Egypt

Egypt
(History, Culture, and Beliefs)

Misr
 Arabic and modern official name of Egypt

 Means “two traits”
o Dynastic separation of upper and lower Egypt)
Connotes
 it means “civilization” or “metropolis”
Kernet
 Ancient name of Egypt

 It means “black land”
o Fertile black soils of the Nile plains
Geography
Egypt
 Known as the 30th largest country in the world

 One of the most populous countries in Africa and Middle East
o A population of 81 million people
 Egypt is bordered with:
o Libya, west
o Sudan, south
o Gaza strip, east
o Israel, east
 Has a land area of 1,001,450 sqkm.
 Egypt Is separated by:
o Nile river (joins red sea)
o Suez Canal (joins Mediterranean Sea)
 Mount Catherine in Sinai
o Highest peak at 8,743 feet
 Egypt Is also known as the gift of the Nile river

o Rainfall is not adequate for agriculture instead; the water is sustained from
the Nile river.
The Nile river
 Rises from south of Egypt, in Ethiopia

 and drainage in the basin of Lake Victoria
 Aswan High Dam (1971)
o People build this dam to improve the control of water in the river.
Language
Modern Standard Arabic
 The official Language of Egypt

 It includes:
o Egyptian Languages (Copto- Egyptian)
 It consists of Egyptian and Coptic
HISTORY
The life span of Ancient Egypt extended from 5000 BC to 525 BC
 During this period Egyptians way of life evolve from:

o Primitive to Neolithic culture  to civilization
 Civilization Era
o Pharaohs
 Ruled with absolute power
 Sadly, the once proud land of the Pharaohs is later then ruled by:
 Persians, Romans, and Greeks, Arabs, Turks, and
British
Egyptian history before 3100 B.C
 Also known as the Pre-Dynastic period

 The era after this date is known as the Dynastic Period
o Ruled by pharaohs
The Era of Dynastic Period
 This era includes three periods and two interludes of retrogression:

1. The old Kingdom (2700-2200BC)
2. The transitional Feudal/ First intermediate Age (2200-2050BC)
3. Middle kingdom (2050-1800BC)
4. Second intermediate kingdom (1800-1570BC)
5. Empire (1570-525BC)
Periods in Egyptian History
1. Pre-Dynastic Period
 Evolve for the necessity for cooperation in building canals and irrigation
works.
 Two kingdoms are created:
o Upper Egypt, in the south
o Lower Egypt, in the north
 Invention of ink and papyrus
 Invention of the first calendar
2. Dynastic Period
 Led by Menes
o The leader from upper Egypt
o He united the two kingdoms
o Established his capital at Memphis
3. Old kingdom
 Also known at the Age of the metals
 Creation of Pyramid
o The Step pyramid
 Constructed by Imhotep
 The oldest tomb and existing building of masonry
4. Middle Kingdom
 Amenemhet
o She flourished under the law and order of economic prosperity
 This period is noted for its excellence in lit and arts
 Invaded by Hyksos
o Alien people
 Aahmes of Thebes
o She has bought independence against the Hyksos.
5. Period of the Empire
 Thutmosis III
o The greatest pharaoh in this period
o He is often called the Napoleon of Egypt.
 Amenhotep III (1441-1377)
o During his time, the empire reached a magnificent height
o During this time Thebes became the imperial capital
o Ikhnaton
 Son of Amenhotep
 During his reign, the empire weakened due to religious
innovations and presence of enemies around him.
 Rameses III (1301-1234B.C)
o He tried to bring back the glory of the empire but failed.
o His reign was regarded as Egypt’s last show of unity and vigor
 The thirtieth Dynasty
o Was the last ruling dynasty which fall to the Persians
Cleopatra, Famous Egyptian Queen
 The last ruler from the Ptolemaic kingdom

 Also known as Cleopatra VI
 She committed suicide with her lover Mark Anthony after August Caesar
captured them
o This led to the decline of the kingdom and its subjugation to Rome.
In early 2011
 Egypt had a revolution which culminated with the ousting of the President Hosni
Mubarak who reigned for almost 30 years
Beliefs
Egypt has two religious institutions:
 Coptic Orthodox Church

o Established by Saint Mark
 Al- Azhar University
o Established as the first Islamic university in world around 1970 C.E
Around 90% of the people in Egypt are Muslims (predominant a Muslim country)
Around 5% to 10% are Christians
Major gods in Egyptian religion:
 Amun Ra, supreme god

 Ra, sun deity
 Osiris, god of water
 Isis, great mother
 Horus, falcon god (son of Osiris)
In Egyptian religion
 Immortality was the reward for good life

 Murder, stealing, lying, deceit, adultery, and trespass are regarded as sins
Customs and Traditions
The reign of Pharaoh’s
 Pharaoh
o Also known as “Great House”
o Government system is absolutism
o Ruler of Egypt
o Also known as Earthly king, chief priest, and spiritual ruler of the
nation
o Controlled all the irrigation system and exacted a share on semi-servile
laborers who toiled the royal estates
o
 Theocratic government System
o The government system this time.
o This means pharaoh has all the power both religious and political
functions
 The empire uses semi-slaves to force labor
 The society is divided into:
o 1. Court nobility: priest, and aristocrats
o 2. Middle class: merchants and craftsman
o 3. Service laborers
 Women are treated equal to men
 Egyptians are considered the religious of all men:
o Pharaohs are gods
o Pyramids are an act of manifestation and faith
o Its science is centered in the temple
o Literature varies different religious symbolisms
o Mummification
 An act to secure immortality
Culture and Famous People
Egyptian Culture
 Has 6000 years of recorded history

 It’s a co mixture of modern and western culture


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Egypt

(History, Culture, and Beliefs)

 Arabic and modern official name of Egypt

 it means “civilization” or “metropolis”

 Ancient name of Egypt

 Known as the 30th largest country in the world

 Egypt Is also known as the gift of the Nile river

The Nile river

 Rises from south of Egypt, in Ethiopia

Modern Standard Arabic

 The official Language of Egypt

The life span of Ancient Egypt extended from 5000 BC to 525 BC

 During this period Egyptians way of life evolve from:

Egyptian history before 3100 B.C

 Also known as the Pre-Dynastic period

The Era of Dynastic Period

 This era includes three periods and two interludes of retrogression:

Cleopatra, Famous Egyptian Queen

 The last ruler from the Ptolemaic kingdom

Egypt has two religious institutions:

 Coptic Orthodox Church

Around 5% to 10% are Christians

Major gods in Egyptian religion:

 Amun Ra, supreme god

 Immortality was the reward for good life

The reign of Pharaoh’s

Culture and Famous People

 Has 6000 years of recorded history

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