1. EgYptian Civilization
“The Gift of the Nile”
EgYptian Civilization

2. Lesson Essential Question
What were the main features and acheivements of Egypt’s three kingdoms?

3. Graphic Organizer
Old Kingdom
Middle Kingdom
New Kingdom

4. The Impact of Geography
The Nile is the longest river in the world flowing northward from the heart of Africa to the Mediterranean Sea
The Nile splits into 2 major branches before reaching the Mediterranean, forming a triangular territory, also known as a delta
The Nile Delta is also called Lower Egypt
Egypt’s important cities developed
The land upstream, to the south, is called Upper Egypt

5. The Impact of Geography (CONt)
The most important feature of the Nile is its yearly flooding
Very predictable
Left mud and silt creating an area of rich soil – “Black Land”
Served as a unifying factor in Egypt
Fastest way to travel
Made transportation and communication easier

6. The Impact of Geography (Cont)
Egypt was blessed by natural barriers which lessened the threat of invasion
Deserts to the east and west
Red Sea to the East
Rapids on the southern part of the Nile
Mediterranean Sea to the North
The regularity of the floods and relative isolation of the Egyptians created a feeling of security and changelessness
Confidence in stability and continuity

7. Think-pair-Share
Explain how flooding patterns of rivers in Egypt and Mesopotamia caused the two civilizations to develop differently.
Flooding patterns were regular in Egypt, leading to a feeling of stability. The flooding in Mesopotamia was unpredictable, leading to a belief that the world was at the mercy of harsh and unreliable gods

8. The Importance of Religion
Religion helped provide a sense of security
polytheistic
2 groups of gods had special importance
Sun god- Atum/Re
Sun was worshipped as the source of life
Ruler was called Son of Re, the sun god in earthly from
Land Gods- Osiris and Isis
Osiris- important role as a symbol of rebirth
Led Egyptians to place dead in tombs to await rebirth
Isis- symbolized new life brought by the floods each year

9. The Course of Egyptian History
Historians have divided Egyptian history into three major periods
Old Kingdom
Middle Kingdom
New Kingdom
These periods were characterized by long-term stability marked by strong leadership, freedom from invasion, the building of temples and pyramids, and considerable intellectual and cultural activity
Between these periods were intermediate periods, periods of chaos and invasion

10. The Course of Egyptian History (Cont)
Begins around 3100 BC
King Menes
United the villages of Upper and Lower Egypt into a single kingdom and created the first dynasty- a family of rulers whose right to rule is passed on within the family

11. The Old Kingdom 2700-2200 BC Age of prosperity and splendor
Egyptian pharaohs (rulers) possessed absolute power- complete unlimited power to rule their people
However, did have help in ruling
Bureaucracy
Administrative organization with officials and regular procedures
Vizier- “steward of the whole land”
Directly responsible to the pharoah
In charge of the government bureaucracy

12. The Old Kingdom (Cont) Tombs were well prepared for their residents
Stocked with all necessities for life
Egyptians believed humans had two bodies, one physical and one spiritual (ka)
Believed even though the physical body was dead, the ka could return and continue its life as long as the physical body was properly preserved and tomb was furnished with objects of regular life
Mummification- slowly drying a dead body to prevent it from rotting

13. The Pyramids Building of pyramids occurred during the Old Kingdom
Built as part of a larger complex of buildings dedicated to the dead
Large pyramid- pharaoh’s burial
Smaller pyramids- pharaoh’s family
Mastabas ( rectangular structures with flat roofs)- pharaoh’s officials

14. The Great Pyramid Built under King Khufu at Giza around 2540 BC
Took more than 20 years to complete
Built with incredible precision
“Guarded” by the Great Sphinx
240 feet long, 66 feet high
Face thought to be of Khafre, Khufu’s son
Largest pyramid ever built
Could be seen for miles and served to remind people of the glory, might, and wealth of the ruler

15. The Middle Kingdom 2050-1652 Egypt began a period of expansion
Conquered Nubia; Sent armies to Palestine and Syria
Sent traders to Kush, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Crete
New concern of the pharaohs for the people
Pharaohs portrayed as the shepherd of his people
Expected to build public works and provide for the public welfare
Pharaohs undertook many helpful projects
Drained swampland in Nile Delta
Provided thousands of acres of new farmland
Dug canal linking Nile River to Red Sea
Aided transportation and trade

16. The Middle Kingdom (Cont)
The Middle Kingdom ended around 1652 BC, when it was invaded by the Hyskos
Western Asia
Used horse-drawn war chariots
Egyptians fought from donkey cart
Egyptians learned a great deal from the Hyskos
Learned to use bronze in making farm tools and weapons
Mastered many of the military skills of the Hyskos
Horse-drawn chariots

17. The New Kingdom BC
Egypt created an empire and became the most powerful state in Southwest Asia
Massive wealth boosted the power of the New Kingdom Pharaohs
Showed wealth by building new temples
Hatshepsut-first woman pharaoh

18. The New Kingdom (Cont)
Amenhotep IV introduced the worship of Aton, god of the sun disk as the sole god
Changed his name to Akhenaton (“it is well with Aton)
Closed temples of other gods
Tutankhamen (Akhenaton’s son) restored the old gods
Become pharaoh at age of 9 and ruled for 10 years before his death

19. The New Kingdom (Cont)
Akhenaton’s religious revolution caused upheavals that led to a loss of Egypt’s empire
Under Ramses II ( BC), the Egyptians regained control of Palestine but were unable to reestablish the borders of their earlier empire
New invasions in the thirteenth century BC by the “Sea People” drove the Egyptians back within their old frontier, and ended the Egyptian Empire
The New Kingdom collapsed in 1085 BC
Egypt was dominated by Libyans, Nubians, Persians, and Macedonians for the next 1000 years

20. Think-Pair-Share
What were the major differences between the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom?
Old- divine rulers, built pyramids
Middle- pharaohs concerned about people, expanded
New- militaristic, created an empire, religious upheavals

21. Reading Activity Read the Section titled Society in Ancient Egypt.
After reading make a graphic organizer to list the different social classes and the contributions each made to society.

22. Daily Life in Ancient Egypt
Very positive attitude
Married young and monogamous (one wife)
Arranged marriages
Purpose was to produce children, especially sons
The husband was master of the house
Wives were respected, in charge of the household and the education of the children
Marriages could end in divorce
Compensation for the wife

23. Writing and Education Writing emerged around 3000BC
Hieroglyphics- “priest-carvings” or “sacred writings”
Used for painting on temple walls and in tombs
Very complex
Used both pictures and abstract forms
Took much time to learn
Hieratic script- a highly simplified form used fro business transactions, record keeping, and general needs of daily life

24. Writing and Education Hieroglyphs were first carved in stone
Hieratic script was written on papyrus
Scribes-masters of the art of writing
Taught reading and writing
At age of 10, boys in upper classes went to schools run by scribes
Took many years to become a scribe
Learned to read and write by copying texts

25. Acheivements in Arts and Sciences
Pyramids, temples, and other monuments are some of the artistic achievements of the Egyptians
Also made advances in mathematics
Helped in building massive monuments
Able to calculate area and volume and used geometry to calculate flooded area
Developed an accurate 365 day calendar
Based on movement of the moon, as well as the bright star Sirius, which rises in the sky just before annual flooding of the Nile
Medical advancements
Embalming
Directions for using splints, bandages, and compresses for treating fractures, wounds, and disease

26. Exit Ticket
Using your notes and the book, answer the following question.
What were the main features and achievements of Egypt’s three kingdoms?