EGYPT: NEW KINGDOM DURING THE RAMESSIDE PERIOD - XIX & XX Flashcards
(35 cards)
The geographical environment:
Upper Egypt
- South area from the first cataract (south of Memphis)
- Upper = inland of the Nile
The geographical environment:
Lower Egypt
- Lower Egypt area from Memphis to the sea + delta region
- Lower = where the Nile meets the sea
The geographical environment:
Red Land
- Located on the edge pf the Sahara desert. An arid and dangerous region
- Hostile environment but contains many resources that provide work
The geographical environment:
The Black Land
- Stripe of fertile land running along the Nile river
- Annual flooding provided crops with millions of tons of rich and fertile soil
- Nile provides drinking water, irrigation, food, mud, transport and papyrus
The geographical environment:
Nile Delta
- Splits into many rivulets in the lower Egypt
- Largely agricultural region
- Climate is more pleasant
Significant sites:
Pi-Ramesses
- Per-Ramesses (House of Ramesses)
- Built new capital by Ramesses 2
- Location to deal with the ongoing tension with vassal kingdom and empire in the north
Significant sites:
Memphis
- Old/middle Kingdom Capitol
- Located at apex of delta, made it central for trade, admin etc
- Tombs of many noble officers built nearby
Significant sites:
Thebes
- Religious capital for NK (besides Amarna period)
- Amus worship in temple of Karnak and Luxor
- Import festivals held here
- Dominated by temples
Significant sites:
Ramesseum
- Mortuary temple of Ramesses 2
- Used as a palace during his life
- Contains images and sources of his life
Significant sites:
Medinet Habu
- Temples of Ramesses 3
- Inspired by the Ramesseum
- Artwork reveals evidence of the trouble that may have lead to assassination.
Significant sites:
Valley of the Kings
- Most royal burials in NK period including pharaohs of Remesside period.
- Est. along with the abandonment of pyramid tombs
- Provides insight into burial customs and traditions.
Significant sites:
Valley of the Queens
- South of Valley of the Kings
- burial of important royal wives
Significant sites:
Dier el Medina
- Village of tomb builders and their families
- Between VK and Vq
- Many villages were literate
- written evidence of everyday life for Egyptians and information on burial customs and beliefs
Significant sites:
Abu Simbel
- two rock-cut temples in Nubia
- Built by Ramesses 2 to glorify self
- serves as propaganda to Nubians
Egyptian society.
1) Royal family
2) Nobility
3) Middle class
4) Artisans
5) Peasants
The role and image of the pharaoh
- The warrior
- Maintainer of Me’at
- Administrator
- Regalia
Role of the army
- source of national pride and propaganda
- maintains order through fear
- defence
- build empire and protects
Nature of army
- 20,000 soldiers
- organized and modern
- standing army
- adopted foreigner technology
- usually 4 divisions
Different royal women
- The harem
- The great royal wife
- Mother of the god
- Diplomatic wives
- Sister/daughters
Non-royal women status
- A women’s social status reflected that of their father or husband
- social mobility was available for women
- Generally regarded highly of by men
- could inherit their own wealth, divorce husbands and own slaves.
The Economy:
Importance of the Nile
- its predictable cycle has been essential to the success of the Egyptians since the earliest farmers
- Allowed them to develop agricultural practice, support domestic animals and for transportation.
The Economy:
Nilometer
- flood water levels are monitored by priests and scribes
- depth of water impacted the amount of tax placed on the people
The Economy:
Irrigation
- Farmers used various devices to water crops
- Irrigation canals dispersed the water through fields.
The Economy:
3T’s?
Tax
Tribute
Trade