Ancient Egypt: Old, Middle, And New Kingdoms
Ancient Egypt was one of the greatest and most powerful civilizations in history. Ancient Egypt was broken down into three main time periods, the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. The civilization was located along the Nile River in northeast Africa. The Nile River was vital to Egyptians. “About 95 percent of the people lived on the less than 5 percent of Egyptian Land that was arable and located along the Nile.” (Matthews et al. 15). Egyptians relied on agriculture by working on the land, using the river, and domesticating animals. They hunted with bow and arrow, fishing nets, and grew crops such as barley, wheat, and vegetables. Besides agriculture, religion was another important part of their society.
Egyptian pharaohs were considered gods.
Egyptians were required to worship the pharaoh. The pharaoh was able to exalt any deity he wished. “The foremost distinguishing mark of Egyptian religion was its promise of immortality.” ((Matthews et al. 18). They believed in an afterlife after death. Pharaohs would be mummified and placed in tombs with all of their worldly possessions when they passed away. The Egyptians also developed a writing system that would be used on the walls of a tomb.
Egyptians used a writing system from the Old Kingdom onward called hieroglyphs. Hieroglyphs are pictures that represent words. Hieroglyphs were found on tomb walls and monuments. Religious and governmental scribes also formulated two different types of cursive script. Along with writing, art was important in Ancient Egypt.
The Egyptians could not comprehend the concept of “art”. They did not even have a term for what they would call “art” as it is so heavily scrutinized today. Sculpture, painting, etc. were done with a religious purpose in mind, specifically to house the spirit of a person or deity. One of the most famous works of Egyptian art is a Sphinx. A sphinx has the body of a lion with a human head. These massive carved rocks were used to guard the tombs and prevent robberies.
Ancient Egypt had three main time periods, the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. The Nile River was very important to the Egyptians because it provided fertile land. They worship the pharaoh as a god and used a writing system called hieroglyphs used on tomb walls and monuments. For not really knowing or understanding art the Egyptians created one of the most famous structures in the world the Sphinx.
Egyptian pharaohs were considered gods.
Egyptians were required to worship the pharaoh. The pharaoh was able to exalt any deity he wished. “The foremost distinguishing mark of Egyptian religion was its promise of immortality.” ((Matthews et al. 18). They believed in an afterlife after death. Pharaohs would be mummified and placed in tombs with all of their worldly possessions when they passed away. The Egyptians also developed a writing system that would be used on the walls of a tomb.
Egyptians used a writing system from the Old Kingdom onward called hieroglyphs. Hieroglyphs are pictures that represent words. Hieroglyphs were found on tomb walls and monuments. Religious and governmental scribes also formulated two different types of cursive script. Along with writing, art was important in Ancient Egypt.
The Egyptians could not comprehend the concept of “art”. They did not even have a term for what they would call “art” as it is so heavily scrutinized today. Sculpture, painting, etc. were done with a religious purpose in mind, specifically to house the spirit of a person or deity. One of the most famous works of Egyptian art is a Sphinx. A sphinx has the body of a lion with a human head. These massive carved rocks were used to guard the tombs and prevent robberies.
Ancient Egypt had three main time periods, the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. The Nile River was very important to the Egyptians because it provided fertile land. They worship the pharaoh as a god and used a writing system called hieroglyphs used on tomb walls and monuments. For not really knowing or understanding art the Egyptians created one of the most famous structures in the world the Sphinx.