Political, Economic, Social, Education, Culture |
Egypt (mostly influenced by the Nubians, Egyptians, ) |
Fertile Crescent (mostly influenced by Sumerians, Babylonians, and Hittites) |
| EDUCATION-when do they start, who is educated, what is the curriculum (what is taught) | origins of writing Hieroglyphics ca. 3300 BC scribes instructed children in writing, reading, mathematics, algebra & geometry, mechanics, astronomy, medicine and prepared them for governmental service. | origins of writing Cuneiform ca. 3500 BC passed on by scribes at scribe school. Mostly males educated, mostly wealthy, very disciplined. Topics of study were mathematics, botany, and linguistics. Epic of Gilgamesh |
| SOCIETY-what are the classes, who is a citizen? role of women? Is there social mobility? | Priests, royalty, and scribes in upper class. Middle class did not develop until New Kingdom. Slavery not widespread until New kingdom. Humble people could rise to highest position if had talent. Women could own property and pass on to children. Could also appeal to Pharaoh. Peasants forced to work on pyramids but were not slaves. Young men drafted into army but usually were used for labor force. | nobles, free clients of the nobility, commoners, and slaves.Nobility consisted of king and his family, the chief priests, and high palace officials. Clients were free men who were dependent on the nobility. Commoners were free citizens and owned their own land independent of nobility. Slaves were usually conquered foreigners or criminals and sometimes became slaves to repay their debts. Could buy their freedom. Women protected by dowery. Husband absolute power over household. |
| GOVERNMENT-who makes the decisions, who can participate, what is the name for the government, how does it change, | Pharaoh (theocracy) mixture of religion and state. Pharaoh was justice and order, harmony among humans, nature and divine.Everyone no matter how lowly had the right to appeal to the Pharaoh. Priests part of the government and advised the Pharaoh. Sometimes became very powerful. | King (lugal) first came to power as a general usually elected then soon kingship became hereditary.King could not take commoners land legally without approval. Commoners were free citizens & had full protection under law. Had a voice in political affairs. City-States |
| ECONOMICS/ OCCUPATIONS- what types of work do they do? Do they have leisure time? Who owns? Who produces? Who profits? | Mostly agrarian barley, corn, wheat, cotton , traders within
Egyptian society, Individual land holdings,
Textiles, jewelry, glass, metals |
Clients worked the extensive tracts of land held by either the temple or the nobility. Sometimes got small plots to work themselves.(tenant farming) Sheep raising and textiles. Taverns run by women, considerable prostitution. |
| Culture(overall emphasis, art forms, religion, festivals)
Way of life |
Pharaoh was a link between nature, the gods and society. The power of the Pharaoh is reflected in the pyramid. Culture changed in Middle Kingdom shift to science but literature increased. The god Amon replaced the god Ra with some emphasis on ethical standards. | Gods worshiped because they were mighty. Always sought to please and calm the gods. Needed to supply the gods with food , sacrifice and temples so that they would be kind. Built ziggarts to honor the gods. Had to be very powerful. (Marduk, Inanna, Ishtar) |
| Technology
What kind of innovative ideas or practices do they have? |
Architecture-pyramids very sophisticated based on astrology and 360 circle. Balance reflected in pyramids. Mummification indicates knowledge of medicine and surgery techniques. Bones set and type of plaster used to set bones. Herbs used for medication. Indicates great emphasis on individual. | Architecture-built arches used square roots, developed concept of place value, cubes and cube roots and reciprocals. Used to build cities, temples, canals for irrigation. Medicine-demons and evil spirits caused sickness and magic spells forced them out. Used some herbs. Battlefield medicine not practiced. |