1. Ancient Egypt

2. Time Line
A.D.
B.C.
500
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
2625 B.C.
Old Kingdom
Begins
1539 B.C.
New Kingdom
Begins
730 B.C.
Nubian Dynasty
Rules Egypt
270 B.C.
Meroitic Period
In Kush

3. Geography of Northern Africa
Vocabulary:
A grassy plain with many
trees and animals.
savanna
delta
Low land formed at the
mouth of some rivers by
the silt the river drops
there.

4. cataracts
A series of rapids and
waterfalls.

5. During the Old Stone Age, the Paleolithic period, the area we know
The Nile Valley
During the Old Stone Age, the
Paleolithic period, the area we know
today as the Sahara Desert was
a savanna. The people living
there were hunters and gatherers.
Around 5000 B.C., the climate began
to change and the Sahara began to
dry. Animals left and plants died.

6. People were not able to survive in the
harsh desert and began to move into
the Nile River Valley.
The Nile River Valley has fertile land
along each side of the river.
It is the world’s longest river.
The river flows northward for more
than 4,000 miles from its main source
at Lake Victoria in central Africa.

7. The river flows to the Mediterranean
Sea where the Nile Delta is formed.
The land around the river is higher
at the beginning of the river and lower
near the mouth of the river.
The ancient people called the higher
land in the south “Upper Egypt.”
The land in the north, the delta area,
was called “Lower Egypt.”

8. Lower Egypt was made up
mainly of the Nile Delta.
The delta forms a huge triangle at
the mouth of the river. Long ago the
river broke up into many branches, but
today there are only two.
High cliffs surrounded the Nile in
Upper Egypt. In some places there
was a narrow strip of flat fertile land
between the cliffs and the river.

9. The cliffs are made of
limestone and sandstone.
Farther south, in the area once known
as Nubia, the cliffs are made of granite.
The river hasn’t been able to cut a clear
path through the hard granite and runs
through cataracts, a series of rapids
and waterfalls.

10. Upper and Lower Egypt Sound Familiar ? Both had rich soil.
The land was perfect for growing crops.
People were able to settle around the
river and farm instead of hunting and
gathering.
Sound Familiar ?

11. Each year heavy rains in central Africa caused the river to overflow
Black Land
Each year heavy rains in central
Africa caused the river to overflow
its banks. When the floodwaters
drained away, a rich silt remained.
The silt was a natural fertilizer.
The dark soil was called “Kemet”
meaning “black land.”

12. The Ancient Egyptians believed their god Hapi caused the yearly
Black Land
The Ancient Egyptians believed
their god Hapi caused the yearly
flooding.
The yearly flooding continued until the
Aswan Dam was built in 1972.
Now the people use pumps,
canals, and chemical fertilizer
to keep the land suitable for farming.

13. The dry, barren lands of the Sahara were known as “Deshuret,” or the
Red Land
The dry, barren lands of the Sahara
were known as “Deshuret,” or the
Red Land.

14. The Nile River cuts the eastern part
of the Sahara in two.
The land on the west side of the river
is called the Western Desert.
The land on the east side of the river is
called the Arabian Desert.

15. Farming in the Valley Wealthy landowners controlled almost
all of the farmland.
Farmers rented and the owners
took part of the crop as payment.
Typical crops included wheat, barley,
onions, lettuce, and beans.

16. Farmers also raised cattle, goats, sheep,
and pigs for food.
Meat
Milk products – including cheese
Beef – mainly for the wealthy
Most could only afford beef for
special days, so they caught fish or
used nets to catch geese or ducks.

17. Plants and animals were important for
more than just food.
Fibers of flax plant – used to spin
linen thread
Sheep’s wool – woven into cloth
Leather – continers, sacks, shoes
Other plants – sandals, boxes,
tabletops

18. Think Describe the Nile River. Why was the flooding of the Nile River
so important to the Egyptians?
What is the difference between the Black Land and the Red Land?
How might Egypt have developed if the
Sahara had not dried and become a
desert?

19. The Nile was know as the giver of life.
Importance of ...
The Nile was know as the giver of life.
It united the populous of Egypt into one Nation-State.
the Nile River

20. government and a united group of people.
Vocabulary
Nation-state
A region with a single
government and a united
group of people.
To be able to tell ahead of time.
predict
inundation
Yearly flood in Ancient Egypt.

21. afterlife
Life after death
nome
Towns that were capitals
of city-states.

