The Old KingdomC04S02: 5th Grade History-Ms. Russac

Key Terms Old Kingdom Khufu nobles afterlife mummies elite pyramids

engineering method acquire embalming

The Old Kingdom 2700-2200 BC (500 years) Political system Pharaoh king and god Egypt belonged to the gods Pharaoh ruled with absolute

power over land and people Blamed for poor crops or

disease Poor trade Wars

Khufu most famous pharaoh from Old Kingdom

Society and Trade

Social hierarchy Upper class: nobles: rich and powerful families Middle class: scribes and some craftspeople Lower class: 80% of the population-servants and

slaves Traders

Nubia supplied gold, copper, ivory, slaves and stone for building

Syria provided wood for building and fire

Egyptian Hierarchy

Religion & Egyptian Life Practiced polytheism Worshipped the same gods Gods for nearly everything Many gods mixed human and animal forms Built temples to the gods Temples collected payments Temples grow more powerful

Egyptian Gods

Ptah, creator of world Anubis, god of dead

Human body and jackal’s head Horus, sky god, god of pharaohs

Human body and head of a bird Re, or Amon-Re, the sun god Osiris, the god of the underworld Isis, goddess of magic Thoth, god of wisdom Geb, the earth god

Source: www.abc-Clio.com: Egyptian tomb painting and hieroglyphics depicting the gods Osiris and Atum receiving offerings. Osiris, the god of the dead and underworld, was a principal deity, also associated with agriculture and fertility. Atum was worshipped by many in early Egypt as the father of the gods

Source: www.abc-Clio.com: A throne base depicting Horus and Seth from ancient Egypt. In Egyptian mythology, Horus and Seth fought for the throne of Egypt.

Source: www.abc-Clio.com-A detail of a painted wall relief at the Temple of Ramses II showing the ibis-headed Thoth. The temple is located at Abydos, the center of the ancient Egyptian worship of Osiris.

The Afterlife

A happy place Ideal world Young and healthy Ka-person’s life force

Leaves body at death Becomes spirit Does not leave burial site Same needs as living

person Eat, sleep and be

entertained

Tombs filled with objects Furniture Clothing Tools Jewelry Weapons

Relatives were expected to bring Food Beverages So loved ones will not be

hungry or thirsty

Burial Practices Embalming to

preserve body Keep link between

body and spirit Keep ka from

suffering Keep from decaying Mummification Specially treated

bodies wrapped in cloth

Only for Egyptian elite

Egyptian god Anubis oversees burial rites

Egyptian papyrus depicting the god Anubis, the jackal-headed deity who served as embalmer and guide for the dead, presiding over the mummification ritual of a dead man.

Source: http://www.ancienthistory.abc-clio.com

Significance of the Pyramids Demonstrated pharaoh’s importance Size and shape symbolic Points to sky-symbolizes journey to

afterlife Pharaoh linked to gods Even after death a pharaoh was important

to the Egyptian people