In Western Civilization today, we learned about the five aspects of how Egyptians lived.  The five aspects are geography, daily life, pharaohs, gods and goddesses, and pyramids.  Geography has to do with the Nile River and how it was used for drinking, irrigation, and transportation.  Every July it floods, and every October it leaves behind rich soil.  The delta is a broad, marshy triangular area of fertile silk that is formed at the end of the Nile River.  Managing the river required technological breakthroughs in irrigation.  The pyramids were giant monuments devoted to the pharaohs and is where the pharaohs were buried and protected.  The oldest monumental statue in the world is the great Sphinx of Giza.  It was built in 2555-2532 B.C.  There were many different classes in Egypt from the highest to the lowest.  Servant and slaves being at the bottom were people who helped the wealthy with household and child raising duties.  Farmers raised wheat, barley, lentils, and onions.  They benefitted from irrigation of the Nile.  Artisans carved statues and reliefs showing military battles and scenes in the afterlife.  Merchants used the barter system and accepted bags of grain for payment.  Later, the coinage system came about for buying things.  Scribes kept records, stories, wrote poetry, described anatomy, and medical treatments.  Soldiers used wooden weapons like bow and arrows with bronze tips and rode in chariots.  The upper class was known as the “white kilt class” which were the priests, physicians, and engineers.  Pharaohs were religious and political leaders of Egyptian people.  They were often called “Lord of Two Lands” and “High Priest of Every Temple”.  They owned all land and made laws, collected taxes, and defended Egypt from foreigners.