Key Individuals and How a leader mold a society
Who were the key individuals and how did they mold the societies thoughts and actions?
Examples of Pharaohs:
Queen Hatshepsut:
A queen named Hatshepsut was one of the few women to rule ancient Egypt. She came to power in about 1473 B.C and governed with her husband. After his death, she made herself pharaoh. Hatshepsut had to prove that she was a good leader in order for the people to accept her. She wore clothes made for a male pharaoh. She even wore a beard to copy the one worn by the Egyptian kings. She built magnificent temples and restored old monuments.
King Tutankhamun:
When Akhenaton died in about 1360 B.C, his ten year-old son Tutankhamen became pharaoh. The young pharaoh relied on advice from priest and officials to rule Egypt. When Akhenaton took away the worshiping in deities, King Tut quickly restored it. After nine years, King Tut died unexpectedly. His death still remains a mystery to historians but he still remains a fascinating figure.
Interviews between either Fiona or Camilla and with a pharaoh of Ancient Egypt:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of power?
One important advantage to power is that the pharaohs could control people. For example, Amenhotep IV introduced a new religion. He removed many priests from their post that believed in the old religion (the worship in deities). The priests could not do anything about it because Amenhotep was more powerful than them.
One disadvantage is that if the people don't like the pharaoh, Egypt becomes weak. Invaders from outside lands like Asia could conquer a lot of Egypt's land. For example, many Egyptians rejected Amenhotep's new religion and they continued to worship deities. The discontent with Amenhotep's rule began to spread to the army leaders. Under Amenhotep's weak rule, Egypt lost most of its land to outside invaders from western Asia.
One disadvantage is that if the people don't like the pharaoh, Egypt becomes weak. Invaders from outside lands like Asia could conquer a lot of Egypt's land. For example, many Egyptians rejected Amenhotep's new religion and they continued to worship deities. The discontent with Amenhotep's rule began to spread to the army leaders. Under Amenhotep's weak rule, Egypt lost most of its land to outside invaders from western Asia.
How was ancient Egypt governed? How were religion and politics connected?
The Egyptians were fiercely loyal to their pharaoh because they believed that a strong ruler unified their kingdom. The pharaoh held total power. He (sometimes she)issued commands that had to be obeyed. The pharaoh appointed bureaucrats, or government officials to carry out his orders. Bureaucrats supervised the construction and repair of dams, irrigation canals, and brick granaries. Granaries were used to store grain so people would not starve during a poor harvest. The pharaohs officials also collected tax payments of grain from farmers.
The pharaoh was not just political leader, but also a religious leader. The Egyptians thought the pharaoh was the son of Ra, the Egyptian sun god. They believed their pharaoh was a god of earth that protected ancient Egypt. Whenever the pharaoh appeared in public, people would play music for him on flutes and cymbals.
The pharaoh was not just political leader, but also a religious leader. The Egyptians thought the pharaoh was the son of Ra, the Egyptian sun god. They believed their pharaoh was a god of earth that protected ancient Egypt. Whenever the pharaoh appeared in public, people would play music for him on flutes and cymbals.
How did ancient Egyptian rulers affect trade?
In trading, planned expeditions to trade with other countries. For example, during the of Hatsheput, Egyptian seafarers sailed to ports in Arabia and Eastern Africa. There, Egyptian traders exchanged beads, metal tools, weapons, gold, ivory and incense which is a material that is burned for its pleasant smell.
Primary Source:
Picture from Desktop Wallpapers
This is a picture of four statues of Ramses II. To the Egyptians he was considered Pharaoh of the Pharaohs. In his tomb, along with paintings of Ramses worshiping the gods, there was a picture of him worshiping himself. He was considered to be a god. That shows that the Egyptians thought highly of their pharaoh. The statue itself shows how good Egyptians were at architecture as well. Paintings on the tomb shows hard work that was done for the pharaoh.