Week 3

Ancient Egypt

1. Geography of Egypt
2. Political Organization

A. Bureaucracy

B. State Monopoly of Resources

3. Religion
4. Disruptions in Egyptian history

A. Invasion of the Hyksos

B. Religious Reform

Important Terms:

Menes – first king to unify Egypt Memphis - his headquarters

Census of the Cattle Nile River

Papyrus Bureaucracy

Religion = many gods (pantheon), gods as protectors, resurrection is an important ideal
Hymn to the Nile and Pharaoh

Mummification, pyramids

Akhenaton – pharaoh who attempted religious change

Important ideas:

n Culture focused on life after death

n Rulers hold status as gods

n Natural barriers create comfortable society

n Nile river gives example of resurrection

n Static society – change is traumatic and weakening

Wednesday: Fringe Empires of the Ancient World

I. The Phoenicians

B. Communications

II. The Hebrews

A. Early Monarchy

B. The Old Testament

Important Terms:

Maritime trade (sea trade dominated by the Phoenicians)

Carthage – Main Phoenician colony in Mediterranean

Alphabet

Hebrew kings Saul, David, and Solomon

Diaspora

Old Testament – Discussion of Exodus 19 and 20 (see textbook pg 27)

Important Issues:

Monotheism, covenant with god, Yahweh as compassionate, acting through and above nature, vengeful if wronged, ethical (presents a code of morality to live by – Ten Commandments)

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Friday: Fringe Empires (cont.)

The Assyrians

1. Geography
2. Military Power
3. The Myth of Ashur
4. Law Codes

Important terms:

iron mining (done by slaves)

biological warfare/ terrorism

cavalry

chariots

The Myth of Ashur

Assyrian law codes