Ancient Egypt 3100 b.C.

Nickname… *The Gift of the Nile* Why? When the Nile River flooded each year, it would deposit the silt which created more fertile land.

Egypt: Lower/Upper Originally two kingdoms developed along the Nile Lower Egypt –Good farmland –Access to copper Upper Egypt –King Menes created first dynasty and unified the whole region through war Why is Lower Egypt ABOVE Upper Egypt?

Answer… "Upper Egypt" is called that because the land is higher up in the mountains. The land in "Lower Egypt" is lower down at the coast. It's actually the way the Nile River flows. The Nile River flows downward, making below, Upper Egypt and above, Lower Egypt.

Leaders Dynasties: Ruling Families Pharaohs: Egyptian Kings Pharaoh Khufu: Built the Great Pyramid of Giza

Important Kings of Egypt King Menes: United Upper and Lower Egypt King Tut: Much of what we know today is due to the discovery of his elaborate tomb!

River –Flows north –Originates in the highlands of Central Africa –Ends in the Mediterranean Sea –Longest river in the world at 4,160 miles –6 Cataracts in southern part of Nile Floods –Flooded annually in July –Floods predictable –Deposited silt, replenishing the soil with nutrients Geography of the Nile Region

Benefits of the Nile The river served as a highway that united villages along the river Papyrus grew along river to make paper Deposited silt, replenishing the soil with nutrients

Religion Life After Death –Polytheistic: Worshiped many Gods –Preserved the bodies of the dead through mummification –They believed the soul could only survive if the body was preserved.

System of Writing Record keeping from 3,100 BC Symbols evolved into hieroglyphics Writings carved in wood or stone Later, painted with ink on papyrus

The Rosetta Stone Slab of black rock carved in three languages –Hieroglyphics Allowed hieroglyphics to be translated

Scientific Accomplishments Medical discoveries –Magic heavily used –Developed surgery –Greeks & Romans based much of their medical knowledge on that of the Egyptians

Seasons in Egypt Three seasons: Flood (Inundation) season, Planting season, Harvesting (Drought) season *Ancient Egyptians used the river to measure the passage of time/seasons Nilometer: A tool used to measure the river’s rise During flood season, peasants built pyramids for their Pharaoh

3 Seasons In Egypt