Video: What the Ancients Knew - Egypt

Summary:

Description: More than 5,000 years ago, faith moved mountains--virtually. Observations must have led the ancient Egyptians to believe that the cycles of life were governed by a rule whereby each phenomenon they detected had a counterpart. Life, they concluded, must have an afterlife as its opposite. And to enjoy the afterlife, you needed a body, one that was your own in this life and one that would remain intact. Achieving this goal propelled discoveries and innovations in technology and science. The program traces the scale and effects of ancient Egyptian faith by closely examining the rise and fall of pyramid construction. Viewers will discover how life in ancient Egypt was consumed with the preparation for the afterlife. As the desire and financial ability of Egyptians seeking the afterlife increased, a highly specialized and diversified workforce grew. This helped promote an intricate industry and infrastructure of organization, supply lines, and administration. © 2005 Discovery Education Grades: 6-12     

Segments:

Irrigation: Harnessing the Nile (03:03)
Inventing Measures of Time (03:45)
The Religion and Science of Burial (04:25)
Experiments with Pyramids (05:23)
Building the Pyramids (06:48)
The Art and Commerce of Undertaking (05:48)
Conclusion: The Legacy of the Egyptians (01:37)