Governing Ancient Egypt
The first ruler of a united Egypt ruled by conquest. For Egypt to remain united, however, a ruler needed more than military power. He needed to persuade the Egyptian people to accept his authority. A person with authority has the right to control other people.
People obey a person with power because of fear. They obey a person with authority by choice.
A village leader usually gained authority over the people he hoped to control because he knew them. The people of Egypt were spread out over hundreds of miles. It was a challenge to get so many people to accept the authority of a ruler whom they did not know and would probably never see.
People obey a person with power because of fear. They obey a person with authority by choice.
A village leader usually gained authority over the people he hoped to control because he knew them. The people of Egypt were spread out over hundreds of miles. It was a challenge to get so many people to accept the authority of a ruler whom they did not know and would probably never see.
The God-King
Early Egyptian pharaohs, as the rulers of Egypt were called, met this challenge in two ways. First, they based their authority on Egyptian religious beliefs. Egyptians believed that gods controlled everything that happened on Earth.
Because the pharaoh controlled Egypt, people naturally saw him or her as a god-king. They believed that after death a pharaoh joined the other gods to live forever. Rulers prepared for life among the gods by building large tombs, filling these with items that they might need after death.
Good Government
The second way that pharaohs gained authority was by providing Egypt with good government. One of the most important responsibilities for a pharaoh was to lead religious rituals to make sure that the Nile River flooded each year. A ritual is a ceremony enacted in the same way time after time. The ruler was also expected to protect his people and look after their welfare. The pharaohs established a well-run government to carry out these responsibilities. Priests and officials carried out the pharaoh’s orders up and down the vast stretches of the Nile. They enforced laws, collected taxes, and organized building projects.
Early Egyptian pharaohs, as the rulers of Egypt were called, met this challenge in two ways. First, they based their authority on Egyptian religious beliefs. Egyptians believed that gods controlled everything that happened on Earth.
Because the pharaoh controlled Egypt, people naturally saw him or her as a god-king. They believed that after death a pharaoh joined the other gods to live forever. Rulers prepared for life among the gods by building large tombs, filling these with items that they might need after death.
Good Government
The second way that pharaohs gained authority was by providing Egypt with good government. One of the most important responsibilities for a pharaoh was to lead religious rituals to make sure that the Nile River flooded each year. A ritual is a ceremony enacted in the same way time after time. The ruler was also expected to protect his people and look after their welfare. The pharaohs established a well-run government to carry out these responsibilities. Priests and officials carried out the pharaoh’s orders up and down the vast stretches of the Nile. They enforced laws, collected taxes, and organized building projects.
The Egyptian Social Order
To maintain the pharaoh’s authority, he or she needed the loyalty and labor of his people. Egypt’s social order provided both.
Egyptian society was shaped like a pyramid. The pharaoh was at the top of that pyramid. In the level below were nobles, priests, and officials. They helped the pharaoh govern Egypt. So did soldiers, who fought battles for their ruler, and scribes, who kept records for the government and the temples.
Merchants and artisans made up the next level. Artisans are skilled workers who practice a trade or handicraft. In Egypt, painters, stone-cutters, and builders spent their entire lives working on palaces, temples, and tombs.
Farmers, servants, and slaves were at the bottom of the social pyramid. During the growing season, farmers raised Egypt’s food. For the rest of the year they worked as laborers on the pharaoh’s building projects. Most did so willingly as a form of religious devotion. They believed that if they helped the god-king in life, they would be rewarded after death.
To maintain the pharaoh’s authority, he or she needed the loyalty and labor of his people. Egypt’s social order provided both.
Egyptian society was shaped like a pyramid. The pharaoh was at the top of that pyramid. In the level below were nobles, priests, and officials. They helped the pharaoh govern Egypt. So did soldiers, who fought battles for their ruler, and scribes, who kept records for the government and the temples.
Merchants and artisans made up the next level. Artisans are skilled workers who practice a trade or handicraft. In Egypt, painters, stone-cutters, and builders spent their entire lives working on palaces, temples, and tombs.
Farmers, servants, and slaves were at the bottom of the social pyramid. During the growing season, farmers raised Egypt’s food. For the rest of the year they worked as laborers on the pharaoh’s building projects. Most did so willingly as a form of religious devotion. They believed that if they helped the god-king in life, they would be rewarded after death.
