ANCIENT MYSTERIES: THE SECRET LIFE of KING RAMSES 11

Program Synopsis

Ramses 11, called the 'Great', was on the throne for more than 60 years, built more monuments than any other pharaoh, fathered one hundred children and presided over a 'golden age' of Egyptian History. This program outlines the achievements and highlights of his reign, and attempts to discover something of the 'man' who ensured the future of the nineteenth dynasty. This could be used for the study of Egypt in the nineteenth dynasty, or New Kingdom Egypt, or a pharaoh of the 'Empire'. There is ample material for a Personality study.

Staying Focused

	This is the data collection stage of the activity.
	The detailed questioning is designed to ensure that students decode the visual and aural materials presented to them in the video.
	The video programs can be stopped at the end of each section. This will allow students to share and discuss answers.

Introduction

What makes Ramses 11 'special'?









What new discovery has caused renewed interest in his life?









Act 1: Rise to Power

When did Ramses 11's reign begin?









Note details of Egyptian beliefs / achievements at this stage.









How long did he reign?









Note his background. Note the details (and dates) of the process by which he came to the throne?









Who was the first king of the 19th dynasty?









Why is this called a 'golden age'?









Note details of the 'upheaval' of the late 18th dynasty?









Who was Akhenaten?









What was the Aten?









Impact on Egypt?









What was the priority of Ramses 1?









What was the role of his son Seti 1?









Note the drawings in the background which show temple and obelisk 'building'.









When did Seti 1 become pharaoh?









How old was his son Ramses?









How was Ramses 'trained'?









What was his first 'appointment'? When?









When did Ramses become 'Prince Regent'? Significance?









How did Ramses life change now?









Why did he have a harem? Result?









When did he get military experience? Where?









What other responsibilities did he have? Why?









What is 'megalomania'?









What is the context of the reference to 'megalomania'?









When did Ramses 11 become pharaoh?









Act 2: The Almighty Pharaoh

What age was Ramses 11 when he became pharaoh?









What was the point of building monuments?









Why have so many of his monuments survived?









How long did he reign?









Why does the personality of the pharaoh remain a 'mystery'?









Why were the pharaohs of the 19th dynasty under pressure?









What is Abu Simbel? Describe it.









What was the role of pharaoh in Egyptian religion?









What was the purpose of the statues of pharaoh?









What was the 'social contract' which operated between Egyptians and the 'gods'? Pharaoh's role in this?









Act 3: The Warrior.

How / why did Ramses 11 usurp buildings of other pharaohs?









What 'clues' exist to give some insight into Ramese 11 'the man'?









When was his first military campaign? Target? Result?









Who were the Hittites? What was their response?









Note details of the Battle of Kadesh. Record the perspective of both sides.









Who won the battle?









How does Ramses 11's version differ from the Hittite account?









How did Ramses 11 celebrate his 'victory'?









Why did Ramses 11 make peace with the Hittites?









How do we know?









How was the peace 'sealed'?









Act 4: Continuing the Dynasty

What do we know of Ramses 11's 'family' life?









Who was Nefertari?









What do we know of her? Evidence?









Why was procreation an important 'duty'?









How many children did he have? Evidence?









Who was the 'Senior King's Son'?









Note details of the other cultures presented here. What was the 'Exodus'? Why is it associated with Ramses11?









When was Ramses 11's mummy found? Where? How?









Why is there some discussion about these mummies?









How is Ramses 11's mummy 'identified'?









Where was Ramses 11 buried?









How is his reign evaluated?









Who succeeded him?









Why were there some problems after his death?









What is KV 5? When discovered?









What was Howard Carter's verdict on KV 5?









How did KV 5 come to notice again? Result?









What have the recent excavations shown?









Significance?

Note Making

	This is the collation stage of the activity. Students need to organise the field of information and begin to explore its context.
	Directions and /or Inquiry questions are provided for note making / summary exercises which will follow the viewing of the video.
	The materials / data for the summaries have been collected above.
	The activity could be done in teams, groups, or by individuals, or as a class with teacher direction.

Extensions

Useful, interesting, challenging, books, sources and websites will provide further materials for investigation of the History presented in the video program.

For Research
Some useful Internet sites

Google.com searches provide some interesting sites.

Ramses 11
www.sis.gov.eg/egyptinf/history/html/ramses.htm
www.sangha.net/messenger/Ramses-11.htm

Abu Simbel
www.memphis.edu/egypt/abusimbe.htm
www.homepage.powerup.com.au/~ancient/abus.htm

Karnak / Luxor
www.hat.net/album/middle_east/004_egypt/day_41_temple_ of_luxor_/detail016.htm
www.eyelid.co.uk/luxor2.htm

Ramasseum
www.kenseamedia.com/september/a_77ram.htm

Nefertari
www.touregypt.net.historicalessay/nefertari.htm

Issues and Inquiries

Key issues and inquiry questions which have been raised by the video are addressed at this stage for discussion and research.

1. What are Ramses 11's most famous monuments? Why?

2. What do the building techniques we glimpsed as background tell us about Egyptian monuments?

3. What monuments of other pharaohs did Ramses11 'usurp'? Why?

4. What inspired the monumental architecture of Ramses 11's reign?

5.In what sense is this 'propaganda'? What other propaganda did Ramses 11 use?

Problems of Evidence

Questions of reliability and validity of the perspectives, evidence and sources presented in the video program need to be considered, tested and researched.

1. How did the 'non-royal' pharaohs of the XIXth Dynasty 'justify' their rule?

2. What was their attitude to the XVIIIth Dynasty? Why?

3. How much of what we know of Ramses 11's life and career is propaganda?

4. How much can we hope to know about his 'personality'?

Communicating

The key issues and inquiry questions are potential topics for debate, essay writing, reports, historical recount and explanation.

1. Write a REPORT on the monumental building program of Ramses 11.

2. DEBATE the proposition that: Ramses 11 was no greater than any other Pharaoh of Egypt, just better at 'advertising'.
3. Assess the achievements of Ramses 11.