A king named Narmer united the former lower and upper Egypt. Narmer did this by conquering upper Egypt, merging upper and lower Egypt. Additionally, he married a princess of former upper Egypt, settling peace over Egypt. That's how Egypt became united (McTighe). Image credit: Travel 2 Egypt
How ancient Egypt was governed
The pharaoh was the political leader of ancient Egypt and the Egyptians that he was the son of Re, the sun god. The pharaoh appointedbureaucrats (special officials) to carry out his orders. Bureaucrats were important because they supervised the construction and repair of dams, irrigation canals, and brick granaries (places to store food). Also, the pharaoh owns all the land in Egypt and could use it for whatever he wanted to use it for. He often gave the land to his favorites (McTighe). Image credit: Tes.com
Egyptians rulers affect trade, business, and conflict
The pharaohs affected trade, business, and conflict. For example, the pharaoh Hatshepsut was an important figure in Egyptian trade, due to the fact that during her rule, Egyptians sailed to Arabia and East Africa. By trading, Egyptians spread their food and goods all across there area. Trade helped make the Egyptian kingdom wealthier. Hatshepsut used some of this wealth to build monuments. Additionally, temples were very important to Egypt. Priests hired people to work in temple workshops and granaries. Temples were also a "bank" of a sort. Egyptians used them to store valuable items, such as gold jewelry, fragrant oils, and finely woven textiles. Also, pharaohs also created political alliances between Egypt and neighboring kingdoms by joining together with treaties or marriage. This prevented conflict between kingdoms (McTighe).
My conversation with King Tutankhamun
Me: Hi, King Tut! You're in history textbooks everywhere, you know!" King Tut: I do not know this textbook, but I can tell that you desperately wanted to see me. Me: ... King Tut: Anyway! What brings you here? Me: I'm going to ask you some questions. Like, why are you dubbed "The Boy King"? King Tut: I became pharaoh when I was only 9 or 10, I don't really remember that stuff. Truthfully, I wasn't really the king because of my age back then. My grandfather helped me out a lot." Me: I heard your dad had an issue about religion... King Tut: Yes... my father changed our religion to only have a single god (monotheism), which led to some serious issues. I try to resolve that problem, and that's also why my capital is here in Memphis; to distance myself from my father, Akhenaten's, religious policies. Me: I see that you have that odd cane you're leaning on. King Tut: Yes, unfortunately. No one seems to know why I am physically impaired, as neither do I. Therefore, I am not an aggressive or effective pharoah, if I say so myself. Me: How did you die? King Tut: I died? Is this the afterlife? Well, from what I know, it may be an infection in my impaired knee, or a deadly disease, or someone could've tried to murder me. (McTighe)
My conversation with (Woman) King Hatshepsut
Me: Hi there Queen Hatshepsut! Queen Hatshepsut: Hello there, dear. Also, I prefer King Hattie if you care. Me: Okay, King Hattie! How did the Egyptians let you, a woman, to become the king of Egypt? King Hattie: My husband died, so my stepson Thutmose III was heir to the throne, but he was still a little thing. So I had to take up the job. It was really surprising to everyone; no one expected me to do it. I'm the first woman to ever become the pharaoh of Egypt! Me: Is that a statue of you over there? It looks like a guy. King Hattie: Yeah, the artists added a beard and other masculine features to make me look like a male (which I think highly offensive, but I'm nice enough that I didn't slaughter them like the pigs they are!). Me: How did you affect Egypt? King Hattie: The thing is, I was an amazing leader! I increased trade, prevented enemies from barging into my beloved Egypt, and sent a trade expedition to East Africa and Arabia. The men came back with gold, myrrh, animal skins, exotic animals (my personal favorite was a baboon!), and trees that got planted in my royal gardens. Me: You just used past tense to describe yourself as a leader. Why is that? King Hattie: Well, I must confess my stepson grew up quite a bit while I was doing all of that leadership stuff. He's taking over most of my subjects now. I'm an old lady now! (McTighe) Image credit: Explorers and Explorations Before Columbus
Comparing King Hattie with Queen Elizabeth I
Queen Elizabeth I of England
Assumed to never be a leader
Father wanted a male heir
Her sister Mary became queen before her
Was known as a queen
Had to resolve Mary's problems
Catholic
Prevented conflict
Inheritance from father, then sister
Powerful ruler
Captured
"King" Hatsheput of Egypt
Assumed to never be a leader
Male heir was not of age
She became queen right away
Was known as a "king"
Didn't have to deal with problems right away
Egyptian beliefs
Prevented enemies from crossing Egyptian borders
Inheritance from stepson (inheritance from husband)
Powerful ruler
King Hattie and Queen Elizabeth I had some similarities. They weren't supposed to be at the throne, for one, and they had their own religion they practiced. Otherwise, though, it was more unfair for Queen Elizabeth! She dealt with her father, who refused to let his daughters rule England. This probably made Elizabeth really sad. She was captured by her own sister, who had no reason to do this action. After her sister died, Elizabeth had to resolve her horrid sister's problems. Luckily, Elizabeth was a strong leader, and became loved by many (Biography.com).
What are the advantages and
disadvantages of power?
Overall, some advantages of power are that pharaohs kept control of ancient Egypt. They appointed bureaucrats to help out with trade and business. Also, they made major accomplishments that affected trade and business, like King Hattie, who sent a (successful) trade expedition! However, some disadvantages are that the pharaoh gets to choose favorites, like who deserves land. This can lead to conflict, as well as war and envy over the pharaoh's high position.
Clay tablet - one of the Armana Letters from Aziru of Amurru to the Pharaoh Akhenaten about worship of the only god, Aten (History Wiz). This tells me that pharaohs have such immense power that other leaders know him and his beliefs and laws. For example, Aziru wouldn't have known Akhenaten and his laws if he wasn't important. Image credit: Israel, a History