Two Pharaohs in Power
Pharaohs ruled Egypt for more than 3,000 years. Not all of them were good leaders. Some lost their power to foreign
invaders. But each time that happened, a new pharaoh rose up to drive the foreigners out. Queen Hatshepsut and Ramses II are two of Egypt’s most famous rulers. Each used the pharaoh’s power in a different way.
The Queen-King
Hatshepsut was one of the few women to rule Egypt. She was the daughter of one pharaoh and the Great Royal Wife of another. When her husband, Thutmose II, died in 1504 b.c., he left a son who was too young to rule. Instead, Hatshepsut made herself Egypt’s new pharaoh.
Some Egyptians did not want to bow to a woman. To gain their support, Hatshepsut carried out all of the rituals expected of a king. Her statues showed her dressed as a king. She even wore the false beard that was a symbol of the pharaoh’s power. The picture at right shows Hatshepsut with a false beard.
Hatshepsut’s rule was peaceful. She was often called “Good Queen Hatshepsut.” Hatshepsut built Egypt’s wealth and power through trade. She sent traders by sea to a land called Punt in East Africa. They returned with precious wood, ivory, gold, and perfumes. Hatshepsut had the story of their journey carved on the walls of an enormous temple that she built near the city of Thebes.
At some time, Hatshepsut’s name and images were chipped out of carvings and many of her statues were smashed. Who did it? History may never know the true story..
Pharaohs ruled Egypt for more than 3,000 years. Not all of them were good leaders. Some lost their power to foreign
invaders. But each time that happened, a new pharaoh rose up to drive the foreigners out. Queen Hatshepsut and Ramses II are two of Egypt’s most famous rulers. Each used the pharaoh’s power in a different way.
The Queen-King
Hatshepsut was one of the few women to rule Egypt. She was the daughter of one pharaoh and the Great Royal Wife of another. When her husband, Thutmose II, died in 1504 b.c., he left a son who was too young to rule. Instead, Hatshepsut made herself Egypt’s new pharaoh.
Some Egyptians did not want to bow to a woman. To gain their support, Hatshepsut carried out all of the rituals expected of a king. Her statues showed her dressed as a king. She even wore the false beard that was a symbol of the pharaoh’s power. The picture at right shows Hatshepsut with a false beard.
Hatshepsut’s rule was peaceful. She was often called “Good Queen Hatshepsut.” Hatshepsut built Egypt’s wealth and power through trade. She sent traders by sea to a land called Punt in East Africa. They returned with precious wood, ivory, gold, and perfumes. Hatshepsut had the story of their journey carved on the walls of an enormous temple that she built near the city of Thebes.
At some time, Hatshepsut’s name and images were chipped out of carvings and many of her statues were smashed. Who did it? History may never know the true story..
The Warrior King
Ramses II, who ruled about 200 years after Hatshepsut, was a different kind of pharaoh. What Hatshepsut had tried to do through trade, Ramses chose to do through war. He spent the first half of his reign, or rule, fighting in distant lands.
In 1274 b.c., King Ramses led his army against the powerful Hittites. The two armies met in a place called Qadesh in present-day Syria. According to Ramses, he won a great victory at Qadesh without much help from his soldiers.
In fact, Ramses lost many of his soldiers to the Hittites in the Battle of Qadesh. Rather than lose the rest of his army, King Ramses headed home.
Ramses II was Egypt’s greatest builder. During a reign of more than 60 years, he built more monuments than any other pharaoh. One of his many projects was the temple at Abu Simbel. This huge temple was carved from a rock cliff. Four statues of Ramses, each more than 65 feet tall, guard the entrance. Not surprisingly, Ramses II is remembered as Ramses the Great.
Back to Mission #3
Ramses II, who ruled about 200 years after Hatshepsut, was a different kind of pharaoh. What Hatshepsut had tried to do through trade, Ramses chose to do through war. He spent the first half of his reign, or rule, fighting in distant lands.
In 1274 b.c., King Ramses led his army against the powerful Hittites. The two armies met in a place called Qadesh in present-day Syria. According to Ramses, he won a great victory at Qadesh without much help from his soldiers.
In fact, Ramses lost many of his soldiers to the Hittites in the Battle of Qadesh. Rather than lose the rest of his army, King Ramses headed home.
Ramses II was Egypt’s greatest builder. During a reign of more than 60 years, he built more monuments than any other pharaoh. One of his many projects was the temple at Abu Simbel. This huge temple was carved from a rock cliff. Four statues of Ramses, each more than 65 feet tall, guard the entrance. Not surprisingly, Ramses II is remembered as Ramses the Great.
Back to Mission #3