1. Nile River Valley Civilization
Egypt: “Gift of the Nile”

2. Geography Developed along the Nile River Deserts
Longest river in the world
Flood, plant, harvest, flood
Silt: rich, fertile soil
Worshipped as a god
Deserts
Protected from invasions
Reduced interaction with other peoples

3. Geography Upper Egypt Lower Egypt South
1st cataract (rapids) to where river fans out
Lower Egypt
North near the sea
Nile delta region
Broad, marshy area formed by silt deposits at mouth of river

4. Lower Egypt

5. Geography ADVANTAGE
Advantage over Mesopotamian civilizations: Nile River very predictable in flooding. Tigris/Euphrates Rivers very unpredictable.

6. Geography Flooding Navigation Yearly flodding in July
Rain and melted snow traveled from central-east Africa
Navigation
Drift North towards the delta
Sail south with the wind

7. Geography Natural Barriers
The desert surroundings reduced contact with other civilizations
The desert also provided a natural barrier that shut out invaders

8. History Menes – first ruler of a united Egypt
The Old Kingdom B.C.
The Middle Kingdom B.C.
The New Kingdom B.C.

9. United EGYPT

10. OLD Kingdom Social Cultural
Polytheistic- deities associated with objects and emotions
Pyramids-final resting place for pharaohs
Hierarchy-royal family and nobles, middle class, and lower class
Afterlife-soul weighed against a feather

11. Social Hierarchy

12. OLD Kingdom
Political
God-Kings- success depended on his ability to fulfill his religious obligations and believe to be divine
THEOCRACY- government where the ruler is seen as divine
Capital at Memphis

13. OLD Kingdom Economic Massive Public Works-building of the pyramids
Pyramids at Giza
Papyrus-record keeping on first paper
disadvantage: decomposes

14. Giza

15. Middle Kingdom
Social
Hierarchy continues- strong central authority established by nobles and pharaohs power diminished

16. Middle Kingdom Political
Hyksos-asian nomads swept into Egypt with horse drawn chariots

17. Middle Kingdom Economic
Trade and Transportation- canal dug from Nile to Red Sea
MODERN day Suez canal

18. New Kingdom
Social
Valley of the Kings
Hierarchy continues

19. New Kingdom Political Hatshepsut-encouraged trade instead of war
since queen was not accepted even she is depicted as having a beard
Term “Pharaoh” is first used
Capital moved to Thebes
KING TUT-unimportant rule, but famous

20. King Tut

21. New Kingdom
Economic
First time trade is encouraged

22. General Political/Rulers
God-Kings
Pharaohs = divine
Theocracy = ruler a divine figure
Responsible for Kingdom’s well being
Dynasties = ruling families

23. Social/Cultural Religion = polytheistic (many gods)
Believed in after-life and judgment
Pyramids = tombs after death
The Old Kingdom was great age of pyramid building
Mummification: preserve body by embalming and drying
Consumed with the after-life

24. What happened when a Pharaoh died?
When a pharaoh died, the body was preserved by people called embalmers.
Embalmers took the body to the Beautiful House- the name of where they worked.
They removed some of the inner parts of the body first. The organs were taken out and stored in special containers called canopic jars.
The heart was left in the body however, so that it could be weighed in the afterlife.

25. Then they rubbed the body with special ointments and wrapped it tightly with bandages.
When a body had been treated in this way it was called a mummy.
The mummy was put in a coffin. The coffin was the same shape as the body, and had a carved , painted face on it.
A funeral was held by a Priest in the temple.

26. The coffin was then taken to the pharaoh’s tomb.
The pharaoh was buried with all their possessions, for use on the journey to the next world.
The Egyptians believed that mummification preserved the body of the deceased and ensured their survival forever.

27. Pyramid

29. Great Sphinx

31. Social/Cultural Society structured like a pyramid Royalty at top
Upper Class = wealthy landowners, government officials, priests, etc.
Middle Class = merchants and artisans
Lower Class = peasants, etc.
Women had many of same rights as men

32. Pharaohs and Queens Who were the Pharaohs?
They were the kings or Queens of Egypt. They were the head of the government and high priest of every temple. The pharaoh owned all of Egypt. He or she decided what was right or wrong and their word was law. The people of Egypt considered the pharaoh to be a half-human and half-god.

33. Priests
Priests were very important people in Egyptian times. Besides serving the gods, priests did many other jobs, such as teaching, or even helping with the harvest. Priests had to be pure and clean. They shaved their heads and bodies and washed four times a day.
This statue of a priest has a bald head, a fake beard and he is in the praying position

34. Noble on a hunting trip with his family
Nobles
Court Officials and Noblemen held high office in Ancient Egypt and helped the Pharaoh to rule the country. The Pharaoh would often reward loyal nobles with gifts of land, so that they would earn their own money from taxes.
Being a noble was one of the best jobs in Egypt. Nobles were rich and could enjoy themselves hunting and having banquets.
Noble on a hunting trip with his family

35. Scribes
What is a Scribe? Scribes were the few Egyptians who knew how to read and write. Being a scribe was an extremely difficult job because in total, there were hundreds of different hieroglyphs to remember.
A scribe's job was highly regarded in Ancient Egypt. Although being a scribe was rewarding, the training could take as long as twelve years.
Scribes were very wise
This statue of a Scribe was found in his tomb
A peasant making papyrus

36. Craftsmen
Egyptian craftsmen were highly skilled. They learned their trade from their fathers and, in turn, taught their sons. They used simple techniques and tools to make all sorts of useful things. The Pharaoh, government or temples often employed them.
Craftsmen carving statues and ornaments
Carpenters using a bow drill
Metal workers making precious objects

37. Peasants
The most important business in Egypt was farming. Most of the people who worked in the fields and barns were peasants. During the flood season when no farming could be done the peasants did building work on temples and palaces.
Peasants herding cattle for the Pharaoh
Peasants preparing food for a banquet

38. Social/Cultural Writing Hieroglyphics
Papyrus – writing surface (paper)
Rosetta Stone
Discovered in 1799
Clue to deciphering hieroglyphics

39. Economic Nile River helped unify Egypt and promote trade
Reliable transportation between Upper and Lower Egypt
During Middle Kingdom, dug canals from Nile to Red Sea
Trade with Mesopotamia and Indus river valley civilizations

40. Economic Wealth from new trade used for public works projects
Dikes and irrigation

41. Accomplishments Hieroglyphics Papyrus Geometry-property boundries
Mathematics and Engineering- building of pyramids
Solar calendar
Advances in medicine-pulse, surgery
Use of bronze-two wheeled chariots