HIST 025 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Abu Simbel Temples, Theocracy, Second Intermediate Period Of Egypt

• School: College of The Sequoias
• Department: History (HIST)
• Course: HIST 025
• Professor: Mangnall

Document Summary

Egypt was very environmentally favored entered on the life-enhancing nile. Every september the nile floods its valley, transforming the area into a huge marsh and lagoon. Water retreats by the end of november leaving behind a layers of fertile mud ready to be planted with crops. Extraordinary fertility of the nile valley made it easy to produce an annual surplus. Egyptians viewed nature as predictable and benign. Mesopotamian climate was harsh with unpredictable and destructive floods. Egyptians view life very optimistically while mesopotamia develop a pessimistic outlook. 3100-2770 archaic (1st-2nd dynasties) unification of egypt. Unification occurred to ensure the free flow of traffic along the nile (trade) and to provide centralized leadership of irrigation projects. Begins with zoser"s (djoser"s) ascension to the throne. Marks a period of greater state power and royal absolutism. Pharaoh"s power virtually unlimited and was considered a god the child of the sun god, re (ra).