Egyptian Achievements

1
Egyptian Achievements

• Hieroglyphics
• One of the worlds 1st writing systems
• Pictures represented words and phrases
• Used more than 600 symbols
• Benefits?
• Papyrus
• Made from reeds found along the Nile

2
Akhenaton

• Amenhotep IV
• Amon-Re to Aton
• First Monotheistic Society
• Armarna period (Art)
• Realistic forms of art
• Family portrayed in the art
• Wife Nefertiti
• Divided Egypt
• King Tuts Dad

3
King Tut

• Pharaoh _at_ age 9
• Died when 19
• Restored the religion to Amon-Re
• Dismantled Aton (fathers religion)
• Famous because tomb was left intact
• Found Nov 4, 1922
• Curse??

4
Ancient Kush

• A.k.A Nubia
• Land of Gold
• Land of the Bow (expert archers)
• Gold mines, ivory, incense, iron ore, copper,
  stone
• Close proximity to Egypt allowed for assimilation
  of the two cultures
• Was NOT dependent on the yearly floods like Egypt

5
Ancient Kush

• Similar lifestyle to the Egyptians
• Many farmers
• Grew wheat, barley also were able to grow winter
  crops
• Became a wealthy society
• King took control of land, named it Kush
• Capital KERMA located south of 3rd cataract

6
Egypt conquers Kush

• Pharaoh Thutmose I feared Kushs powerful army
• Attacked in 1500 B.C. to take control
• Conquered all territory north of the 5th cataract
• Egyptian territory for 450 years
• Total immersion of culture happened with
  occupation (language, clothing, names, religion,
  etc.)

7
Kush fights back

• End of New Kingdom allowed Kush to fight back
• Regained control of territory from Egyptians
• No records exist from this time period for
  unknown reasons

8
Conquest of Egypt

• Around 850 BC regained strength
• Rebuilt capital at Napata, 100 miles southeast of
  Kerma
• Mid 700s BC Kush attacked Egypt
• Led by Kashta
• By 751 BC conquered Upper Egypt

9
Conquest of Egypt

• Piankhi, Kashtas son, continued to attack Egypt
• Believed the gods wanted him to control Egypt
• By 716 BC conquered ALL of Egypt
• Kingdom extended from Napata to Nile Delta

10
Kushite Dynasty

• Shabaka, Piankhis brother, declares himself
  Pharaoh
• Begins 25th Dynasty
• Tried to restore old Egyptian culture and
  practices
• Built temples to gods, and pyramids

11
End of Kushite Rule

• Kushite Dynasty lasted for 40 years
• 670 BC, Assyrians invade Egypt
• Iron weapons defeated the bronze weapons
• In 10 years, Assyrians drove Kushites out of Egypt

12
Center of Trade

• Economic center was Meroe, capital of Kush
• Large deposits of gold, iron ore and forests of
  ebony
• Greek merchants, Mediterranean, Red Sea, and
  southern Africa
• Exports gold, pottery, iron tools, slaves,
  ivory, leopard skins, ostrich feathers
• Imports fine jewelry, luxury items from Egypt,
  Asia, and Mediterranean area

13
Decline of Kush

• Internal disorder like Egypt
• Cattle were overgrazed soil blew away
• Iron makers overused the forests around Meroe
• New trade routes developed AROUND Kush
• Late 300s rulers of Aksum took over Kush
• Adoption of Christianity