古代近东培训教案.pptVIP

Part TwoEgyptian Civilization-- “The Gift of the Nile” *Geographical Factors*Brief History*People and Society*Culture of Egypt The Nile River: the longest in the world Geographical Factors The Nile as the key factor. Upper Egypt (land upstream to the south) and Lower Egypt (downstream, the delta in the north: two major branches, important cities developed here). The fertile silt (淤泥) (“Black Land”) on both banks after the annual flood (gradual and predictable) ? less labor intensive agriculture (more rural, small population centers). Geographical Factors Deserts (“Red Land”) to the west and east; cataracts (rapids,急流) on the southern part of the Nile; the Mediterranean Sea to the north ? natural barriers ? relative isolation ? away from invasion ? sense of security. Regularity of the Nile floods (annual overflow) + relative isolation of the Egyptians ? a sense of security/a feeling of changelessness ? a belief in cyclical rather than linear progress ? a remarkable degree of continuity of civilization over thousand years. Architectural sites in ancient Egypt were concentrated on the Nile River between the Mediterranean Sea in the north and the First Cataract, the first major section of rapids on the Nile River, at Aswān in the south. Brief History Ancient Egypt, (around 3100– 332/30 BC), was the longest-lived civilization of the ancient world. Dynastic rule by pharaoh[法老, king, originally meaning “great house” or “palace”]. Ancient Egyptian history is divided into three periods of stability, each followed by political chaos (known as the Intermediate Periods), altogether 31 dynasties of kings. Brief History(pp.14-15) The Old Kingdom: 2686-2125 BC. With Memphis as the capital, an age of prosperity and splendid constructions (the greatest and largest pyramids in Egypt’s history) created by absolute monarchy. The Middle Kingdom: 2055-1650 BC. With Thebes as the capital, it was characterized by pharaohs’ new concern for the people. Shepherds instead of god-king