The document discusses ancient Egyptian pyramids and mummification practices. It describes how different Egyptian kings had unique pyramid designs built, including Djoser's stepped pyramid and Sneferu's Bent Pyramid. It also explains that the Egyptians were the first to develop hieroglyphic writing and that their sophisticated mummification process took 70 days and aimed to preserve the body for the afterlife. The mummy displayed at the Smithsonian Museum belonged to an upper-class Egyptian from 500 BC based on evidence of superior mummification.

1. The Ancient World Before us

2. 
When we think of ancient Egypt most of us
probably think of mummies and pyramids.
This is true because these are two things the
Egyptians where good at. They also invented
the first form of writing, which today are
known as hieroglyphs.

3.  The
next three pages give you an idea of the
different types of pyramids you will find in
Egypt and who made them.

4.  In
the 3rd Dynasty the second king, named
Djoser, had an idea to create the first
stepped pyramids. Djoser’s hired architect,
named Imhotep, was to line and excavate
the underneath of the pyramid.

5.  In
the 4th Dynasty Sneferu created a design
for his second pyramid, he had created The
Bent Pyramid. The angle of the pyramid is a
little different then those that we usually
think of.

6.  King
Khufu created the largest of all the
pyramids. He called it the Great Pyramid of
Khuhu. For 3,800 years it remained the
tallest structure made by man.

In the 4th Dynasty the Egyptian Pyramids where created by
the Egyptian people. They were treated very well, and
were fed a good diet to help keep them healthy.

7.  The
Egyptians where the first to create a
new form of writing. They are called
hieroglyphics. They are a series of between
2,000 and 5,000 hieroglyphic characters
representing a common animal or object.
They also could represent the sound of the
object or the general idea of it.

9.  The
mummy on the next page can be seen at
the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. The
sign below it describes the mummy as
follows:
Who’s Under Wraps?
When this mummy came to this Museum, it was partially unwrapped, and
very little was know about its history or the individual inside.
Using 2D and 3D CT scans, the Museum scientist found that the brain and
major organs were removed and rolls of linen filled out the abdominal
cavity. This evidence of superior mummification tells that the deceased
belonged to the upper class. The crossed arms were consistent
mummification practices beginning about 500 B.C.

11.  After
the mummification process, which
takes 70 days, they where wrapped and
placed in a coffin and then placed in a stone
sarcophagus.

Weird but true:
Sarcophagus means ‘flesh eating’ in Greek.

12. 
The mummy shown in this slide is kind of creepy
looking I’m sure. But because of the way the
Egyptians mummified there people we can learn
more about ancient life in Egypt. Scientist have
learned how to get DNA from these mummy’s.
The mummy from above was someone who lived
and walked and breathed a long time ago
(300B.C.- A.D.150). Being able to see something
that is that old is remarkable. The Egyptians also
mummified there children and pets. They
believed that doing this allowed them to live as
a whole in the after-life, if the mummification
process was not done correctly then they would
parish after death.