Ancient Egypt
Key Individuals/Power/Leadership
Interview With Ramses II
Me:
When did you become pharaoh?
Ramses II:
In the year 1279 B.C.
Me:
Who was your father?
Ramses II:
My father was the pharaoh Seti I.
Me:
What were your greatest accomplishments?
Ramses II:
Taking back territory that was lost previously to other kingdoms and the creation of Pi-Ramesses, which I made the new capital. Also the monuments that are built.
Me:
What are the greatest monuments you had built?
Ramses II:
The Ramesseum which is a memorial temple complex situated close to Luxor and the Abu Simbel temples, two massive twin rock temples.
Key individual/power/leadershipQuestions
These are the questions I asked Ancient Egyptians about key individual/power/leadership:
Q:
How did Egypt become united? How does leadership affect the uniting of Egypt?
A:
Narmer who was king of Upper Egypt conqured Lower Egypt making them unified. Because of his leadership over both Upper & Lower Egypt when he conqured Lower Egypt they became unified to make Egypt what it is now.
Q:
How is Egypt governed? How is religon and politics connected?
A:
The government of Ancient Egypt depended on two important factors; the pharaoh and agriculture. The Pharaoh was a vital part of the the Egyptian government and he appointed the other officials during most periods. The highest officials took their orders directly from the king. Agriculture was the foundation of Egypt's economy and government.
Q:
How do Egyptian Rulers affect trade, business, & conflict?
A:
Our rulers decide whether or not we trade and what we trade. Also they will raise armies and decide if they will engage in battle and who they will engage in battle with.
Q:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of power?
A:
You usally get to have whatever you want, you never go hungry. But you become a target for those that want your power. Also you can be resented. For example Amenhotep IV who had power but we didn't like him for changing our religon.
Priests
The role of the priest was very important in Egyptian Society. The Egyptians believed the gods lived in the temples. Only the priest was allowed to enter the sacred area of the temple and approach the statue representing the god or goddess. The people could pray at the gate or in the court to the Pharaoh who acted as a go-between the people and the gods.
The priests role was to care for the needs of the god/goddess. They have no role to oversee or care for the people of Egypt. They did not try to educate the people on the religion or look after their morals.