1. GROUP 3 MEMBERS:
 Assa Mbegera
 Kavosa Assava
 Samuel Kigochi
 David Muiru
 Miriam Maina
 Kenga John
 Quincy Kiptoo
 Judy Njage
 Alex Kariuki

2. Assignment Topic: Examine the
Astronomy, Government &
Laws and the Hydraulic
Engineering Aspects of the
Ancient Egyptian Civilization

3. ASTRONOMY
 The High Priest was the Main Astronomer.
 Egyptians had knowledge about stars, phases of the
moon, the rising of the sun, moon and stars as well as both
solar & lunar eclipses.
 They knew a year had 12 months and had specific names
for the months which are still in use today.

4. ASTRONOMY
 They were aware of the earth‟s position and its revolution
round the sun.
 They knew planets such as Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus
and Mercury.
 They divided the Day into day and night each 12 hrs.

5. GOVERNMENT & LAWS
The Pharaoh belonged to the Military.
There was a Code of Laws in 8 books which constituted
the “Wisdom” of the Egyptians.
There were 6 Courts of Justice where Judges presided
over cases.

6. GOVERNMENT & LAWS
They had a council of „30 Great Men‟ who constituted
the Cabinet.
The process of Administration of Justice was well
organized – the case was stated in writing and the
defendant in turn responded, after which witnesses were
called and the matter was considered, at which point they
then laid their opinion before the supreme judge who
gave the verdict.

7. GOVERNMENT & LAWS
The rich and the poor were considered equal before the
law.
Egypt was divided into Nomes, governed by Nomarchs or
hereditary princes.
The prince assessed taxes, regulated land division, kept
the canals in repair, superintended the produce to guard
against famine and judged all cases in the district.

8. GOVERNMENT & LAWS
All citizens were registered/counted, and their
name, address and occupation plus a full description of
each person recorded by scribes.
There were generally very low rates of crime and all were
relatively safe.

9. HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
Ancient Egyptian Hydraulic Technology is still second to
none to date.
There was an organized canal system for irrigation
purposes.
Measurements and Surveys were applied in constructing
dykes to cater for the Nile‟s Annual Flooding.

10. SOURCES
 Osei, G.K. (1999) – “African Contribution to
Civilization.”
 Fyle, C.M. (1999) – “Introduction to the History of
African Civilization.”
 Mudimbe, V. Y. (1988) – “The Invention of Africa.”