22. The Nile River affected all Egyptian activities. Farming
Giver and Taker of Life
The Nile River affected all Egyptian
activities.
Farming
Religious Beliefs
Ways of Governing
The Nile was called the “Giver of
Life” and helped bring the people
together.

23. The Nile became a river highway.
Ancient Egyptians became expert
shipbuilders.
The first ships were made of reeds.
Later ships were made of wooden
planks,and some were 60 feet long.
Boats going downriver (north) could
use the strong current to travel.
Boats going upriver (south) used sails
to catch the steady north wind.

24. Concerns About the Nile
Light rains upriver - no overflow
Land baked in the sun – crops died
Too much rain at river’s source –
Wild flooding
Crops washed away
People and animals drowned

25. Common problems helped unite the Ancient Egyptians.
Source of Innovation
Common problems helped unite the
Ancient Egyptians.
They were able to predict when
the yearly floods (inundation) would
come.
To keep track of this event they
created a 365 day calendar based
on the sun.

26. Inundation – the start of the new year Emergence – land emerged from
Three Seasons
The Egyptians divided the year into three seasons based on the river’s actions.
Inundation – the start of the new
year
Emergence – land emerged from
beneath the water
Harvest – the time when crops were
ready

27. Inundation – The land was made new
by the rich silt left by
floodwaters.
Emergence – Farmers planted using
plows or hoes to create
furrows. They dropped
seeds and led cattle or
other animals through the
fields to push the seed
into the ground.

28. Harvest – The final season. In most
years farmers would have
a large crop.
Very little rain fell in Egypt.
The hot, dry climate was very harsh.
The Ancient Egyptians developed
irrigation so they could water their crops.

29. During Emergence they trapped water in ponds to use in case of drought.
They also built dams and dikes to hold back the river when there was too much flooding. Canals were built to carry excess water back to the river from the fields.

30. The Ancient Egyptians believed in many
Source of Religion
The Ancient Egyptians believed in many
gods and used stories about them
to explain events in nature.
They believed the sun was a god
that was born each day and died
each night.
They believed religion was important to
their survival in the Nile River Valley.

31. the sun god (most important)
Egyptian gods
god of wisdom
Thoth
Hathor
goddess of love
ruled over the dead
Orisis
god of the river
Hapi
Amon-Re
the sun god (most important)

32. The Egyptians prayed to their gods and believed in life after death.
Afterlife
The Egyptians prayed to their gods
and believed in life after death.
A book of prayers called The Book
of the Dead was placed in their tombs
To be used as a guide in the afterlife.

33. About 5000 B.C. small farming villages grew up along the Nile.
Unified Egypt
About 5000 B.C. small farming villages
grew up along the Nile.
As populations grew, villages became
towns.
Some towns became capitals of city-
states called nomes. Leaders of nomes
competed for wealth and power.

34. By around 3,500 B.C. the city-states
joined together forming two large
kingdoms.
The kingdoms were known as the “Two
Lands.” (Upper Egypt & Lower Egypt)
Around 3000 B.C. the Upper Egyptian
Kings had gained control of Lower
Egypt. Uniting Egypt marked the
Beginning of the world’s first nation-state,
which lasted for 3,000 years.

35. No one really knows. Legend says King Menes did. Some experts think
Who Really United the
Two Kingdoms?
No one really knows. Legend says
King Menes did. Some experts think
King Narmer did because in artwork
he is shown wearing a double crown
that combines the white crown
of Upper Egypt and the red
crown of Lower Egypt.

36. What did the Egyptians do to control the river?
Think Time
How did the Nile bring
people together?
What did the Egyptians do to control
the river?
How did the Egyptians explain events
in nature?
Why was uniting Egypt important?

37. Early Egyptian Rule
3000 Years
Over 33 Dynasties

38. dynasty A series of rulers from the same family. pharaoh king
Vocabulary - Lesson 3
dynasty
A series of rulers
from the same family.
pharaoh
king
Important government
official, advisor
vizier
commands
decrees

39. Paper made from reeds that grew along the Nile.
Vocabulary - Lesson 3
hieroglyphics
Ancient system
Of writing using over
700 symbols
papyrus
Paper made from reeds that
grew along the Nile.
pyramid
A burial place for the dead
mummy
A preserved body

40. Egyptians called their kings “pharaoh.”
Egypt's Early Period
Egyptians called their kings “pharaoh.”
The word pharaoh means “great house”
and referred to the ruler’s palace.
Pharaoh had total authority and was
believed to be the son of Re, the sun
god.
Pharaoh was believed to be a link
between man and the gods.

