1. World History - Libertyville HS
The Ancient Eqyptians
World History - Libertyville HS

2. Geography River valley in the middle of a desert
Desert prevented invaders from attacking Egypt
Nile River over 4,100 miles long
Flowed from S to N, emptying into the Med.
Traveling the Nile (upriver / downriver)
“Upper” vs. “Lower” Egypt
Nile Delta: rich farmland

3. Merchants, soldiers, scribes
Social Hierarchy
Social Hierarchy
Very stratified society
Pharaoh and family
Nobility, priests, generals
Merchants, soldiers, scribes
Farmers, laborers
(late in Egyptian history) Slaves
Mobility up or down possible
Women in Egypt
Same rights as men
Could own, trade property
Propose marriage, seek divorce
Pharaoh & family
Nobility & priests
Merchants, soldiers, scribes
Farmers, laborers

4. Egyptian Technology Hieroglyphics
Pictographic writing
Later, picture came to stand of for a sound (phonetic)
First written on stone and clay
L:ater written on papyrus, an early form of paper
Calendar – helped anticipate Nile River flooding, planting seasons

5. Egyptian Technology Mathematics Medicine Excellent at geometry
Skillful engineers, architects
Medicine
Doctors could check pulse
Set bones with splints
Actually performed successful surgeries

6. Egyptian Religion After 3100 BC, pharaoh worshipped as a god
Other gods:
Ra = sun god
Horus = sky god
Osiris = afterlife god
Isis = mother & wife goddess

7. The Afterlife Egyptian belief in afterlife
Eternal life available to all
Practice of mummification for elite, royal dead
Embalm, dry corpse
Remove all organs
Wrap in wax cloth bandages
Put in coffin in tomb surrounded by all things dead person would need in afterlife
Buried pharaohs in pyramids or tombs

8. History of Egypt Early history
Upper Egypt crown
Lower Egypt crown
Early history
years ago: first people moved into area
River allowed easy communication
Great unifier = King Narmer (ca BC)
Legendary king who unified upper, lower Egypt
Established Egyptian state
Earliest hieroglyphics from this time
Crowns of Lower, Upper Egypt
Double Crown of Egypt

9. History of Egypt
Early Dynastic Period (1st to 3rd Dynasties) ( BC)
Highly organized society
Irrigation projects
Thus, politically unified state
First step pyramid built
Old Kingdom Period (4th to 8th Dynasties) ( BC)
Primary pyramid building time (Great Pyramid)
Hieroglyphics developed
Many characteristics of later Egyptian society established

10. History of Egypt
First Intermediate Period (9th to 11th Dynasties) ( BC)
State split in two
Rival Egyptians fought for power
Middle Kingdom (11th to 14th Dynasties) (1975 to 1640 BC)
United under strong pharaohs
Conquered Nubia (gold mines)
Classical period of art, literature

11. History of Egypt
Second Intermediate Period (15th to 17th Dynasties) ( BC)
Hyksos (Indo-European tribe from Palestine) invaded Lower Egypt
Composite bows
Metal (bronze) armor
Chariot
Hyksos were absorbed into dominant Egyptian culture
Egyptian dynasties continued in South

12. History of Egypt New Kingdom (18th to 20th Dynasties) (1539-1075 BC)
Egyptians overthrew Hyksos in long war
Egypt became an empire (Nubia, Palestine)
Pharaohs were warriors, not priests
Anti-foreigner movement (Jews thrown out of Egypt)

13. History of Egypt
Third Intermediate Period (21st to 25th Dynasties) ( BC)
“Sea People” invaded through Palestine
Nubians conquered Egypt
Late Period (26th to 30th Dynasties ( BC)
Egypt conquered by Assyrians, then Persians
Became independent in 404 BC

14. History of Egypt Greco-Roman Period (from 332 BC)
Conquered by Macedonians (Alexander the Great), 332 BC
Ptolemy, one of Alexander’s generals, est. himself as king in 320 BC
Romans conquered Egypt in 30 BC after defeating Mark Anthony & Cleopatra
Rosetta stone carved, 196 BC