Warm-Up 11/11 (Answer on your handout) The method of farming for ancient Egyptians followed a pattern of flood, plant, harvest, flood, plant, harvest. This repetition of behavior leads us to understand that the yearly flooding timetable for the Nile River must be: – A) Irregular – B) Regular – C) Unknown – D) Unpredictable

Egyptian Society The first people began to settle in Egypt around 5000 BCE – People settled along the Nile River because they were able to grow crops and have enough food They formed small villages along the Nile River, similar to city-states in Mesopotamia – Because of the food production, cities and towns along the Nile River began to grow in size Question #1

Two Kingdoms Originally two kingdoms developed along the Nile: – Lower Egypt Northern Nile Good farmland Copper mines in Sinai Peninsula – Upper Egypt Southern Nile Ruler named Menes Conquered Lower Egypt, which led to unification Question #2

King Menes Unifies Egypt In 3100 BC Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt unified, forming one kingdom – The capital was built at Memphis King Menes became the first pharaoh of Egypt For 3,000 years after Egypt’s unification, pharaohs from at least 31 different dynasties ruled Egypt. Menes unified the two Kingdoms Question #3

Today, the city of Memphis, Tennessee is named after the city where King Menes built the first Egyptian capital. Memphis, Tennessee is on the Mississippi River which is the longest river in the USA.

Dynasties Ancient Egyptian history divided into three parts: – Old Kingdom (2575 BCE – 2120 BCE) – Middle Kingdom (1938 BCE – 1630 BCE) – New Kingdom (1540 BCE – 1075 BCE) Question #4

The Great Pyramid of Giza Discover Ed Video Discover Ed Video Constructed by King Khufu during the Old Kingdom (around 2570 BCE) Used advanced knowledge of geometry and architecture Built with over 2 million limestone blocks Question #5

Hatshepsut Ruled from 1479 BCE – 1459 BCE She is considered to be the first female ruler in history Considered to be one of the most successful pharaohs of Egypt: – Strengthened the military – Increased trading with neighbors – Built many great temples throughout Egypt Question #6

Ramses the Great Ruled from 1279 BCE – 1213 BCE (60 years) Considered to be one of the most famous pharaohs of Egypt A neighboring group called the Hittites tried to take control of Egypt and Ramses led the Egyptian army to victory – Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BCE Question #7

Social Structure Like Mesopotamia, Egyptians were divided into different social classes Question #8

The Pharaoh and his Homies Pharaoh- The leader (king) of Egypt. The citizens believed the pharaoh was a human form of the god Re (the sun god) Government Officials- Ran the kingdom and looked out for the needs of the people. – Vizier- The top government official. Gave advice to the pharaoh and acted as chief judge. – Governors and Mayors- Collected taxes, served as judges, and oversaw building projects in their local areas. – Government officials were wealthy and owned most of the land in Egypt Priests- Led religious ceremonies and helped to guide the people of Egypt

Soldiers and Scribes Soldiers- The Egyptian army used well-trained soldiers to expand its borders and maintain control of the people. – Some soldiers fought on foot using spears, shields, and axes. – Others rode behind horses in chariots and shot arrows. – During times of peace, soldiers continued to work for the government, digging irrigation canals for farms or building temples. Scribes- Whenever Egyptian officials needed to write something down, scribes, or official government recorders, were there to write it. – Scribes recorded court cases, calculated taxes, wrote letters between government officials, and kept official histories using hieroglyphics

Merchants and Craftsmen Merchants- Merchants traded goods with each other in Egypt. Some merchants traded goods across the Middle East and Africa – Gold, jewelry, clothing, rope, wheat, and papyrus were found in Egypt. – Merchants would trade these goods for things that couldn’t be found in Egypt like cedar (wood) for building ships and furniture, copper, and lapis lazuli Craftsmen- stone carvers, metal workers, potters, jewelers, sculptors and weavers – Much of the art from Egypt that we can still see today were created by this group.

Farmers and Slaves Farmers- Most Egyptians were farmers – Most farmers were peasants, meaning they did not own their land and most of the crops they raised went to the landowners for sale or trade. – Farmers lived in simple houses made of mud bricks. They used the government-built irrigation systems and camels to carry water to their fields. Farmers also paid large portions of the crops they produced to government officials as taxes, rent, or tribute to the local temple. Servants and Enslaved People- Most worked as servants in households or as laborers in fields. Some worked dangerous jobs in the copper and gold mines – Enslaved people were often foreigners who had been captured in battles. Some enslaved people were peasants who sold their own freedom to pay off their debts.