyramids of Giza are located on the western bank of the Nile River. The three pyramids were made for three different people. The Great Pyramid was made under the rule of Khufu, the middle pyramid was made for his son Khafer, and the third pyramid was for Khafer’s son Menkaure. On average, it took 2.3 million stone blocks to construct one pyramid. A pyramid was full of gold and other goods, which made it a prime attraction to tomb robbers. Many pyramids and tombs have been stripped clean of all the goods buried with the king.
Their location provided the benefits of natural barriers. With vast deserts to the East and West , the Red Sea to the East, the rapids of the Nile to the South, and the Mediterranean Sea to the North, it was incredibly difficult to invade their civilization.
The best time for pyramid construction was during the fifth and the sixth dynast but the first pyramid was constructed in year 2950 B.C. The very first pyramid was a relatively simple in that it was a flat roofed pyramid called a “mastaba”. The oldest known pyramid was a step pyramid constructed for King Djoser. The most famous Egyptian pyramids are the Pyramids of Giza. The great Pyramids of Giza are located on the western bank of the Nile River. The three pyramids were made for three different people. The Great Pyramid was made under the rule of Khufu, the middle pyramid was made for his son Khafer, and the third pyramid was for Khafer’s son Menkaure. On average, it took 2.3 million stone blocks to construct one pyramid. A pyramid was full of gold and other goods, which made it a prime attraction to tomb robbers. Many pyramids and tombs have been stripped clean of all the goods buried with the king.
Egyptian Government
The Egyptian government circulated around one main man, the king that is also known as a pharaoh. The pharaoh and the family of the pharaoh were put into a very god-like position and were treated in the highest respect.
A vizier
was a type of official. They directly served the pharaoh, and were considered
the highest title of all officials. For example, Rekhmire was the vizier to
Thumose III. He was the pharaohs right hand man.
The most famous Egyptian pharaoh is King Tut, or King Tutankhamun. King Tut is so incredibly famous because of the things archeologists have found in his tomb. While tombs were stripped clean by tomb robbers, King Tut’s tomb was almost completely intact.
Hatshepsut was the
only female pharaoh that Ancient Egypt was ever reigned by. She was born into
the governing family, and declared herself pharaoh while her brother watched in
envy in 1479 B.C. She was well respected by the people, but having a woman in charge
made them nervous about protection and security issues. So, in order to comfort
her people, she began to dress and act like a man to remain intimidating to
other civilizations and prevent revolts.
Menes,
also known as Narmer, was the pharaoh of Upper Egypt when Egypt was divided
into two parts. Upper Egypt was known as the White Crown, and Lower Egypt was
known as the Red Crown. They were separated until around year 3100 B.C, when
Menes conquered Lower Egypt and united the two kingdoms into the First Dynasty.
This marked the beginning of the Old Kingdom. This made him the first pharaoh
of Unified Egypt. Menes is also credited with the founding of the first capital
of Unified Egypt, Memphis. It is located on the old border that once divided
ancient Egypt.
History
Egypt began in 3500 B.C. with the first early settlers. Then in 3100 B.C. they established their method of writing, hieroglyphics. 2055 B.C.. between the years of 2700 and 2600 B.C. the first stone pyramid and the Pyramids of Giza were constructed. In 1100 B.C upper and lower Egypt split into two separate countries. Ahmose became pharaoh in the year 1600 B.C. and he unified the country. The fall of Egypt came in 600 A.D. when the Arabs conquered Egypt. The Old Kingdom in Ancient Egypt is referred to as "The Pyramid Age" and took place 2700 BC through 2200 BC. The nickname refers to the fact that Pharaohs were only buried in pyramids during this time period. During the Old Kingdom, Pharaohs had complete power and were considered gods. During the Middle Kingdom, which occurred 2100 BC through 1800 BC, they changed the ways they buried people because a Pyramid was much easier to see than a hidden tomb, and this made robberies more frequent. The Middle Kingdom was said to be Ancient Egypt's best time. Everything was going well. Trade and the arts were very successful. The Pharaohs were said to be excellent during this time and they were buried in hidden tombs. The New Kingdom, 1500 BC through 1000 BC, was more about improving. They had a stronger army to fight enemies and they expanded their border, and became a world power.
Questions
1. Why did the water clock revolutionize the way the Egyptians could tell time?
2. How were the Ancient Egyptian's math methods different than they are today?
3. What was unique about Hatshepsut?
4. Why was the Old Kingdom referred to as "The Pyramid Age"?
5. What is different about how women were treated in Ancient Egypt and how women were treated in other ancient civilizations?
6. Why were pyramids replaced with hidden tombs?
7. What helpful resource grew along the Nile in Ancient Egypt? What did it make?
8. What two kinds of gods were there? What kind of religion was big in Ancient Egypt?
9. Before the ox- drawn plow, how did the farmers get the field ready for planting? Why was the plow better?
10. What is a vizier?
2. How were the Ancient Egyptian's math methods different than they are today?
3. What was unique about Hatshepsut?
4. Why was the Old Kingdom referred to as "The Pyramid Age"?
5. What is different about how women were treated in Ancient Egypt and how women were treated in other ancient civilizations?
6. Why were pyramids replaced with hidden tombs?
7. What helpful resource grew along the Nile in Ancient Egypt? What did it make?
8. What two kinds of gods were there? What kind of religion was big in Ancient Egypt?
9. Before the ox- drawn plow, how did the farmers get the field ready for planting? Why was the plow better?
10. What is a vizier?
Works Cited
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"The Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops)." Survey and the Alignment of the Khufu Pyramid. N.p., 2006. Web. 24 Jan. 2013.
Hart, George. Ancient Egypt. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life, 1995. Print.
"Papyrus." Papyrus. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. <http://www.timetrips.co.uk/papyrus.htm>.
"Peas in a Pod." : Ancient Egypt Lapbook. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2013.
Woods, Michael, and Mary B. Woods. Ancient Computing Technology: From Abacuses to Water Clocks. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century, 2011. Print.
"King Tut." N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://www.fi.edu/learn/tut/images/tut_pyramid.jpg>."The Three Kingdoms - Ancient Egypt for Kids." The Three Kingdoms - Ancient Egypt for Kids. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://egypt.mrdonn.org/3kingdoms.html>.
David, A. Rosalie. Discovering Ancient Egypt. New York: Facts on File, 1994. Print.
Day, Nancy. Your Travel Guide to Ancient Egypt. Minneapolis: Runestone, 2001. Print.
Spielvogel, Jackson J. Glencoe World History. New York, NY: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2005. Print.
"Hatshepsut." â” National Geographic Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.
"The Story of Hatshepsut." The Story of Hatshepsut. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013
"Menes (king of Egypt)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.
"Gods and Goddesses." Gods and Goddesses. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.
"Viziers (Ancient Egypt)." About.com African History. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.
"Egyptian Pharaohs." Egyptian Pharaohs. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.
"9780531117910." : In the Days of the Pharaohs: A Look at Ancient Egypt. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.
"Menu." Menu. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/time/explore/main.html "Egyptian Pyramids." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.
http://www.history.com/topics/the-egyptian-pyramids