the major developments of ancient Egypt
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The Pyramids
There are many different theories to how the Egyptian pyramids were built. One of the theories is that workers searched upper Egypt for stone to build the pyramids with. After the workers found the stone, it was given to artisans so that the artisans could carve the stone into blocks with copper tools. The workers attached the stone to wooden sleds with ropes. These sleds were then pulled to the Nile River through a path of logs by workers, where the stones would be removed from the sleds and put on to barges that took them to the working site where the pyramid was being built. Then the blocks would be dragged up a ramp to the correct level of the pyramid.
Another theory to how the pyramids were built is that instead of the workers dragging and hauling the stones through a path of logs, they would drag the stones across wet sand. Scientists have lately experimented this by trying to haul a heavy stone through dry sand, and then through wet sand, and indeed drgging the stone through dry sand was twice as easy as through wet sand. So, the second theory is that workers would find the stone, bring it to the artisans, the artisans would carve the stone into blocks with copper tools, and then the workers would drag the blocks across wet sand.
One more theory is that instead of dragging the blocks up to the pyramid on a ramp, that the blocks would be lifted by a series of cranes/shadoofs. Again, the stones would be collected by the workers, given to the artisans who would carve the stones into blocks, the blocks would be delivered to the Pyramid, but then be lifted by a crane up to the level of the pyramid that the block would be placed. This theory makes sense because since the farmers used the shadoofs already to lift water, then these devices would be available to the Egyptians. The theory states that there would be variety of shadoofs at different hieghts, all ready to take loads of blocks up to a level in the pyramid.
The Red Pyramid
Below is a series of Hieroglyphics.
Below is a series of Hieroglyphics.
This is a typed up version of an excerpt written by an Ancient Egyptian. The first series of Hieroglyphics means "Red Pyramid- Sneferu rises, Sneferu appears, or Sneferu Shines". The second series of Hieroglyphics means "Red Pyramid- the Shining one".
The Red Pyramid gets it's modern name because of the red colored limestone that it was rebuilt with. Although, the translated version of what the local population calls it is the "Bat Pyramid". When the Red Pyramid was first built it was built with a fine white limestone and was named "Sneferu Rises", "Sneferu Shines", or "Sneferu Appears". But later, most of the white limestone was removed to build other buildings and was replaced with the red limestone, changing it's common name to The Red Pyramid.
The Hieroglyphics refer to The Red Pyramid's original name: "Sneferu Rises", "Sneferu Shines", or "Sneferu Shines". When Sneferu built the Red Pyramid, it was his third attempt (after the step pyramid, and the bent pyramid) to create a true pyramid for his body to be buried in. The Red Pyramid IS a true pyramid. So when the Red Pyramid got it's original name, it was named after Sneferu, finally shining after building the first true Pyramid. And referring to the second series of Hieroglyphics, The Red Pyramid is indeed the shining one.
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Q&A with A&E
Abby: Emmy, what major change did Amenhotep IV make?
Emmy: Well, Abby, Amenhotep IV pretty much flipped the entire religion of ancient Egypt on it's head. He declared that all of the other gods no longer existed, and that instead the people of Egypt should worship only the Aten, the sun itself. Amenhotep IV then changed his name from Amenhotep (meaning "the god Amun is satisfied") to Akhenaten (meaning "servant of Aten.")
Abby: What affect did that have on the civilization of Ancient Egypt?
Emmy: Well, by discarding all of the other gods, all of the temples had to be shut down. By doing this, the priests were all put out of work. And most of the people in Egypt weren't exactly what you would call happy, having to change the entire religion that they grew up with. Also, Akhenaten devoted so much time to worshiping Aten, that he he didn't really have time to rule Egypt. So, instead, two military generals ruled for him.
Abby: OK, enough questions about Amenhotep IV/ Akhenaten. Why was the Middle Kingdom period a "golden age" for Egypt?
Emmy: The Middle Kingdom period was a "golden age" for Egypt because of quite a few reasons. The dynasties of the Middle Kingdom had powerful rulers, Egypt conquered new territories during this period, the pharaohs added thousands of acres of land to Egypt, and the arts and architecture thrived in the Middle Kingdom period.
Abby: Why can the exchange of "envoys" be considered a major development in ancient Egypt?
Emmy: The exchange of "envoys" can be considered a major development in ancient Egypt because it was the first time in recorded history that a group of nations worked to together to reach the same common goal.
Abby: Well, Emmy, you answered all my questions about the Major Developments in Ancient Egypt. Thanks!
Emmy: Any time, Abby.
Abby: Emmy, what major change did Amenhotep IV make?
Emmy: Well, Abby, Amenhotep IV pretty much flipped the entire religion of ancient Egypt on it's head. He declared that all of the other gods no longer existed, and that instead the people of Egypt should worship only the Aten, the sun itself. Amenhotep IV then changed his name from Amenhotep (meaning "the god Amun is satisfied") to Akhenaten (meaning "servant of Aten.")
Abby: What affect did that have on the civilization of Ancient Egypt?
Emmy: Well, by discarding all of the other gods, all of the temples had to be shut down. By doing this, the priests were all put out of work. And most of the people in Egypt weren't exactly what you would call happy, having to change the entire religion that they grew up with. Also, Akhenaten devoted so much time to worshiping Aten, that he he didn't really have time to rule Egypt. So, instead, two military generals ruled for him.
Abby: OK, enough questions about Amenhotep IV/ Akhenaten. Why was the Middle Kingdom period a "golden age" for Egypt?
Emmy: The Middle Kingdom period was a "golden age" for Egypt because of quite a few reasons. The dynasties of the Middle Kingdom had powerful rulers, Egypt conquered new territories during this period, the pharaohs added thousands of acres of land to Egypt, and the arts and architecture thrived in the Middle Kingdom period.
Abby: Why can the exchange of "envoys" be considered a major development in ancient Egypt?
Emmy: The exchange of "envoys" can be considered a major development in ancient Egypt because it was the first time in recorded history that a group of nations worked to together to reach the same common goal.
Abby: Well, Emmy, you answered all my questions about the Major Developments in Ancient Egypt. Thanks!
Emmy: Any time, Abby.
By Emmy F.