Outlining and organizing facts is an integral part of social sciences and history. Fill in the blanks below from pages 20-23 in your textbook (People and Nations - Harcort 1989 soon) to practice outlining and to understand the Egyptian dynastic cycle. The Egyptian civilization developed along the Nile, both the upper and the lower, beginning from the Neolithic Revolution in 10,000BC. It formally becomes the Egyptian civilization when the upper and the lower areas are joined by King Menes in 3100 BC. The last Egyptian pharaoh is a woman, from the Ptolemy dynasty, Cleopatra, who committed suicide in 27 BC. Each family of rulers is called a dynasty. A dynasty rose and fell based upon a certain pattern. This pattern also occurs with the Kingdoms. By completing this outline you will begin to understand the pattern as well as determine significant Egyptian rulers, called Pharaohs. (Great House) These Pharaohs derived their power from the idea that they were God kings. They were descendants of the gods and they governed according the will of the gods. Only one person ruled (called a monarch while the type of government is called a monarchy) but the mixture of government and religion is called a theocracy. [theo (religion) cracy (to govern)]
There were about 30 dynasties that are divided into four periods.
I. Two-Kingdoms existed prior to 3100 BC.
A.
1. They crushed rebellions, gained new territory, regulated irrigation and encouraged trade and prosperity.
B.
1. This position as gods placed them far above ordinary people.
C. Because of this new position Egypt was able to flourish. It provided periods of stability and instability based on the accomplishments and the power of the nobles and priests.
II. The Old Kingdom existed from about 2700 BC to 2181 BC. (began calling family of rulers dynasties)
A.
1. The upper class consisted of four groups: Pharaoh, royal family, priests and officials
2. The lower class consisted of everyone else, mostly peasants and farmers.
B. This was probably the greatest period of Egyptian history.
1.
2.
C. As the Old Kingdom ended, the pharaohs grew weaker and the nobles grew stronger.
III. The Middle Kingdom began about 2000 BC.
A.
1.
2. Carrying out decisions became too difficult
B. Other officials became more powerful and wealthier
1.
C. The Middle Kingdom ended about 1780 BC
1.
2. The Hyksos invaded Egypt
IV. The New Kingdom began about 1550BC
A. A number of strong pharaohs lived in the city of Thebes
1. For a time they had absolute power
a. b. B. The first woman ruler was Hatshepsut
1.
a. Structures that survive today.
C. A bitter struggle between the pharaoh and priests disrupted Egypt during the later years of Akhenaton (Amenhotep).
1.
2. When Akhenaton died, the priests of Amon reestablished their power, and the religious and cultural upheaval that Akhenaton had begun ended.
3. a. Foreign invaders, including the Nubians, the Assyrians and the Persians ravaged Egypt.
V. The end of Ancient Egyptian Civilization began around 300 BC
A The end of native reign came in 300 BC when the Alexander the Great split the Empire and sent his general, Ptolemy, to govern the area.
1. This began the final dynasty, of Greek origin (called Ptolemy), ending with Cleopatra.
2. Cleopatra allied with both Marc Anthony and Julius Caesar of the Roman Republic
B. The citizens of Egypt became the citizens of the Roman Empire after 40 BC.
1. Roman Generals ruled Rome from this period until the 3rd Century AD
2. The Egyptian language changed and the art of hieroglyphic (Demonic) became extinct
C. The Egyptian civilization progressed in a cycle where there was a rise to power, stability that was dependant upon the Pharoah, which led to the decline of the dynasty and kingdom.
A monarch is (definition) .In Egypt these are called . Each of these form a family or hereditary line called a 1 . These hereditary Egyptian family lines are then organized into 2 . Both the Egyptian 1 & 2 reoccur in similar cycles. Each cycle has periods of and . Because of the combination of religion and government, the government of Egypt is called a .
Label the cycle as if it were the Egyptian dynastic cycle. Remember
the dynasty is a family of rulers. Many dynasties made up each of the eras
in Ancient Egyptian civilization. You will be describing the repeating
events or patterns that reoccur within the dynasties. The labeling is for
what occurs within one of the dynasties remembering that the dynasty
rose and fell in the same pattern as the kingdoms. The pattern is similar
for both dynasties and kingdoms. When the kingdom ends so does the dynasty.
Draw a recycle symbol and place a number at each one of the three corners.