41. Why did the Egyptian civilization last so long?
The pharaoh was obeyed without
question.
The structure of the government
didn’t change.
Viziers carried out the pharaoh’s
decrees and took care of running
the government.
There were many officials to help
govern Egypt.

42. Officials collected taxes, planned
building projects, and enforced
laws.

43. How do we know about the early kings?
Egyptians left written records.
They developed hieroglyphics, a
system of writing.
more than 700 symbols
most stood for sounds
some stood for whole
words or ideas

44. Scribes studied for years to learn
hieroglyphics.
They also learned math.
A scribe’s job often involved tax
collecting and record keeping.
They wrote on stone and on papyrus.
Books were scrolls – rolls of papyrus
joined end-to-end. Some were over
100 feet long.
Scribes recorded Egyptian history.

45. Three Main Divisions of Egyptian History
The Old Kingdom
2625 to 2130 B.C.
Great achievements in building
Intermediate period
The Middle Kingdom
1980 to 1630 B.C.
Changes in government, trade expanded,
changes in society
Intermediate period
1539 to 1075 B.C.
The New Kingdom
First full time army, empire expanded

46. Pharaohs began to look outside of Egypt for resources
The Old Kingdom
Dynasties 4- 8 ruled
Pharaohs began to look outside of
Egypt for resources
Colony started in Nubia
Traders sent south in Africa to find
incense oils, ebony, ivory, & other
items
Trade in Asia – cedar wood & silver

47. Old Kingdom - Age of Pyramids
Largest stone buildings in the world
Built as a burial place for the dead
Pyramids built for rulers and other
important people
Egyptians believed they would need
their bodies in the afterlife.

48. Preserving a body took about 70 days
Are You My Mummy?
Preserving a body took about 70 days
All internal organs removed except the
heart
Organs placed in canopic jars
Heart – believed to be the home of the
soul
Body covered with natron –a kind of
salt
Natron absorbed the water in the body

49. Body was rubbed with special oils &
wrapped in linen cloth
Everything that a person might need
was placed in the tomb with the body.

50. The Egyptians believed the soul appeared before the god Osiris and
Where Did My Mummy Go ?
The Egyptians believed the soul
appeared before the god Osiris and
a group of judges.
The dead person’s heart was
placed on one side of a
scale and a feather (the
feather of truth) was placed
on the other side.

51. A balanced scale meant the soul would
live forever.
An unbalanced scale meant the soul
was heavy with sin.
Egyptians believed the sinful soul
would be eaten by an animal that
was part crocodile, lion, and
hippopotamus.

52. Imhotep, architect for King Zoser, built
The Pyramids
Imhotep, architect for King Zoser, built
the first stone tomb – a step pyramid.
Egyptians believed that pharaoh went to
Live with Amon-Re, their most powerful
God.
The step pyramid may have been
Imhotep’s way to help the king “climb the
stairway to heaven.”

53. The best known pyramids were built at
Giza beginning in about 2600 B.C.
The largest pyramid was built for
Pharaoh Khufu.
The citizens of Egypt had to pay a
labor tax by working for the government.
As many as 10,000 farmers worked on
the pyramids during inundation.

54. Workers cut and moved more than 2
million stone blocks.
Each block weighed about 5,000 pounds.
The blocks were probably moved on
sleds.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu is about
480 feet high and covers 13 acres.

55. Women – long sleeveless dresses made of linen
Egyptian Way of Life
Clothing –
Women – long sleeveless dresses
made of linen
Men – knee-length linen skirts with
or without short-sleeved shirts
Men & Women wore jewelry and makeup
Wealthy often wore fancy wigs

56. Houses – made of mud brick & had a
shrine for worship of household gods
Farmers worked for the government
during inundation.
Men – artists, carpenters, builders,
stonecutters – worked 10 days,
off 1 day
They listened to music, sang, & danced
at religious festivals & parties.

57. Women - in charge of household matters, didn’t hold government jobs
Some women were craft workers.
Most weavers were women.
Women could own property and had
full legal rights.

58. Children were seen as gifts from the gods.
They played games such as leap frog,
tug-of-war, and wrestling.
Education –
Girls learned weaving & household skills from their mothers.
Boys learned their father’s trade.
Upper class children learned math,
literature, and writing.

59. Who controlled the land and people of ancient Egypt?
Use Your Brain
Who controlled the land and people of
ancient Egypt?
Why did the Egyptians preserve their
dead?
How did the Egyptian government get
workers to build the pyramids?
What were the periods between the
three main kingdoms called?